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Post by scrappintoee on Mar 14, 2015 20:53:26 GMT
I hadn't watched any HGTV in quite a while, annnnd, now I'm addicted to a few shows! I find it amusing that they mention BACKSPLASHES on almost every show now....Is it just me, or does it seem back splashes are asbig a deal as granite countertops that EVERRRRRRRYONE seems to insist on  It's also interesting to me, because I NEVER notice backsplashes in peoples' houses, including ours! I laughed to myself the other day when they were showing a house on one of the shows and the lady was just HORRIFIED that "the backsplash is the SAME as the counter tops!!!" (oh my goodness, HOW will she survive??? LOL!!!!!!!!) I realize these shows are fake/ scripted/ etc....( thanks to previous threads about this from the Peas, I was surprized/ disappointed that they're scripted!) Anyhoo, that lady needed to CALM DOWN .... you can replace that SO EASILY !!! And now that HGTV has me OBSESSED with them, I'm gonna start noticing them in every house I visit Our friends who recently bought a house with very pretty black granite countertops, but now I wanna know about the BACKSPLASH!!! |
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basketdiva
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Post by basketdiva on Mar 14, 2015 20:59:43 GMT
Backsplashes have been around for years. I have worked for custom homebuilders and all the custom homes had backsplashes. The majority of the backsplashes were a material different from the counter tops. In all the places I have lived (WA state, Texas and Alabama) backsplashes were the norm. Of course these are not "starter" homes.
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Gennifer
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Post by Gennifer on Mar 14, 2015 21:31:56 GMT
I love backsplashes, hate granite.  |
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Post by chaosisapony on Mar 14, 2015 21:36:45 GMT
I read this thread, then went to Facebook where there was an ad in my news feed from Home Depot on how to design and install your own backsplash.  |
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Post by anxiousmom on Mar 14, 2015 22:23:20 GMT
(I have a backsplash...but it *is* the same as the counter top. In fact, I am SO incredibly uncool that my counter tops are laminate. On purpose even. I do a lot of my arty stuff on my counters and I am incredibly uncoordinated and end up with glue and all kinds of other crap every where. With laminate, I can change it out at will, and very inexpensively can change the look of things. I will probably be thrown out of the cool kids kitchen club when I say this, but I love my cheap laminate.  ) |
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janeliz
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Post by janeliz on Mar 14, 2015 22:28:00 GMT
I'm with Gennifer. I love a pretty backsplash, but would not seek out granite.
The thing I wonder when I watch HGTV is whether or not there's anyone out there who doesn't want an open floor plan.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 14, 2015 22:39:45 GMT
Every house I've ever lived in had a backsplash. :::puzzled:::
Majority of them weren't decorative accents. They blended in with the counter materials... but they did exist.
One memorably bad one was made of vinyl flooring with a chrome quarter trim of some sort. The house was built circa 1930 and had been "updated" circa 1960.
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Post by KikiPea on Mar 14, 2015 22:47:47 GMT
I don't remember if we had one in our started house, but we have in the last one and this one. In the last one...that we built...the backsplash was the same as the floor tile. In this house, the counter tops are granny and the backsplash is tumbled stone. I LOVE it. It makes it SO much easier to clean grease off of than just paint behind the stove.
Inwould always have a backsplash, BUT, if a house I was looking at didn't have it, it would not have any bearing on whether or not I bought the house because it's an inexpensive add on.
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Mar 15, 2015 0:46:15 GMT
My condo had one and it was renovated before I bought it in 2003. It was matching granite. My house has one from when I bought in 2010... But it's not very functional, it is tiled rough stone so it's impossible to clean... Very attractive though.
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Post by scrapsuzy on Mar 15, 2015 5:16:56 GMT
I do notice backsplashes, but rarely have a negative reaction to them. Some are not my taste, or I think they are too trendy, but to each their own. My house of 22 years had painted beadboard on the kitchen walls, including the backsplash. My condo has just plain wallboard. When we remodel, I will add a backsplash, but haven't decided on what, yet. I know it won't be the same as the countertop, though. |
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AmeliaBloomer
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Mar 15, 2015 10:47:54 GMT
If you're the type of person who reads kitchen forums because one of these days she TRULY will remodel her sad kitchen (who, me?), you'd know that many people now view a backsplash as a statement instead of a background, and agonize over it more than any decision.
They order 27 different tile samples. They dither. They post comparison photos. They ask for votes. Often, they finish everything BUT the backsplash and then ruminate for a couple years. Or they do it "on time," only to change their minds six months later. (And post NEW comparison photos!)
My feeling is people are choosing too elaborate backslashes (e.g. tiny glass tiles in several colors, or patterns of different sized/shaped/textured tiles) that look really nice in the first pristine "after" photos, but can look way too busy when they actually have stuff living on the counters, pictures on the other walls, etc. Even in the first photos, I often think the backsplash are overwhelming when combined with many stone counter tops.
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back to *pea*ality
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Post by back to *pea*ality on Mar 15, 2015 11:53:49 GMT
I have granite countertops and a tile backsplash with a tile mural over my range. I love the look and the warmth my selections made to the space.
I love to cook, it is a creative expression for me. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, it is the heart of our home. We have a beautiful family room but we are "kitchen people" and at gatherings most of the guests congregate in the kitchen so I when we remodeled, we expanded the size of the kitchen and have a large center island.
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Post by disneyjunkie on Mar 15, 2015 12:04:10 GMT
If you're the type of person who reads kitchen forums because one of these days she TRULY will remodel her sad kitchen (who, me?), you'd know that many people now view a backsplash as a statement instead of a background, and agonize over it more than any decision. They order 27 different tile samples. They dither. They post comparison photos. They ask for votes. Often, they finish everything BUT the backsplash and then ruminate for a couple years. Or they do it "on time," only to change their minds six months later. (And post NEW comparison photos!) My feeling is people are choosing too elaborate backslashes (e.g. tiny glass tiles in several colors, or patterns of different sized/shaped/textured tiles) that look really nice in the first pristine "after" photos, but can look way too busy when they actually have stuff living on the counters, pictures on the other walls, etc. Even in the first photos, I often think the backsplash are overwhelming when combined with many stone counter tops. Cracking up reading this. This is my life right now and I have been reading tons of backsplash posts at GW. We are using our newly remodeled kitchen but we still need to pick out a backsplash. I'm planning to go fairly neutral though because my granite has a lot of movement in it. |
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AmeliaBloomer
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Mar 15, 2015 12:29:13 GMT
Cracking up reading this. This is my life right now and I have been reading tons of backsplash posts at GW. We are using our newly remodeled kitchen but we still need to pick out a backsplash. I'm planning to go fairly neutral though because my granite has a lot of movement in it. Ha! It seems like 50% of the posts there* are backsplash posts, right? Either "Help Me Pick My Backsplash!" or "Are White Subway Tiles Too Trendy?" It didn't used to be so backsplash-preoccupied there. Although, I can certainly understand the angst/indecision when faced with so many new options. Good luck with your own decision! *I went back to Garden Web a couple weeks ago, after an absence of many months, and it's been kidnapped by Houzz! Weird and confusing - and I can't find a bunch of stuff I'd bookmarked over the years.  |
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Post by moosedogtoo on Mar 15, 2015 13:22:52 GMT
We have a pretty glass tile backsplash because we wanted some color in the kitchen and that was the only place we felt comfortable doing it. White vabinets, white appliances, grey floor and countertop with a glass tile tile backsplash in shades of blue. I just love it! |
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mallie
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Post by mallie on Mar 15, 2015 14:03:15 GMT
I'm with Gennifer. I love a pretty backsplash, but would not seek out granite. The thing I wonder when I watch HGTV is whether or not there's anyone out there who doesn't want an open floor plan. I do not. I looked at sooo many houses last time because all of them were open floor plan and I hate them. I finally had to compromise and I have what the realtor called a "semi-open floor plan". Not a fan. The noise goes everywhere, from every room. Give me walls and doors. But then, I'm a weirdo who actually dislikes granite and is utterly clueless about why stainless steel appliances are a necessity without which a kitchen needs to be gutted. I also don't need a closet just for me the size of Fort Knox to hold my shoes nor a soaking tub. Nor did it ever occur to me that I couldn't have a house with stairs when I had kids. We do, however, have a backsplash and have for over 10 years. It's easier to clean than a wall. |
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Post by melanell on Mar 15, 2015 14:42:21 GMT
Add me to the list who would prefer to NOT have an open floorplan. I do not want stainless appliances. I don't have any real strong feelings about granite, but I want some sort of back-splash because not having one makes clean up a PITA. I do like closet space, but I don't need my bathroom nor my closet to be the size of an additional bedroom. And I would prefer to not have a two story ceiling in any room, including the entry. I always feel like I'm going to topple to my death trying to reach to clean the cobwebs from the upper corners of our entry. I would have been perfectly happy with a regular height ceiling there instead. |
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Mar 15, 2015 15:28:04 GMT
We have a semi-open floor plan I guess you would call it, the family room, small dining area and kitchen are open, the rest of the house is not. I would not want it any more open, we have 4 kids, they are loud! My in-laws house is open plan with vaulted ceilings and it is so noisy with the TV on, loud talking, kids running all over that I knew an open floor plan would send me to the loony bin.
I had granite in my old house and the constant freaking out over anything accidentally landing on it made cooking stressful. Of course we were getting ready to sell so that might have been part of it...
Currently we have ugly red lava rock colored laminate with some kind of sparkles in it and the backsplash matches with metal trim. We also have knotty pine paneling in our kitchen... we are currently shopping for a backsplash to cover up the hideous walls and a new (non-granite) counter top.
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Post by winogirl on Mar 15, 2015 15:44:09 GMT
I don't like open floor plans or stainless steel either. It seems almost everyone on these shows wants an open floor plan.  Those backsplashes are super trendy right now, but on all those shows they seem to be using almost the same backsplash pattern in every kitchen. |
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caro
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Post by caro on Mar 15, 2015 15:47:48 GMT
Yes I think it's become important. dS1 just installed small glass tiles in their new house on a bare wall. It looks really good and definitel added pizazz to their kitchen.
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Post by anonrefugee on Mar 15, 2015 15:55:11 GMT
Back splashes are obviously not new, any wall behind a sink or working area is a back splash. The trend of decorating them comes and goes.
And when it goes, it's bad, real bad. Remember the 3'x4' custom tile panels of fruit or floral bowls? Or lovely Santa Fe geometrics? Today's glass mosaics and subway rules will feel that way in ten years. Just like the 2000 tumbled stone ones are starting to look tired right now.
But what can you do? Design trends are fun! And many like fresh changes. It's all good!
Edited: I should be clear I am not insulting any choice here!!! Only saying it will all age and a trend will pass. I have full height, slab not tile, granite back splashes, 15 years old. And since we know from this post alone- granite is disliked- I am not judging anyone! But I personally still love my counters and splash and haven't had a problem. Even when a trend passes it can still make you happy to walk in and see it every morning!
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Post by auntkelly on Mar 15, 2015 16:29:11 GMT
I have also noticed that the buyers on HGTV have moved on from granite counters to back splashes. It's more important that the house have a nice backsplash than it be located in a good school district, or have affordable taxes or be located a reasonable distance from work. I guess back splashes make for better tv than property taxes.
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~Susan~
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Post by ~Susan~ on Mar 15, 2015 16:32:39 GMT
I like back splashes, but in all the houses I have ever lived in I didn't have one. The wall was either painted or wall papered. For some reason my DH is obsessed with having one, but we are not agreeing on what it should be.
I don't like granite and I sure don't like stainless steel appliances. I love my black appliances and my cheap laminate counters that still look new after 11 years.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 15, 2015 16:57:30 GMT
(I have a backsplash...but it *is* the same as the counter top. In fact, I am SO incredibly uncool that my counter tops are laminate. On purpose even. I do a lot of my arty stuff on my counters and I am incredibly uncoordinated and end up with glue and all kinds of other crap every where. With laminate, I can change it out at will, and very inexpensively can change the look of things. I will probably be thrown out of the cool kids kitchen club when I say this, but I love my cheap laminate. ) I'll go a step further and say I live in a cookie cutter neighborhood where mini blinds, carpet, and laminate counter tops are the norm.  There are even a few manufactured homes (oh the horror). I don't want to live here forever so I don't want to invest in granite, backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, and hardwood floors because we would never recoup the costs. The most I want to do is paint the kitchen cabinets white and replace the laminate with more laminate.  |
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georgiapea
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Post by georgiapea on Mar 15, 2015 17:47:54 GMT
In my day backsplashes were just a single row of usually 6X6 tiles above the counter, and ofter the same tile as the counter top. Now they are frequently the little 1X1 glass tiles and I really love them. We have the tiles for our kitchen but they haven't been put up yet.
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Post by hop2 on Mar 15, 2015 18:11:17 GMT
I am pretty sure that most codes require at least a minimum back splash now a days. So I would have a hard time imagining a house without one. (though what it's made out of is wide open )
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purplebee
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Post by purplebee on Mar 15, 2015 18:19:48 GMT
Just had a really nice 6x6 ceramic tile/1x1 glass square accents backsplash installed in my kitchen. A friend who does tilework and Dh did the work. Love it and it really is an improvement as there was no backsplash and unwashable wallboard.
I don't like stainless either, but I do have a stainless sink, but I would replace with ceramic if I had to, and I would replace my Formica countertops with more of the same before spending $$$ on granite.
I don't care about trends, I care about what I like and what we can afford.
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likescarrots
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Post by likescarrots on Mar 15, 2015 18:37:17 GMT
My condo had one and it was renovated before I bought it in 2003. It was matching granite. My house has one from when I bought in 2010... But it's not very functional, it is tiled rough stone so it's impossible to clean... Very attractive though. I've read that handheld steam cleaners work really well for this. Maybe worth a try? Personally I think back splashes are way more useful than granite counter tops. |
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loco coco
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Post by loco coco on Mar 15, 2015 19:03:49 GMT
we just remodeled our kitchen and we did a backsplash up to the ceiling behind the vent hood. Its a simple glass subway tile (hopefully its classic enough that it wont look dated soon) but I spent months looking at backsplash samples! its somewhat inexpensive that can make a huge difference
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Grom Pea
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Post by Grom Pea on Mar 15, 2015 22:06:27 GMT
My condo had one and it was renovated before I bought it in 2003. It was matching granite. My house has one from when I bought in 2010... But it's not very functional, it is tiled rough stone so it's impossible to clean... Very attractive though. I've read that handheld steam cleaners work really well for this. Maybe worth a try? Personally I think back splashes are way more useful than granite counter tops. Good idea, I'll have to give that a shot! |
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)
There are even a few manufactured homes (oh the horror). I don't want to live here forever so I don't want to invest in granite, backsplashes, stainless steel appliances, and hardwood floors because we would never recoup the costs. The most I want to do is paint the kitchen cabinets white and replace the laminate with more laminate. 
