There are endless ways to give a space extra personality and elegance. Pendant lights, gallery walls, a little pop of color or the perfect piece of art—these are ways you make your space say you. Looking for another place to do that? Don’t count out the backsplash.
Usually created from tile or stone, a backsplash can create a focal point and an area of visual interest behind a kitchen’s range or sink. It’s an easy space to overlook, but don’t be fooled: you can get a lot of style out of that small space. You can get a lot of style out of that small space.
We perused our archives, as well as the archives of our sister publications MORRIS & ESSEX and BERGEN, and curated a collection of some of our favorite backsplashes to inspire you:
Designed by Linda Granert of Granert Interior Planning & Design in Midland Park, this Ramsey kitchen uses a backsplash of white marble tiles to add texture to a bright, clean space.
The homeowners had a super-specific vision for the kitchen of their Livingston home. Sharon Sherman of Wyckoff-based Thyme and Place Design delivered that and more. Contrasting the dark, smooth material of the island, the marbled design of the backsplash draws eyes and pulls the space together.
In this East Orange townhouse, the kitchen takes inspiration from Europe, a place the homeowners have toured extensively. Holmdel-based designer James Yarosh used patterns to enliven a neutral palette, particularly in the backsplash behind the stovetop.
Copper takes center stage in this West Caldwell kitchen, designed by Teresa Boyd and Helena Finkelstein of Verona-based Olive Hill Design Company. Using the homeowner’s heirloom pieces as inspiration, the copper backsplash behind the range gives this space the perfect English country feel.
Practicality was the name of the game for this Closter kitchen, designed for the needs of a large family with three school-aged kids. But designer Aprana Vijayan of Ulrich Inc. in Ridgewood made sure to add touches of fun and whimsy, including the hand-painted Carrara tiles behind the range (also a nod to the homeowners’ culture, as this family blends Filipino, Syrian and Eastern European heritage).
This Wyckoff kitchen, also designed by Sherman, won her a Design Excellence Award from the New Jersey chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. Along with the dramatic tones of Benjamin Moore’s Grape Juice, the mosaic tile backsplash by AKDO through Wayne Tile of Ramsey adds visual interest. It continues all the way up to the vaulted ceiling.
Though a broken pipe necessitated this kitchen reno in Holmdel, Shesi Azeez of All Things Were Made exceeded expectations by enveloping the space in Viola Calacatta marble. The eye-catching veining adds the perfect touch of drama.
The kitchen of a summer home in Avalon became sun-filled and airy under the expert hands of Karen Wolf of Beach Haven’s K + Co Living. Essential to that vibe is the porcelain that mimics Calacatta-gold style veining, which wraps all around the room.
In this Bay Head beach house, the wet bar was one massive piece of millwork, and a priority to reuse. Beth Insabella Walsh of Little Silver’s Insabella Design elevated it with an old-world-style backsplash, created from antique mirrors.
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