Glass Tile Backsplash Ideas

The Pros and Cons of Glass Tiles

Pros:

• Glass is not porous like ceramic tile, so it resists stains, mold, and mildew.
• The colors and combinations are as limitless as your imagination.
• Because the tiles reflect light, the room where they are used will look bigger and brighter.
• Each tile takes one-half the energy to produce that ceramic does.

Cons:

• lass tiles are more expensive than ceramic.
• They scratch, and depending on the tile, the scratches show.
• Glass tiles can be difficult to cut.
• If your grouting job is not very good it will show through the tiles.

Use Your Imagination

Because the colors, and sizes, of the tiles are unlimited, you can create nearly anything you envision for your kitchen tile backsplash. Glass tiles pair well with ceramic and stone. Therefore, you can mix them up for a truly unique look. The designers at HGTV created a colorful backsplash with a variety of colored glass tiles and marbles. The result was a kitchen that makes a bold, colorful, and fun statement to all who enter it. Glass tiles can create a variety of looks:

blue glass tile	glass tiles	green glass tile
brown glass tile	green glass	colorful backsplash

Glass Tile Backsplash Ideas on the Web

The small, one inch glass tiles are a great way to incorporate glass tiles into your backsplash inexpensively. Rather than doing the entire backsplash with them, you can use the tiles to create a border for the other types of tiles you use. Use the small mosaic tiles with stone or ceramic for a custom look.

Some great sites for ideas are:

• Round Glass Tile Insert: this is very sleek, yet has a natural look that is appealing. The tiles create visual texture in your room, and would be great in an Arts and Crafts Style home.
• White glass mosaic tiles tend to look slightly green, however the luminosity that they create makes this small kitchen fantastic.
• Hakatai has a number of images in its gallery to inspire you. They have a ginger iridescent tile that is unique, with almost a mother of pearl look to it.
• If you want to try different color combinations,Susan Jablon Mosaics has a custom blend tile designer. There are hundreds of colors, and you can even recreate quilt designs. With this tool you are also able to use different sizes and shapes of tiles to get the exact look that you want easily.
• If you want to look at some of the kitchens that Susan Jablon Mosaics has designed, check out their gallery.
• Bisazza is an Italian company. The 2008 collection is very upscale, and gives a good overview of what can be done with color and pattern.
• Sicis is another upscale Italian import glass tile that gives you an idea of the versatility of this product.

The bigger tiles are good for a simpler look:

• One of my favorites is this iridescent black glass tile.
• Subway tiles are a feature of this classic white and blue kitchen. The use of the glass tiles makes the kitchen look clean and breezy.
• Art Effects Glass has tiles that you will have to see to believe. Designing a backsplash will be truly difficult if you stop by their site because the colors, textures, patterns and ideas are overwhelming.
• This custom glass mosaic backsplash is truly inspiring.
• Illuminated glass backsplashes add drama to the night kitchen.

Choose Tiles Last

Spending days looking at all of the glass tile backsplash ideas on the Internet can create enthusiasm to get to work on your own project. With all of the exciting designs and colors available in the glass tiles, it is tempting to pick out the tiles first and then design your kitchen around them. While that may seem like a good idea, you will want to choose the backsplash last, to compliment the counter top that you have chosen.

It is much easier to match the glass tiles to the walls and counters than to match the walls and counters to the tile. Have an idea of what you would like to do, but use the backsplash to pull the idea together and make it work. It will also help to keep track of your kitchen remodeling costs, since the glass tile will be one of your more expensive items. By doing this, you will be happier with your kitchen because the components of the design will work together, and you will be able to stay in budget.