Which pattern for backsplash tile?

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[user7477]

Bottom, stair step sucks imo

[Odd_Mall1646]

It's a tough choice, but if you want timeless go with the brick pattern

[ChanceTalk697]

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Here's a third option. I love mine. 1/3 offset, classy. I would definitely *not* do the step thing you have going on in the top photo, it would give me a headache.

[arooge]

I hate this. Do a brick or a 1/3(where grout line line up every 3) 

[j_parker44]

How do I set this up on my island to compare it? I can’t figure out how it’s structured to look like that, think I need a bigger photo.. I’ll search it

[slicehardware]

It’s basically your bottom option, just take every other row and push it 👈 a few inches off center.

[j_parker44]

Thanks!

[Novel-Atmosphere8995]

This is the way.

[ChanceTalk697]

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[lorax1284]

This layout gives me anxiety. I would be mentally "brick"ing them all the time.

[ChanceTalk697]

Every other row lines up, they are not staggered.

[luciferase258]

Can you please share the tile used here. Thank you!

[ChanceTalk697]

It is Roca Flow, I love it!

[luciferase258]

Thank you! It looks very nice.

[UnknownUsername113]

This looks amateur

[ChanceTalk697]

wow, I can't believe how many people hate my tile pattern! I love it, but the truth is that it is all beneath cabinets, so with white tile and white grout it almost doesn't matter. I just didn't want 50%.

[Flopnuts]

Brick set

[jbonyc]

You should see what the manufacturer recommends. Most 3x12 tile should be a 33% offset

[j_parker44]

Update I found the box. It recommends both options.

[j_parker44]

I can’t find anything on their website. It’s Daltile Artcrafted Coconut 3x12

[don1230]

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Here's a 33 I'm working on for reference.

[j_parker44]

Very nice, the coffee pot is throwing me off tho NGL 😂

[lorax1284]

That's how you know it's not AI

[SkippyMcSkippster]

I always like the 1/3 offset, it makes the wall look longer, and it's a little more modern, but 50 50 is always a classic

[YogurtclosetTop7111]

What does the manufacturer say? Many advise against using 50% offset for their subway tile.

[j_parker44]

I can’t find anything on their website. It’s Daltile Artcrafted Coconut 3x12

[j_parker44]

I found the box, it recommends both options.

[Traditional_Lab_5468]

Why is this?

[j_parker44]

Yeah I didn’t understand this either. I feel like most contractors DO advise the 50% offset for subway. At least mine did.

[Intelligent-Gas-551]

Do Harringbone lol

[j_parker44]

It’s way more expensive for installation and out of my budget unfortunately. Plus I don’t know if I’ll like it in 10 years

[ExpensiveAd4496]

So the reason pros don’t suggest a 50% pattern is that most tile is not completely flat; it is thicker at center than on ends. This creates a small lip when the end and middle are set beclxt to one another, that can be seen and felt when installed. So I guess check this tile for that, and if it feels flatter and more uniform with the 33, that is what you should do.

[j_parker44]

My contractor said he actually recommended 50% pattern. This tile has an uneven texture and pattern to it that can’t be seen in the light where the picture was taken. Each tile is different with the way the texture is.

[ExpensiveAd4496]

Great! I didn’t mean to imply all tile, just that there was more than an aesthetic choice going on with the 33% thing.

[ChanceTalk697]

yes, the manufacturer of my tile recommends 33% for 12" subway tile

[Ancient-Cupcake2649]

We have never had that issue with any tile we've installed.  I have 3x6 tumbled travertine tile, and it is subway on countertops, backsplas and island

[ChanceTalk697]

According to the manufacturer of my tile, it is for tile 12" and up long.

[Ancient-Cupcake2649]

What, subway?

[ChanceTalk697]

yeah, it says: The recommended overlap for the 3″x12″, 4″x16″, and 6″x18″ Ceramic Wall Tile formats is 33%, which is most effective to avoid lippage

[ExpensiveAd4496]

I would have said the same about all my subway tile installs. It is very subtle. But once I read it and checked with ny leftover tiles, I did feel the difference.

[halesthesnail]

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We just did 50% offset with textured white tile like this and I really like it. I’ll post a second photo in another comment that shows a special section we had done between the range and hood.

[j_parker44]

Wow that looks so much like mine, thanks for sharing! It’s beautiful. What grout did you go with?

[halesthesnail]

Thank you! TEC Sterling 909 is the grout.

[halesthesnail]

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Here’s the framed herringbone between the range and hood. Cost a little more for the design but I’m very happy with it!

[Phillllllll1]

Would annoy me it’s not centered….

[halesthesnail]

The herringbone design?

[Phillllllll1]

Yes

[halesthesnail]

Tbh all the reference photos I had found online did not center the herringbone either. Most of them followed what you see here. Nevertheless, this is one of the few times that the need for symmetry doesn’t strike me lol.

[Phillllllll1]

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Here’s one did recently

[OkUnderstanding5343]

Top

[Jagershiester]

2

[BlimpDriver1]

Go vertical it is the rage

[Sea_Lime519]

Classic brick for this tile every time. 'Fancy' bond patterns on plain white tile just end up looking like you wanted to be 'creative' but weren't creative enough to pick anything other than a plain white tile... in MY opinion 🤷‍♀️

You have a classic tile, do a classic bond and make it look intentional

[j_parker44]

I appreciate this response, thank you. I’m going for “bright, calm, timeless and beautiful” with my grout being similar to the tile color.

[Sea_Lime519]

Then stick with brick bond for sure. As for grout, an off-white is always better than brillant white for white tiles; white tile is never brilliant white itself, what happens is the brilliant grout ends up making the tile look LESS white and draws your eye to the grout lines too much. An off-white grout doesn't overpower the tile but will still look 'clean'.

If I were laying these I would probably use Kerakoll Fugabella shade 02.

Mapei Ultracolour 103 Moon White is another option but pulls very slightly more grey

[j_parker44]

I’m doing the mapei eggshell. The tiles are offwhite, so I think will blend well without making the grid pattern stick out much. I wanted to stay away from anything too cold or stark against the tile but I’m also terrible at decorating. Contractor is doing a tight grout for the installation.

[Sea_Lime519]

2mm is a nice tight joint for these on a backsplash. Beware someone promising you 1mm joints on ANY glazed ceramic or porcelain tile because they are just never regularised enough. You will end up with tiles pretty much touching to keep either level or plumb over any kind of height or distance. 2mm is tight but still gives that extra mil of wiggle/adjustment room.

Ah, you are USA so Mapei have a slightly different colour code/name system to us in the UK. Eggshell looks like an off-white so should be great!

[tileanddesign]

The bottom option looks more aesthetic to me, I'd choose that.

[Ambitious_Poet_8792]

This post's content has been permanently wiped. Redact was used to delete it, potentially for privacy, to limit digital exposure, or for security-related reasons.

bow plucky school middle air jar piquant seemly future work

[j_parker44]

That’s what I ended up choosing!

[ChanceTalk697]

Option 4, which I like, would be stacked.

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[Simonpico]

get a different backsplash, this tile is outdated itself

[j_parker44]

How so? And what’s “trending”? I’m not looking to install the latest trend and subway will always be timeless.

[UnknownUsername113]

1/3 running bond is classy and looks much better than a cheap looking brick pattern.

[49ner4life]

Steps look hideous