There's no question that subway tiles are classic. My own feelings on subway tiles, however, are slightly more complicated. When your job is looking at beautiful contemporary kitchens, you start to see a lot of subway tiles. and I mean A LOT. I'll admit, I became a bit bored of the style.
That is until I saw Julianne Hough's kitchen backsplash idea. Her innovative pairing of classic subway tiles with teal cabinets and brass hardware transforms the classic tiles from milquetoast to marvelous. The dancer and actress's kitchen features marble countertops that contrast beautifully with her black oven hood and rounded wall sconce. Her white subway tile backsplash with black grout reaches from the countertops to the ceilings. Overall the look is a fresh, fashionable take on the modern farmhouse style.
What makes Hough's use of the kitchen tile trend different? In my opinion, it's that her space takes a point of view. My biggest qualm with subway tiles in a modern farmhouse kitchen, is that they're often chosen as a 'safe' design. Rather than listening to their own personal style, trends, or innovations, people often choose these tiles are often because they won't date, are versatile, and easy to clean. While there's nothing wrong with this reasoning, it's not necessarily conducive to boundary-pushing design. Sometimes, 'safe' means refusing to take a point of view.
Shop the Look
Shop Hough's exact kettle at 20% off for Black Friday. This design-led piece can be found in the homes of Kylie Jenner, Hailey Bieber, and Jennifer Lawrence for its beauty and function.
Even if you don't have marble countertops, you can harness the timeless power of this beautiful stone with the right accessories. Store your spatulas and cooking spoons in style with this white marble canister for the desired effect.
Instill each day with the energy of an island breeze using these gorgeous seagrass glasses that look incredibly similar to those that Hough uses in her kitchen.
As seen from how Hough whisks her eggs, these plate bowls can be used for a lot more than Pasta. They are the perfect complement to a stylish modern farmhouse kitchen.
Naturally impressive to look at, the Boos Blocks in Walnut is made from America's only dark brown hardwood. The natural grain combined with its durability make this block a prized kitchen essential. Each Boos board is treated with Beeswax and gives it a soft creamy finish. It looks gorgeous against white subway tiles.
These wooden pepper mills are just as on-trend as they are useful. Always have fresh pepper on hand by your stove, while keeping your countertops stylish.
Hough's modern farmhouse kitchen, on the other hand, has a distinctive point of view: it is bold, contemporary, and original. Although her subway tile backsplash has the same benefits of timelessness and ease of cleaning, it doesn't feel like another splash of white in a sea of beige and white. The design feels like something dreamt up by Hough, but still has the same mass market appeal as a simpler space. It's proof that following your bliss doesn't mean risking saleability. Rather, it's about nesting in your space and making it your own.
To recreate her style, I recommend pairing your white subway tile backsplash with a bold kitchen cabinet color. I absolutely love Hough's choice of teal, but I think the look could be just as effective with black cabinets, dark green cabinets, or even burgandy. The personality of these colors helps to offset the potentially generic quality of subway tiles. Instead, it highlights their classic beauty and versatility.
Hough's kitchen demonstrates that it's never a bad idea to take a point of view in your design. When combined with classic design principles and theory, it's possible to completely remake an already established style.
