Hi Susan,

First of all well done for the cabinet you chose very nice

I would personal go for a bold color to make a sort of statement. However judging from the photos it seems you prefer the neutral gentle color, because of that I would try or a light pink, creamy, or slightly darker grey of your worktop. The grey and creamy would suit all kind of domestic appliance regardless their colors.

I hope it helps

Silvia

Thank you so much Silvia, I already feel better about my choices. I will definitely try a bold colour with tester paint pots, but you are quite correct in that I seem to favour monochromatic colours. Can I also ask if you would cover the whole wall in glass Splashback on the hob side? If I use the same height as the sink side to just under the wall units, the level cuts across the window and may look strange.

Again, many thanks for your comments.

regards Sue

The kitchen looks great, very slick! On a practical level, one thing I would say about glass splash backs is that the darker you go the more you will see water splashes and grease splashes above the hob, especially if you are in a hard water area. Also, if you are wrapping it around areas with different height levels then a bold contrast colour will accentuate this and might look a bit clunky. Personally I would keep it quiet and match it in with your wall colour, it would certainly be less maintenance! Best regards, Caroline.

Hi Sue,

Thank you for your kind words. I would personally avoid a glass splash back behind an hob since I know few people who had the glass splash back seriously damaged by the heart. So I would place a metal splash back behind the hob .

Great idea to have sample to try beforehand

Silvia

Wonderful responses to my queries, thank you ladies. I'll definitely keep the colour level down - I'm looking for as low maintenance as possible. Also will check to see if the toughened glass will withstand the heat...and ask for a guarantee on this.

kind regards

sue

Hi All,

Glass backsplashes we think are always a lovely finishing touch to your kitchen design. As you have gone for a more neutral palette you could go for a very strong colour but be careful it's a colour which you won't tire of and that looks good in most lights ie bright sunny days and dark evenings.

It might be nice to pick a colour, for example green, and then try looking at more muted tones which may blend better with the tones of the furniture, worktop and flooring.

I have attached a small swatch of colours in warm earthy tones as it may help.

We would suggest, if budget allows it, to have the glass the length of the wall rather than just behind the hob. This will just give the design a nice balance. Also, make sure it is toughened glass you spec! Are you having an induction hob?

The team at Modus Kitchens

Thank you, thank you. I overwhelmed by everyone's super quick responses. I will post the finished product as soon as its up and running. Long live houzz!

Dear Susan,

Congratulations on your beautiful kitchen. Since you have selected neutral colors for the cabinets, countertop and flooring, you can pretty much use any color of your preference for the backsplash. Some things for you to consider in the decision making process:

1. KITCHEN COLOR SCHEME

- What color is/are you planning for the seating area? It will be complementing to use the same color scheme for the backsplash and vice versa.

- Is there sufficient natural light coming into the space? How large is your kitchen (does it feel small, adequate or big?). Rule of thumb: lighter colors make a space look brighter and bigger. Darker and bolder colors make it look smaller, and focuses on the section/material with the darker/bolder color.

- Beige glass backsplashes and lighter backsplashes tend to not show stains (think of oil splashing) as much as darker colors would, but this again depends on the treatment and quality of the glass tile; check with the supplier.

- Darker and bolder colored backsplash can, with time, look dated. Depends on your personal taste (remember, design and style are subjective).

2. GLASS V.S. CERAMIC TILE

- Glass tiles: Pros: Since slightly transparent, reflect light (thus brightening up the space to a degree), less porous than ceramic tiles thus more resistant to stains, molds & mildews. Come in almost all imaginable colors, typically 4" x 4" squares but also come in a variety of shapes and proportions, plus does not discolor with time. Cons: Expensive, requires precision grouting to maintain pristine aesthetics, fairly durable as they can get scratched and crack.

- Ceramic tiles: Pros: Less expensive, more durable and easy to install. Cons: Not as many variety of shapes, sizes and colors, opaque thus not as light reflective, more porous thus not as resistive to stains, molds and mildew and will discolor over time (depending on the quality).

- Depending on your budget, you can have a mix of both materials (majority of the backsplash consisting of ceramic tiles with a band of glass tiles as an accent).

- Whenever using glass tiles, ensure you purchase extra tiles; typically, a few pieces break during installation and perhaps over time, should something accidentally bang against it (again, dependent on the quality purchased).

- It is standard to use either ceramic and/or glass tiles as a backsplash above a stove; they should all be heat resistant, but check with the supplier.

3. BUDGET

- Depending on your budget availability, it is preferred to use glass tiles, and to mount on all the kitchen wall areas where there is a countertop. This gives a complete aesthetic look. If this is an expensive option, then tile the areas between the countertop and the kitchen cabinets, and paint the rest of the walls using a neutral color similar to your flooring (to keep an light and spacious feel).

Here are some examples of softer backsplash colors against neutral backgrounds:

Mill Valley Bungalow · More Info

Back Bay · More Info

Crisp Architects · More Info

Sausalito, CA · More Info

Fougeron Architecture · More Info

Laneway House · More Info

Luxury Home Staging in Lakewood Hills · More Info

Country Hills · More Info

Good of luck and please feel free to contact us should you require further assistance!

Isn't house a great resource?

I agree with Caroline (again!). If you're going to have glass at different heights on different walls, darker coloured glass may dominate the kitchen and it does show marks.

Definitely do not get a steel back-splash as someone suggested (unless you love cleaning steel or live with a steel fabricator....). Glass looks great and now that you're not going to go for a deeper colour (!) it will be easy to keep clean and it won't be damaged by the heat.

Good luck!

Hi Simon, I suggested the steel splash back behind the hob and covering the remaining section of wall with glass (sorry if it wasn't clear), because I know a few people who had the glass damaged by heat shortly after the it had been installed. I don't know where the glass splash back was purchased, but I mentioned it to warn Sue so she can act on and avoid a disappointment

Hello...great units...I've just ordered similar in cream (again!).

In my last house we used bespoke acrylic sheets as splash back (and behind gas range) and I never had any problems with heat. However, for your own peace of mind you might want to get bespoke strengthened glass cut to size.

I painted the inside of the acrylic sheet coral (to match the facing wall and it worked very well. This time I think I will use paper (gift wrap or similar...wallpaper might be too thick) with a small repeat pattern, perhaps a retro design, and paste this to the inside of the acrylic/glass. Affix with mirror screws and seal with clear sealant to prevent steam/condensation, etc...

Acrylic is cheap to replace if your design preference changes after a few years.

I had a kitchen with similar colours to yours and we went for a black glass splash back. It looked fab and was a safe choice (we've since moved so I don't have a photo). However we originally wanted to do orange but didn't have the confidence. If I were doing it again now, I would do orange :)

Why not painting the wall in the colour you like and then put just glass in front, so you can change whenever you want?

@Nicolakwai - Now that original painted reveal idea is one I'm going to suggest my clients might want to try!

@anke - Nooooooo. Paint the wall and use clear glass and you're asking for dirt, crumbling paint and dying insects to get between the two and once it does the effect is not very pleasing!

Sorry Simon, you have no idea.

Haha, Anke. I'm going to put your comment down to slightly misjudged German English!

Hi Simon! You can invisibly apply clear sealant all the way around...it does work! Use mould cleaner to sterilise wall panel before painting/fixing. Admittedly, my bespoke acrylic idea does work best on a flat wall to ensure no air gaps. If you choose to paper the sheet with your chosen design to the front, that can act as a 'buffer' to a slightly undulating surface ..but again ensure it is dry and air-free before sealing. If necessary it can be taken off the wall, de-bugged, repainted/replaced, de-sealed and re-instated or abandoned in favour of a new trend with no damage to plaster, work surface or colour scheme!