Top Designers Dish on Kitchen Backsplashes

“Polished stainless steel. It looks very industrial, chic and finished all at the same time. And it is so easy to clean. Our aesthetic here at my company is more clean and modern, and we love the look of this. We buy the tile from Nemo Tile in NYC. It comes is several styles and sizes.”—Kerry Delrose, interior designer

“I am a big fan of simple white subway tile. Whether you have a massive budget or a very small one, there are options in every price range, and this classic look never goes out of style or feels dated.” —Brittany Bromley, interior designer

“I love the earthy casual feeling of this moody Moorish tile of my good friend Martyn Lawrence Bullard for Ann Sacks. It has timeless worldly style.”—Mary McDonald, interior designer

“While I do lust for handmade ceramic tile, I have to confess that we have been leaning toward working with slab on backsplashes. We often run the same countertop material the full height of the wall if there is no upper cabinetry. The slab keeps the eye moving and creates a less decorative and more architectural environment, which allows the cabinetry to be the star player in the space.”—Robert Passal, interior designer

“I love Heath Ceramics Classic Field Tile in Mid Century White. It has a beautiful timeless glaze, and there are a number of sizes depending on your needs.”—Brad Ford, interior designer and owner and principal of Fair Design and Field + Supply

“This depends on the setting. I love parged plaster intervening with slivers of graphic marble. I love classical one-inch hex tile with timber shelving forward of it. Then there is ‘modern Darryl’ that loves monoliths of stone that waterfall in a kitchen where all the cabinets are encased in marble and all of the counters dive into the floor.”—Darryl Carter, interior designer