We did it. After this morning’s post we made one more trip to the tile store and finally picked our tile. We ordered just over 50 square feet to cover the entire wall above the stove, where we’ll add open shelves and a vent hood as mentioned in an earlier post. We spent time visiting several local shops and big-box stores to see what was available, and we had the most luck at a local tile retailer. The only downside was that many of the tiles we loved were very expensive—nearly $20 per square foot. That price can work for a standard backsplash, but it would blow our budget for a full wall (50 square feet x $20 = $1,000).
Here are a few tiles we loved but couldn’t justify at those prices (this smoky gray skinny tile was $17.99 per square foot):
This moody gray glass subway tile was $18.99:
This pretty cracked glass tile—part marble, part ice—was $16.99:
This small soft glass mosaic was $14.99:
Then in the clearance section we discovered a beautiful, soft gray penny tile with a smooth finish and clean circular shapes. It reads more like a subtle texture than a bold repeating pattern—modern without feeling cold, sleek but still soft.
Priced at just $5.59 per square foot, it was a much more budget-friendly option (50 square feet x $5.59 = $279).
Some context: we used this tile shop during a past bathroom remodel, where they helped us pick the right grout and supplies, and they later became sponsors of our blog. A nice perk is that they offer YHL readers a 10% discount in-store and online with the code YHL10, which we were able to use for extra savings.
Because this tile will be a main focal point in the kitchen, we knew it deserved a little thought—but we’re happy to stay well under $300 for the tile itself and save on labor by installing it ourselves. We think this will be one of those choices that really makes the room.
And here’s how Clara reacted. First she walked by and gave it a coy glance…
Then, naturally, she petted it.
It’s very smooth. She’s a fan, just like mom and dad. The tile is porcelain, so it’s non-porous and extremely stain resistant. We’ll be using stain-resistant grout and a sealer to protect it from kitchen splatter. I don’t want to be the one scrubbing grout up the wall with a toothbrush for years—thankfully a good sealer makes maintenance minimal. We used a similar sealer in our last bathroom and didn’t have to clean the shower tiles for over a year. You can even reapply sealer annually for added protection.
After we paid at the front counter, Clara declared “all done,” took my hand, and led me back…
…to the tile display for one last pet session. Is she the best tile salesperson or what?
Before committing, we took a sample home and looked at other kitchens with penny tile online to visualize how it might read with shelves and a range hood. We found examples showing penny tile behind floating shelves and some installations taken all the way to the ceiling in bolder finishes—those were more metallic than ours, but helpful for inspiration.
We also found a penny tile that looks nearly identical to ours. Try to imagine it paired with dark cork floors, white cabinets, and chunky white open shelves. It will act as a subtle texture in the room, layering nicely with open shelving, the range hood, cabinetry, countertops, cork flooring, soft grellow walls, the fireplace, art, window treatments, and lighting.
Here’s our sample getting cozy on the faux-sheepskin ottoman in the living room—definitely at home.
We also staged the sample with the cork flooring, a paint swatch for the kitchen wall color, a stainless-steel item to represent appliances, and a white ceramic tile to represent the cabinets once painted. The combination is starting to come together, and we couldn’t be more excited.
Before we install the tile and share the step-by-step process, we still have to complete most of the kitchen work—backsplashes usually go in after cabinets, appliances, and countertops are installed. We’re planning more demo and appliance moves tonight, so if all goes well we’ll have photos to share tomorrow. Slowly but surely. Or as Clara says, “slowly, slowly” (that’s what she thinks a sloth says).
Have you bought tile recently—for a backsplash, floor, or bathroom? Did you visit several stores or browse online before deciding? We rarely spend this much time on paint choices, which can be changed later, but tile, flooring, and countertops feel more permanent and take more consideration. How do contestants on design shows make these decisions in five minutes? Maybe the pressure is different when they don’t have to live with the result—or maybe it’s just the cameras and celebrity judges making it intense. Either way, we’re glad we took our time.