Ditch Subway Tile: Dave & Jenny Marrs Have A Better Idea For Farmhouse-Style Kitchens

If someone asks you to imagine a basic, builder-grade kitchen backsplash, there's a good chance you'll picture white subway tiles. These rectangular fixtures are a safe choice for the heart of the home, and have been around for more than 100 years thanks to their clean, hygienic look. However, when you're designing a kitchen today, you have far more interesting choices for your backsplash. If you're going for a farmhouse aesthetic, in particular, you'll definitely want to take a look at an elegant-looking material that HGTV stars Dave and Jenny Marrs showcased in season 5, episode 4 of their show "Fixer to Fabulous." It's a large, handmade Moroccan zellige tile with a grid of clay-colored lines and dark blue stars. It's classy and chic, and catches the eye from afar.

In a blog post about the renovation on the couple's website, Jenny Marrs says that her client "likes farmhouse style, so we went with cream-colored cabinets, a light blue shade on the island and a farmhouse-inspired tile for the backsplash. I absolutely love the detail and color of these handmade tiles. Now, the kitchen is cozy and joyful." The backsplash is certainly a focal point thanks in part to its glossy finish, and its muted colors pair nicely with the rest of the space. The square geometry of its pattern gives it a unique wallpaper-like appearance, and overall, the surface is far more seamless than the likes of subway tile. It'll definitely pair well with all sorts of modern farmhouse kitchen ideas that are warm and welcoming.

Dave and Jenny Marrs appear to have used the Tiles of Ezra Moroccan Zellige Estela Mosaic tiles. The handcrafted nature of the tiles ensure that they add tons of farmhouse-style character to the renovated kitchen. However, it's worth noting that traditional zellige tiles like these are available in all sorts of other colors and patterns, so there's no shortage of different ways to use them to make your kitchen visually distinct. Generally, though, they'll usually all have the same glossy, reflective quality, and a high level of heat-resistance. In a neutral color, this backsplash tile usually looks timeless. This is especially true in spaces that lean on farmhouse design, where natural materials and textures are key. Don't forget to make sure that your cabinets and walls pair well with your tile colors, too. There are plenty of rustic farmhouse paint colors worth considering if you haven't decided on a palette yet.

There are a couple of notable drawbacks to using zellige tiles for your backsplash. The first is that, because they're often handmade, they don't always come in perfectly uniform shapes. Though this adds artisan character to the farmhouse kitchen, it can also make the backsplash harder to clean. Additionally, handmade zellige tiles can cost more than other kinds of tiles, simply because they aren't mass produced. In most cases, they also require professional installation — so they're not the best for those seeking to DIY their backsplash. If you decide that these tiles aren't going to be the best fit for your space, there's a unique backsplash trend that'll transform your kitchen that you can try out instead.