Will these tiles look ok?

[YellowEllis]

Before anyone says, yes it is just a standard new build kitchen. I'm aware they aren't everyone's cup of tea.

I'm wondering if this splashback will look ok? The cupboards are an off-white/light grey colour and the worktops are a premium laminate with a chalet oak effect. Our floor is quickstep LVT in a slate effect. The tiles themselves are thin gloss metro tiles laid herringbone, they are edited on here but they'd go up to the top of the extractor too.

Does it look ok? Or does the tiles being white clash with the light grey cupboards? I will be adding colour through plants and accessories before anyone says it's bland. I don't want to commit to a colour in the tiles as then I can't mix it up. Opinions much appreciated

I love the herringbone, I think it looks nice but not sure I can quite see the colour of the cabinet v tile. Have you ordered a tile sample? That looks like a good visualiser - is it Topps Tiles? Would you be doing the whole wall or just above the hob? Will the tile colour match the wall? I don't think it is bland because of the tile pattern. What grout colour are you thinking?

I don’t like them personally and I don’t think herringbone tiling suits traditional kitchens, but that’s a personal aesthetic preference. I don’t think they’ll look weird or clash with an off grey.

Looks good to me.

@Lottle

I love the herringbone, I think it looks nice but not sure I can quite see the colour of the cabinet v tile. Have you ordered a tile sample? That looks like a good visualiser - is it Topps Tiles? Would you be doing the whole wall or just above the hob? Will the tile colour match the wall? I don't think it is bland because of the tile pattern. What grout colour are you thinking?

The tile is a bright white, and the units are a light grey that can look white in some lights, but do have a slight grey tone. The picture of the units on the website is really grey but they look nothing like that so I don't want to attach it.

Sorry, the tiles would go up to the bottom of the extractor fan, not the top. The walls themselves are painted white at the moment.

Grout I'm undecided. I was thinking a light grey to highlight the pattern but perhaps white would be more subtle

These were the only other tiles DH and I agreed on but I'm worried they'll be too grey as we have the light grey worktops and the slate floor looks grey too

I wouldn't go grey tiles if you've got grey cabinets. I think it will be fine as is. So the whole width of the wall will be tiled but just up to extractor height, as in the pic? That sounds good I think.

The cupboards look creamy in this picture? If they are at all creamy I wouldn’t use white tiles. But if they are light grey then white will work.

Personally I find the herringbone a bit busy. I would choose long slim brick tiles (not metro, longer and slimmer like 30x10 cm or 20x5cm) as I think this would widen the space visually and be calmer. But that’s personal preference.

I’d go with a veerrry pale grey or off white grout - Mapei Silver Grey or Moon white.

@Lottle

I wouldn't go grey tiles if you've got grey cabinets. I think it will be fine as is. So the whole width of the wall will be tiled but just up to extractor height, as in the pic? That sounds good I think.

Yes that's correct! Thank you. I know it comes down to preference, but would you think white or grey grout?

I prefer the herringbone.

I think they look really nice, and I would go for grey grout personally.

@minipie

The cupboards look creamy in this picture? If they are at all creamy I wouldn’t use white tiles. But if they are light grey then white will work.

Personally I find the herringbone a bit busy. I would choose long slim brick tiles (not metro, longer and slimmer like 30x10 cm or 20x5cm) as I think this would widen the space visually and be calmer. But that’s personal preference.

I’d go with a veerrry pale grey or off white grout - Mapei Silver Grey or Moon white.

This shows the cupboard colours a bit better, they look quite white with white worktops but we can't afford quartz and the white laminate options looked naff.

Our tiles are slightly different to the ones pictured, ours are 6.5x2.6cm

Thank you for your advice

The herringbone pattern would give me a headache, but white tiles with grey cupboard should be fine. Better than the grey in your second photo

@minipie 6.5x26cm I mean

Your visualiser will be able to change the rotation of the tiles for you so you can see stacked, staggered bond etc. Do you like it op?! I think it adds visual interest personally.

@Lottle

Your visualiser will be able to change the rotation of the tiles for you so you can see stacked, staggered bond etc. Do you like it op?! I think it adds visual interest personally.

It's not a visualiser unfortunately I couldn't find one that worked! I got someone to photoshop it for me I think I like it, I want to add a bit of something to the kitchen but worried it'll clash or look too busy in person!

I like herringbone in general, but I’m sorry I agree that here it looks too busy and crowded to my eyes. I’d also say something more horizontal and trying to get some more emphasis of width of the space. I love the grey tiles you’ve posted - do they come in a white/paler option?

[quote YellowEllis]@minipie 6.5x26cm I mean[/quote]
Hi, yes this is the sort of size but I meant laid out in a brick bond pattern (horizontally) rather than herringbone. I just find it wider and calmer looking. But that’s personal choice.

The picture I posted isn't actually my kitchen, it's just someone I found with a new build who's made the same choices (besides the tiles that I edited on)

This is my actual kitchen, not my choices though so ignore the tiles and worktop this plot is just further ahead than me so I managed to get some pictures. I'm hoping it's not enough tiles to look really busy?

And yes the cupboards do look more pale grey in those later pics

Ah ok! With this layout herringbone would be easier on the eye as the bit you mainly look at (the window wall) doesn’t have as much tile. Also as it’s not such a U shape you don’t need the widening effect so much

My other idea was we could do something like this, but with white tiled and herringbone behind the hob only and leave the rest laid normally, but the hob isn't a focal point from anywhere else in the room so I'm not sure if it would be wasted

That’s nice but your tiler will hate you and hard to get right, so possibly not worth it given not a focal point
Also is your hob and splashback going to be as wide as that? If not it won’t look right

I really like your other idea and I also prefer the grout in white rather than grey.

Last thought is how are you going to deal with the area round the window where there are no wall cabinets? With herringbone tiles you could either leave the tiles whole so there is a zigzag across the top, or ask your tiler to cut them so it’s straight across the top. If they are cut then you will need a tile trim or a small shelf to hide the cut edges.
Horizontal brick pattern takes away this problem...

We've got cream painted kitchen units and went for cream tiles (exposed brick on a couple of the other walls). These are the ones, they catch the light which can't be justified in photos. Ours is an old farmhouse though so you might want something more modern.

images.app.goo.gl/bBfe6feN6kUXwSoh7