This cheerful backsplash was installed by a son for his mother, a zoo docent with a deep love for animals.
The project features a collection of animal tiles set among simple white field tiles, creating a bright background that allows the relief designs to stand out. For this installation, I made the animal tiles along with the bullnosed edge pieces that frame the backsplash.
The white field tiles have a softly handmade look that blends beautifully with the relief tiles, but they are actually from from Home Depot. The brand is Ivy Hill, and the color is called either Kingston White or Amagansett Gin. From the photos, the color match between the two types of tile looks nearly perfect.
One of my favorite details from this project is that the homeowner made sure all of the animals had appropriate distances between them. As someone who has spent years sharing her knowledge of animals with zoo visitors, it seems only fitting that the creatures in her own kitchen backsplash would be thoughtfully arranged as well.
It’s always a pleasure to see the tiles find their way into homes where they connect so naturally with the lives and interests of the people who live there. Big thanks to W.S. and your mother for including my tiles in this project and for taking the time to send pictures!
