wood as kitchen backsplash?

3 years ago

Any experience installing wood instead of tile as a backsplash? (No, I haven’t yet met a “wood” tile that meets the warmth test). Considering warming up our small kitchen with wood: a running single thick oiled wood shelf with matching wood paneling below, painted white wall above.

Any insights into what specific material selection (paneling, veneered wood, etc) you’d recommend? Or specific care or tips for this “sensitive” surface?

FYI in the adjoining rooms we have XL wide/long plank oiled oak flooring, and large format floor tiles in the kitchen. Please see first comment below for actual apartment pics. A few inspiration pics here:

Featured Answer

chispa

3 years ago

People use wood for counters, so I don't see a problem with using it for a backsplash. That said, I think you need to be a certain type of person, or family. If I lived alone I would have no problem with it, but I would never consider it with my family. My husband is like a duck when washing his hands! Water flies in all directions and he doesn't notice any of it, so he wouldn't notice that he needed to do a quick wipe down right after, so I don't choose materials that could be affected by continuously getting wet.

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Comments (17)

eam44
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Sar, in the first image, wood is not the backsplash, the counter material is. The wood is decorative. That is the correct way to do this. You want a waterproof material behind the sink, and an easily cleaned, heat-resistant material that won’t stain behind the cooktop. Wood is far less expensive than tile, but it’s not going to look good in the long term unless you follow this example.

Also, just FYI, starting a new thread for every new idea will get you less input. You might want to link this thread to your original thread.
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Fori
3 years ago
Not behind the stove of course, but I don't see why not behind the sink as long as you don't live with Chispa's husband or my family.

I'd want to tile behind the sink though (as you're saying you would) but if your sink is in there, it would ruin the look to have an interruption. The 4" counter backsplash that Eam pointed out is a good compromise, but I don't have the reflexive opposition to tile over a 4" backplash which is pretty much what is pictured, kinda.

You can probably get away with a good varnish or polyurethane if you don't mind the look. My dad has a love for spar varnish. You could hose off his kitchen table...

I think it can look very nice. It can also look like a paneled sunken living room from 1967 so you do have to be careful. :) Don't get a grungy wood (like your first example). Walnut like second example or a medium wood would be better.
Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
@eam I truly would very much appreciate if you could tell me how to define the entire wall area behind the counter differently than backsplash, as I asked in the last thread when you corrected me. I look and looked after you did and couldn’t find a better way to describe it.

Not that Inhave to, but I will clarify my intent.
I put the arrow in that picture specifically pointing to the wood AND the counter top material because I am looking for the technique and correct materials required to place wood properly, by someone who knows what they are doing. Which is also why I placed this thread under the “wood working” category, to attract specialists that might never have noticed the last thread about tiles that wasn’t. My question about wood was buried in the last thread, since I asked about placing wood and got more replies about tile and no mentions about wood. I’m not exactly sure where the idea comes from that I have very many threads about every little idea, but I think you’ll notice that indeed while a long time user of houzz, my skills starting threads is still very much as a novice, for better or for worse. (How DOES one respond back to someone where it actually links to their name? Or start a thread in the German version of house, what I tried to do initially yesterday on houzz.de and got corrected by another user.)🤷🏻‍♀️
I appreciate your helpfulness, but snarkiness isn’t ever friendly and only makes one look unprofessional.✌🏼
User
3 years ago
Hire a Kitchen Designer. Too many incoherent ideas and materials will lead to dissonance. Simplify.
Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
To speak authoritatively about design is always risky (and frankly naive). Trends and principles can redevelop and adjust every decade! Further, what exists in one cultural sensibility may be absolutely different in another.

Before anyone speaks to absolutes on these forums, they should have some required reading on “good design.” (As in, Google it and spend 30 mins reading what different sources say about it.) Good design — and design principles in general — isn’t about a rule, it is about the principle in application, and that is always evolving in the same way that how we use our design changes! This discipline to not speak simply from a “book” of rules of correctness requires high level intellectual humility, which requires good character. And that doesn’t come cheaply.

I was surprised @eams suggested the 4inch as the “correct” way to do this, particularly since she tackled a related backsplash topic arguing against two material backsplash pretty vehemently in another thread. Maybe that was simply against the backsplash material combos. Purists might argue the “correct” way to do this is without a 4” curb: bite the bullet and deal with the consequences or find the right wood and care to accomplish it. I find myself in the purist camp, preferring no middleman between the wood and counter, as accomplished successfully here in just a few of the beautiful examples. Her point that wood is cheaper than tile makes me curious of her experience building homes or buying materials, since after gutting and personally contracting out a 3200 ft2 house my taught me otherwise. Fine, expensive wood and cheap tile are as plentiful as their opposites! I would argue that using wood is not “decorative” as you suggest, because it is serving the purpose to protect my lime plaster walls, and acts as a backsplash that is wipeable — unlike my sensitive matte finish walls. Whether wood is heat resistant is a debate we will leave to the pros, but as to whether wood is easily cleaned or going to look good in the long run, those are questions of fitness of wood type and proper prep, care, maintenance of the material. But alas, that is why I’m here, to hear multiple perspectives! Especially when those opinions don’t purport to be authorities and experts in areas outside of direct experience or training.

@Fori and @chispa, your point about water damage isn’t lost on me!😂 Particularly as the space is a rental, I need to be sure my ducks are in a row before I place wood in the kitchen. I’m sure my husband will be grateful you put words to develop his suggestion of Polyurethane (that I rudely shot down), distinguishing the two finishes by name. When I go into the wood specialists today now I’ll have the vocabulary on my tongue to get right to the point to speak to more technical issues beyond probing about wood quality+hardness, including potential finishing options outside of Polyurethane and varnish, they exist (beyond beeswax and the like). Just the kind of helpful new input I appreciate!

No worries if this is too technical, live_wire_oak. There are plenty of designers and material experts already here that are up for the challenge, as evidenced by incredible houzz forums that I’ve referenced for years in building my own home! :)
Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
One example uses glass in front of the wood behind the cooktop. That is an intriguing option to consider to protect the wood in sensitive areas!
Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
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Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
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Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
Interesting how they handle things differently with shelving, surfaces, etc.
Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
For anyone interested, this is a quick, easy read of inspiring design quotes from some of the greats that have shaped design as we know it! It helps me feel more humble and curious in approaching design, that’s for sure!

https://medium.com/@protoio/66-best-quotes-about-design-of-all-time-60adedc13677
Peke
3 years ago
" To speak authoritatively about design is always risky (and frankly naive). Trends and principles can redevelop and adjust every decade! Further, what exists in one cultural sensibility may be absolutely different in another.

Before anyone speaks to absolutes on these forums, they should have some required reading on “good design.” (As in, Google it and spend 30 mins reading what different sources say about it.) Good design — and design principles in general — isn’t about a rule, it is about the principle in application, and that is always evolving in the same way that how we use our design changes! This discipline to not speak simply from a “book” of rules of correctness requires high level intellectual humility, which requires good character. And that doesn’t come cheaply."

SAR, I love what you said! Thank you. There are too many people on this forum who DO give authoritative design advice. Maybe they are newly minted designers and don't have the experience of how design changes over time. Maybe they are regurgitating info directly from their design textbooks. You are so right! Every culture is different. Every state is different. Every country is different. I get a little irritated when someone says "You can't do that according to design rules". Then, they give an opinion about colors based on a computer monitor.... Rules are made to be broken, I say! Well, sometimes!

My newest broken rule is medium stained oak cabinet with grayish brown LVT...GASP!!!

I love your idea of using wood as a backsplash. I know something must be done to it because of the flammability of wood. Lovely pictures, too. For some reason, the picture with plank walls, two windows separated by a vent hood, and a different color of wood directly behind the stove, is my favorite. Love the two different color woods.
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CabAve
3 years ago
Hi there,

Coming from a company that sells factory cabinets and also manufactures our own cabinetry, we know wood. Wood backsplash or counter top is not a very good idea. The moisture from the sink will be harsh on the material and cause it to fail over time. Backsplash is more safe than a countertop though considering water won't be on it as much. I would look into laminate. There are some wood grain colors. We have a laminated table in our conference room that has cherry wood grain on it. Water safe and looks just like the inspiration pictures you've posted above. Hope this helps! Good luck!!
Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
@Peke I think the temptation to get authoritative about what we are passionate about is always lurking for sure! But I think it takes a lot of genuine talent and courage to step outside the safety of “acceptable standards” to combine principles and education with your gut to really know it out of the park in history. Did any design Wunderkind not get there by doing this at some point? I guess that’s what separates them from the majority of us though, who try this and just end up with something WE love, even if it’s not extraordinary.
Great for you that you’re following your gut! Doesn’t the famous saying go, “Good design is what I like”? Three cheers for living in design that makes US happy!
Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
@CabAve thanks for your thoughts and experience!
I couldn’t get over the point of the impracticality of wood. Even though I’ve been fundamentally against it, by accident I found an incredible wood tile. So authentic with all the elements that I would have hoped for in wood, only lacking the real “warm to the touch” of wood. And with its visual warmth, that was the only small compromise for the immense practicality tile will bring. I’m headed over to the other thread where I’m asking opinions to figure out the wall storage, but I’ll post the pic of what will be installed tomorrow here.
Sar
Original Author
3 years ago
Will prob be tiled three tiles high to cabs/shelf. Deciding on tile height above the stove...
Peke
3 years ago
Oh, that is a nice color backsplash. Are they planks or tiles? I am looking forward to seeing it completed. I love the crisp white cabinets, but I am a messy cook...the cabinets would not stay white for long in my house. I would love them though if I didn't have to clean them. What will you do about switch plate covers if the backsplash is wood? I believe I saw some really nice ones online at a woodworker hardware site.

I asked a question about a light in a bathroom soffet and said I didn't want recessed lights. Two people just had to respond that I had to use recessed lights because "that is what the soffit calls for". I hope they are not pros because that was not a creative answer. Sometimes, when someone responds like that it makes me think that they are very young. Or inexperienced.

Keep the pics coming.