kitchens - is a splashback the same as an uplift? and are they nice or will they date?

[goonIcantakeit]

Our old kitchen is out, our tradesmen are despairing at the designer's "airy fairy" drawings, we have a lovely mini-kitchen in my office, it's good fun.

Now then - you know how nowadays people don't have tiles against the counter so much, instead they have the work surface bend upwards? Is that splashbacks? Is it nice or naff.

The nice vote: kitchen designer has assumed I will have them in his drawing and most people I know seem to have them.

The naff vote: flooring guy said "they will date - tiles will never date" and that did chime with me I have to say....

What do you all think?

[Helliecopter]

I know that as an upstand and so many people are getting them now. Think it depends on your kitchen style and worktops.
Go with what you like!
I like tile, it's quite easy to change them if you want a different look. The only thing is keeping them clean/splashes etc but I'd say that's not a biggy.

[Pinkje]

More dusting with an upstanding one I imagine. Like the idea of it in corian. That would be cool.

[deepfriedsage]

I like both.

[goonIcantakeit]

me too deepfried. In fact, I struggle to have an opinion either way, that's my problem.

[deepfriedsage]

In these situations U choose the easier option.

[IceCreamForCrow]

I prefer tiles.

With splashback I assume you have to paint the wall above it? Paint is ok but tiles are going to be harder wearing and I think look cleaner.

[noddyholder]

Tiles are very 'in' again I am an interior designer and am seeing lots of upstands and back splashes coming out atm in favour of tiles

[NotGoodNotBad]

I have both :) Just got a kitchen done with upstand matching the worktop, and tiles between that and the worktop. It's fab, but then I would say that wouldn't I?

Not so sure that it's exactly easy to change the tiles if you want at different look...

Neighbour had upstand and no tiles, but I'm sure the wall between upstand and units would get dirty in my kitchen as I'm so messy (splashes etc.)

[goonIcantakeit]

main aim is to go for timeless understated look (silly I know because everyone will laugh at granite one day). There is a lovely view from the window - want the focus on that... so no posh taps, etc.

Everything has to be sympathetic to to existing Victorian larder cupboards and existing Victorian stove that has large bright blue tiles.

I don't like idea of splashes - we inherited a stove with wallpaper behind it (I kid you not) and it got pretty yucky, naturally.....

[puffylovett]

I think tiler is wrong, tiles do date. I can safely say that while staring at the matt beige 80's horrors in my kitchen right now... Only saving grace is they are fairly neutral and so fade into the background!

Personally I would have a wood worktop, with upstands and preferably a brick wall not tiles, (granite around sink) or glass splashback - easily cleanable, painted or wallpapered behind.

Although I'm also very partial to the fired earth moorish style tiles

[Edithmark]

I've got an upstand kitchen and I wouldn't do it again. We had it done poss 10 years ago and really liked it at the time, v trending, etc. but it hasn't worn well. It goes up behind the wall cupboards so there's no gap but it has got tatty on the edges where it butts up to the window and on the other end too. Round the sink it hasn't proved waterproof enough either. To take it down would involve taking all the cupboards off and I can't bear the faff of that plus our builder friend said that it'll take the plaster off if we take it down, so I'm living with it tatty. I think tiles would have been more durable and coud have been replaced to freshen up a kitchen without as much trouble. If you want to stay Victorian then I'd say tiles definitely.

[goonIcantakeit]

matt beige 80's horrors in my kitchen right now...

ooh, I feel your pain, I've got those in my bathroom....

Ooh, Fired Earth :)

Do folk feel tiles more in keeping with Victorian?

[WhatWillSantaBring]

I've had a kitchen designer tell me that, rather than go for splashbacks (interestingly, the glass has to be coloured - if you paint behind the walls and use clear glass, it can go mildewy and you can't fix it), we can use a high gloss paint.

It won't be as durable, but it is changeable, repairable and a lot cheaper.

We might only therefore tile behind the stove....

This whole "getting something timeless so it doesn't date" is really really hard. A few threads on here have suggested that butler's sinks and granite worksurfaces will be the avocado suites of tomorrow.

[PigletJohn]

my current cooker, and the previous two, has a lift up/fold down glass cover over the hob, which mostly protects the wall.

It is a gas hob, and if the lid is shut, it turns off the rings if you forgot.

[goonIcantakeit]

that sounds like a good product piglet.

the electricians need to know if there are splashbacks or not. Presumably I can just say "yes" (for the purposes of them knowing where the sockets should be) then decide whether to tile above?

cor it's confusing!

lol about my future avocado suites!

[WetAugust]

Had to make the same decision myself in new kitchen.

Also currently have the matt beige 1980s tiled horror.

Have gone for upstands - about 10cm high and same material as the work tops. The cooker has a glass lid that is lifted while in use to create a tall glass splashback.

Tiles have always struck me as unnecessary in most parts of the kitchen where the walls just don't get splashed or, if they do, they can be wiped clean.

Not at all keen on glass as I have a mirror tiled into the bathroom wall which has become mildewed behind and it will be major work to chip it off and replace it.

Having chipped off 132 of the beige tiles off the kitchen walls there is no way I'm going stick another 132 in their place.

[furryfriends57]

Very interesting discussion as have same decision to make and I hate tiles because they never seem clean especially the grout, I like glass splashbacks and hadn't heard about mildew so thats out now too . Whatwillsantabring did you use high gloss and how has it been as it sounds like a good solution.

[deepfriedsage]

I inherited a kitchen oddly tiled. I think it was a DIY job. They did one layer over the worktop all around and brickwork style behind the hob. It is adequate. I sometimes splash cakemix on the wall, its just a quick wipe to get it off the walls.

[MrsZimt]

We had a new kitchen last year and have got wooden worktops and dark grey glass upstands and a splashback behind the hob. Kitchen cabinets are a lighter grey, white sink.
It looks good, would do it again exactly the same.
The glass splashback is very easy to clean - no grout.
I measured everything and had the glass cut to size, it was delivered including adhesive and I stuck everything on. Overall cost just below £400.
Glass around hob should be toughened, and all pieces came with a protective layer at the back (it's not seethrough glass) which is for keeping the glass in place in case it breaks and to stop any mould coming through.

Go with what you like. I don't care if it ages, I love my kitchen.

[deepfriedsage]

I think any form of black worktop will be the avocado bath of the future.

[goonIcantakeit]

lol, do you know, I think granite will be avocado you know.... that staining.... that weight.....

Butler sinks through are so pretty.... I want one with two taps....

[WetAugust]

I think you're right deepfried. And the hotch-potch of coloured wall tiles will be the Sun King bathroom of tomorrow. It's a very dated look already.

[puffylovett]

Yes but if you have a butlers sink, there will be the collective gasp of horror about having wood around it

So the advice will be to stick an avocado bath suite round it!

[IDismyname]

We have an upstand around our worktops, which I then have to dust regularly as it collects dust on the top edge. We STILL don't have tiles behind the cooker and its been 8 years since we put it in - we could never agree on them!

I just wipe my walls clean, and every so often give the walls a quick once over with the emulsion to clean it up a bit.

[NotGoodNotBad]

Well I have a granite worktop and a hotch-potch of coloured wall tiles. I am doomed!

But who cares? Everything goes out of fashion sooner or later, not much we can do about it.