decisions

Choices, Choices (Or, The Great Backsplash Dilemma of 2023)

/ Katie / 11 Comments

Well, just as I suspected we would, we went for it. We chose butcher block for the kitchen countertops. Specifically, a beautiful, oiled cherry. It just felt right. It’s going to look incredible next to the blue cabinets, and will really pop against the bright white we’re going to put on the walls.

The questions now is: What about a backsplash?

This is NOT the thing I thought we’d have the most trouble with. But here we are, and I’ve got no idea what would look best, and what would look right and not piece-y and would blend well, in our small kitchen.

A simple white subway tile? I don’t hate it, but we’re using that style in the master bathroom, and I feel like you definitely don’t want bathroom vibes in a kitchen.

Something more colorful? Great idea! But it’s going to look really busy in such a confined space.

Pressed tin? Yeah, it just doesn’t look…correct.

Just go without it? I actually would be totally fine with this, and I think it would look great, but butcher block requires some kind of backsplash, since it needs to expand and contract and can’t sit flush with the wall. Didn’t know that before. Do know that now.

We’re at a loss. And we’re up to our necks in tile samples. I know we’ll figure it out, but man, I just really wasn’t anticipating putting so much thought into this. The good news is, this is the last thing we really have to choose. I shouldn’t complain.

So, onward. Another day, another decision. What would you do?

But I like butcher block!

/ Katie / 28 Comments

Another day, another old house update. (Are you bored with these? You can tell me. I won’t be mad. And you can tell me if you’re interested and want to read more of them. I also won’t be mad.)

At any rate, work continues at ye olde Tail Feathers (our house’s name, for those who haven’t seen it in previous posts), and it’s going pretty well! We’ve got a plan for the main bathroom, the ceiling is looking much more secure and will be finished soon, and I think we’ve fixed the leak in the shower. And by “we,” I mean our contractors. Because Graham and I certainly couldn’t figure it out, despite years of trying.

Next on our list: the kitchen.

I like my small kitchen. I have no plans to expand it, but I would like to brighten it up and make it feel a little more like Graham and me. I think we’ve decided to paint the cabinets a very pretty blue, and the walls a nice, bright white. Not sure about a backsplash, as we’ve not decided on a countertop yet. I HATE the tile that’s currently there, and anything would be better. But we’re trying to decide between quartz…

And butcher block.

I love butcher block. As you can see, we used it for our small wet bar in the basement. I think it’s lovely and warm and makes a space feel cozy and homey. It’s also, unfortunately, pretty high maintenance, and when we’ve mentioned to friends that it’s what we’re thinking about, they’ve been…less than enthusiastic. But you guys, it just feels right for the space! And I don’t mind wear and dings and water spots and such. I mean, a house should feel lived in, right?

But as we think about it, we both realize that quartz, which basically requires no upkeep at all, is probably the wiser choice. It’s also more expensive, though, by a lot. So that’s the question at the end of the day: Is quartz a few thousand dollars (or more) more convenient than butcher block? I don’t know.

Sigh.

What would you do?