[Emmie9999]

Hi everyone!

After a week at my mother's house on the "Joisey Shore", I have come home with a pretty final plan for our kitchen decor. It was one of those moments when you flip on the TV, point a finger, and say "I REALLY like that." and everyone in the room goes "Ya know.....that would look really pretty!" Even my ever-so-picky DH!

The kitchen is from the show "Everyday Italian" with Giada Di Laurentiis on Food Network. She is currently working in a kitchen with white cabinets that are kinda shaker (Adel white would be a perfect match), black counter tops (like soapstone) and a pale green tile backsplash. I can't find a still photo, but if you go to this link here: food network videosand choose Giada's videos, you will see it in the "Easy Lingiuini with Arugula" or the "Pesto Shrimp" videos. It's a very simple look: 4"x4" tiles (I think) set in a row and column pattern. Over the stove, there is a slimlistel or trimabove the tiles, and then the same tiles set on the diagonal going up to the base of the hood.

These are really simple tiles, and they should be pretty simple to find. I've looked through the tile sources listed here, and have started checking locally, but so far I have had no luck locating something that is this sort of sage-y green color. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them! I'd also be willing to explore glass tile. I love Jen's sea glass subways in her Adel MB kitchen, but although the color would be great, Susan Jablon doesn't make squares of that size.

I did email the show, because if they can tell me what tile it is, I can always try to get a sample. However, I have found an interesting little fact: It's not a set at all. They RENT the house where the show is filmed for about three months, and during that time the family relocates. So, assuming the producers respond, I don't know if they will be able to tell me anything.

I know it's early to be looking, since my DH and I are not planning to start until after the New Year. However, we are really trying to get a working budget going. Knowing that we could get the tile at an affordable cost would be very helpful! And yes, I know, I have had design ideas before, and have changed my mind a hundred times! But this kitchen has been in my "inspiration files" for a while, and this time it just clicked.

Thanks in advance,

Emmie

[jgsearls]

Weeelll...I was all set to impress you with my one tidbit about that show (that it's not a set at all) and well...you already knew it.

This site has glass tiles in various colors. They do have a 4" x 4" and it does come in some great green colors...about $26/sf

http://www.ecowise.com/green/tile/gtile.shtml

[Emmie9999]

Thank you so much, Jen! When I said any kitchen on here could BE one of the sets, yours was the first one I thought of! Besides the fact that it is incredibly gorgeous, you have already experienced having the TV crews in there, and you would probably be an incredibly gracious hostess. Just make sure they relocate you to Palm Springs in the winter, and when they are done they owe you a freezer FULL of leftovers!

The honeydew looks like the closest match:



Wintergreen might be too blue?



I might order a few samples. Again, thank you so much!

Does anyone else have any ideas?

Emmie

[jgsearls]

You ma dear are good for my ego

Oh and the tv cameras thing - big pain in the a$$. I don't know how/why reality tv stars do it. The lights. The sound people. The cameras and wires everywhere - blech.

And yes on the Honeydew.

[laurie]

I love the Wintergreen!! My original plan for my kitchen was a traditional, creamy off-white cabinetry with a green-blue tile for the backsplash. I just can't get that with IKEA. I'm still rather bumming about that.

[GardenOfDarwin]

Emmie -- You and I have the same tastes, my dear. I actually have a 4x4" glass tile in a seafoam green...pebbly texture that I just can't commit to, because I also have a loverly marble subway tiles AND some matching marble basketweave tile. Unfortunately, I bought them at an auction, and I've never been able to find any information on the manufacturer. I'll see if I can find anything now...it's been probably a year since I got them! Egads! :shock:

Susan

[Emmie9999]

Thanks, eveyone! I'm going to get a sample of each. Keep the ideas coming if you have them. Glass is cool, but ceramic is also fine. I have to surf a bit tonight and see if I find anything.

Laurie: I know, sometimes it's hard to let the dream go, isn't it, no matter how much you adore what you get? I still drool over solid cherry cabinets...

Susan: Marble subway tile at an auction? Wow! The auctions I go to sell mahogany hat stands, Depression Glass, and tea cup collections. I've never THOUGHT of looking for auctions that have things like tiles. Was it an estate auction, or a business liquidation? I'm asking mostly out of curiousity, auctions are just such a neat way to find things!

Emmie

[GardenOfDarwin]

Actually, the glass tiles came from an auction from a local business that deals in wholesale items, liquidation items, returns from places like Costco, Home Depot, etc. and the occassional unclaimed freight container. I'm assuming the tiles came from one of those. At about $2 a square foot, they were a steal! We also got our Kohler cast iron sink from them ($110), and a bunch of Rev-A-Shelf stuff for about 75% off retail.

The marble tiles I purchased (the basketweave) and was given (very generously by PaigeCT) -- both originally came from MaestroMosaics. I still can't decide what to do where and my brilliant idea I had to combine all of them into one marvelous fiesta has long since faded. :?

The backsplash remains painted.

Susan