Sometimes the many choices in renovating a kitchen can be daunting. There are so many options for cabinets, flooring, backsplash, and countertops, that trying to match them together can make your head spin! One elegant and modern option is to go with a countersplash for your new kitchen.
Countersplash is the look achieved when the same material is used for both the countertop and backsplash. When installed, the countertop continues up the wall, creating a seamless and cohesive look. While countersplash is modern and popular in both contemporary and high-end traditional kitchens, cost and design are big factors in seeing if this look is best for your kitchen.
The Appeal
Countersplash creates a consistent, clean look in a kitchen since the countertop and backsplash blend together without interruption. Plus, having the same material for both countertop and backsplash means you don’t have to go searching for a tile that matches! With the counter continuing up the wall and no grout or dips between tiles, counterspash is also much easier to clean and maintain. “Countersplashes are a timeless feature and can create a sense of unity in a space – but also achieve a high-impact statement!” says Cara R., The RTA Store Designer.
The material that is often used for countertops include quartz, granite, and marble/stone. These options are extremely durable, and stand up to the heat and moisture produced in a busy kitchen. Gone are the days of scrubbing sauce stains out of light colored grout, and worrying about having to fill in cracks while grout pieces fall onto your nicely chopped onion! And because granite, quartz, and marble tend to not have textures to them, it’s an easy wipe with a towel to keep your countersplash looking clean.
Not only does using a countersplash eliminate hard-to-clean grout lines, but they also act as a protective barrier against water, grease, moisture etc. – Cara R., The RTA Store Designer
Put the Splash in Countersplash
Going with countersplash in your kitchen means one less thing you have to shop for and match. But there are still choices to make! You can either have the countertop continue as backsplash up the wall about halfway, which would show some wall underneath the cabinets; or you can continue the countersplash up to the cabinets, which is what’s typically done with a traditional backsplash. You can even continue the backsplash all the way to the ceiling, above the cabinets, if you won’t be using trim and tall upper cabinets to reach to the ceiling!
Short countersplash, which reaches about 4-6 inches above the countertop, is the most budget-friendly option here. It can also be paired with tile above it. Full height countersplash, that reaches to the cabinets or ceiling, is more expensive since you’re using more material, but gives the maximum “countersplash look.”
Another design that you can do with countersplash is bookmatched slabs. When you’re using a marbled countertop for your countersplash, two mirrored slabs can be used as part of the backsplash, so that the veining in the marble meets to be exactly aligned. This gives a dramatic centerpiece on the wall, which would look great behind a range, and gives a more detailed look to the countersplash.
Achieving the Look | Materials to Use
When deciding what material you want to use for your countersplash, the options are pretty much the same as countertops alone since it just continues into the backsplash! Most countertops today are made with granite, quartz, or marble which would easily work as countersplash. Other considerations include porcelain slabs and solid surfaces like Corian.
The majority of materials used for countersplashes are low-maintenance, needing minimal care beyond cleaning! – Cara R., The RTA Store Designer
Quartz is durable, low maintenance, and available in consistent patterns, lending itself to countersplash perfectly. Granite and marble are similar but give a more dramatic appearance and are high-end, which may require sealing. They are made with natural stone and will have unique veining to them, great for that bookmatched look!
Porcelain slabs are a lightweight alternative to stone that provides a similar look to the quartz, granite, or marble countersplash. You can also use solid surfaces like Corian as countersplash, for a seamless look that can be coved at the junction with the counter to avoid any visible seams.
Countering the Benefits of Countersplash
There are of course drawbacks to countersplash in your kitchen, versus separate countertops and backsplash, that should be taken into consideration before you commit. On the design side, while countersplash definitely gives a more dramatic look to your kitchen, it will give you less flexibility in style. Countersplash offers fewer textural and pattern options than tile, which can be too monotonous for those who like to match different designs with a mosaic tile for example.
With using full-slab/bookmatched stone, it will create a really seamless and sleek look – Christina G., The RTA Store Designer
Cost and weight are also large factors when choosing countersplash or traditional countertop and backsplash for your kitchen. Using slabs of quartz or stone for not only the countertops, but also vertically for the backsplash, can be more expensive than tile backsplash, due to material and fabrication. Plus, all of these materials are heavier and more complex to install, especially if trying to match veining or avoiding seams. Sometimes, they may also require additional wall prep before installation as countersplash.
What Would Our Designers Do
Our designers are like magicians when it comes to envisioning a space and style. We spoke with Cara R. and Christina G., The RTA Store Designers, to see how they would dress a space using countersplash!
Cara says they are the perfect fit for Modern and Contemporary designs, as well as Luxury traditional kitchens. Not only do they work for multiple design styles, but they also work for different-sized spaces! A countersplash can make a small space, such as a Galley Kitchen, feel bigger and more open by creating a seamless look. As for what cabinets work well with countersplash? Neutral-toned or wood grain cabinets could be the perfect fit with countersplash, depending on the color/material used. “Modern Wood Grain cabinets, such as our Portland Sand, paired with a light quartz countersplash, can create an organic and free-flowing look. A neutral-toned traditional cabinet, such as the Cambridge Antique White Glaze paired with a warm veined quartz can add a touch of luxury and elegance!”
Cara also especially loves to see homes accent these amazing one-of-a-kind stones. “No two slabs are typically exactly alike, creating a truly incomparable space!”
Christina is a fan of using full-slab/bookmatched stone, and truly hopes the countersplash trend never ends! She says it especially works well with contemporary/modern/high-end spaces. “It has a really sleek look because of the absence of grout lines.”
There are really two different options you can consider, Christina notes – full-slab backsplash, or bookmatched backsplash. With full-slab, you’ll get a sleek and luxurious look with minimal seams, and it works best for continuity. Bookmatched backsplash is bold and works as an artistic centerpiece, truly creating a statement wall. “I tend to use a full slab when pairing it with a cabinet that has a color versus a bookmatched backsplash, which is often going to be paired with a neutral toned cabinet to complement the bolder book matched option.”
Working with The RTA Store
The RTA Store is your online one-stop-shop for all your cabinet needs and accessories. Our ready-to-assemble and pre-assembled kitchen cabinets give you the look and durability of custom cabinetry at 30-50% less than big box stores. With A-grade plywood boxes and door/drawer fronts a combination of hardwood and MDF/HDF, our cabinets come with a 20 year limited warranty.
But don’t stop there – we also have all the accessories you would need for your dream kitchen and inside cabinets. Work with The RTA Store to complete your kitchen with hood vents, sinks and faucets, backsplash tile, countertops, flooring, and under-cabinet lights.
From spice drawers and plate dividers to mixer lifts and trash pullouts in the kitchen, you’ll find more inside cabinet accessories at The RTA Store than you’ll have room for. And it’s not limited to just the kitchen! Think file organizer for the office, hamper pullout in the laundry room, or vanity organizer in the bathroom, to make your space exactly how you want it.
Not ready to commit to a cabinet collection? Ordering fully-refundable cabinet door samples is a great way to see the style and color in your exact space and lighting. You’d be surprised how different a finish can look in different lighting! Plus, many of our cabinets have matching collections that you can mix together in one room, with one collection for upper cabinets and another for lower cabinets, or different cabinets for the kitchen island. Once you’re ready to start planning, a member of our free design service will work closely with you from steps A-Z, letting you know exactly what size cabinets you need for your space and double-checking to make sure everything lines up perfectly. Our upgraded design service gives you unlimited design revisions and unlimited price quotes, plus the cost of the service is taken off your total once you order!
No matter the room or cabinet of your choice, we’re here to help you make your dream space a reality at whatever budget you need. Located near the Hudson Valley in New York? Come visit our showroom on Route 52 in Hopewell Junction, NY!
