[knutter]

On our island, we have a 5" tall backsplash behind our sink that goes up and touches the bottom of the higher bar top on the island. (For pics please go to The Nutter Residence: Dream Home, Green Home) We have horizontal outlets and switches in this 5" space. The materials so far are soapstone, butcher block, stainless, and nexus birch. The end panels in the island will be corrugated bare galvalume metal (to match the garage - see exterior pics at same website), and the toe kick on the raised side of the island will be perforated metal over painted plywood.

We need something to put in the 5" backsplash place. We considered a 5" high chunk of soapstone, but we didn't like how heavy the soapstone splash looked. We considered a sheet of stainless, but we wanted something a little thicker. We were looking for something that could be around 3/4" thick and wouldn't be too much maintenance - which is why we aren't using the perforated metal over ply. I know there's always tile, but I'm wondering if I'm getting too many materials involved here???

Our current idea is stainless laminated to mdf or ply to make it 3/4" thick. Ideas?

[greenie227]

I think you could go with a matte finish tile, and it wouldn't look like too many materials. Coverings has some nice recycled content tile that might work. Check out Eco-Gres.

CoveringsEtc - Home Page

[DulcineaK]

there is also the option of metal tile.. or metal finish. i love cushion edged stainless finish tile (and i normally hate stainless.)

[DesignDiva]

I think maybe two rows of a stainless subway-tile size tile, or cold rolled steel. I have no idea if you can even get cold rolled steel in that dimension but it would be an awesome look.