Finally picked a backsplash tile after staring at samples for a week

I had two boxes sitting on my counter, one with a glossy white subway tile and one with a matte gray zellige-style tile. My partner kept saying just pick one, but I kept moving them around in different light. I went with the matte gray because it hides water spots better, which is good with our sink. It took me about three hours to get the first row level, but it looks so much better than the old laminate. Has anyone else used that kind of tile and had trouble with the uneven edges?

3 comments

3 Comments

mason2732d agoMost Upvoted

Honestly that uneven look just ends up feeling sloppy and collecting grime.

elliot_wright22d ago

Matte gray zellige is a great choice for a kitchen. Those uneven edges are part of the charm but they can drive you nuts during install. I found using a leveling clip system on the first few rows saved me. It helps keep the lippage down while the thinset sets. Once it's all grouted, that handmade look is totally worth the extra fuss.

sanchez.ivan2d ago

Leveling clips were a game changer for my zellige backsplash too. Took forever to set each tile but the grout hides a lot.