Expert Advice: Textured tiles bring creativity, beauty to kitchen backsplash

Gone are the days when your choices for wall tile was basically a 4- by 4-inch, smooth surface tile, in a variety of "decorator" colors. Today, the choices for tile are seemingly endless, as a trip to a specialty tile store will prove to you. And the kitchen backsplash is a wonderful place where you can express your creativity with a beautiful tile selection. The typical ceramic or porcelain tile selections have been joined by choices in stone, glass and metals, with more varieties of shape, size, texture and color than you might think possible. These choices can suit any decor from rustic to ultracontemporary, and everything in between. The 4- by 6-inch subway tiles seen in this photograph are made with a slight variation in their thickness, which when installed create a wonderful natural texture. The tile's surface also has a slight texture, which adds to the almost handmade appearance. In this case, because of the beautiful texture of the tile, the expected band of backsplash matching the countertop that you might expect was eliminated, and the wall tile runs right down to the counter. Sconces that flank the exhaust hood add to the effect, since the shadows that the lights create further enhance the texture. When making your tile selections, first consider the overall look and feel of your home, and what you are intending to accomplish with the tile in the specific room. Then it's time to shop! Chip Vogel

Chip Vogel is a licensed interior designer with Interior Spaces Inc. He can be reached at (813) 251-8862 or on his website, intspacesinc.com.