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We often think of countertops and backsplashes as two separate entities. We pair quartz and subway tile or soapstone and zellige, but we often stop short of using the same material for both surfaces. It’s expensive enough to splurge on a large marble slab for an island.
Thankfully, there’s a third idea, and it’s possibly the most budget-friendly of all: splashing out on a stone countertop cut to fit your exact space, then using the leftover scraps to carve out a small (but shapely) statement backsplash.
The Coffee Bar Backdrop
In this 1920s Spanish-style house, designer Frances Merrill used Namibia White marble for a bar–meets–coffee station and ran a low border in the same material along the wall with one clever detail: It bumps up where the faucet is installed, creating a standout (and waterproof!) moment that mirrors the curved edges of the sink.
The Wavy Window Base
British interior designer Beata Heuman crafted a similar detail in this English cottage’s pink powder room. A narrow ledge in a gray limestone curves subtly up above the faucet and adds to the symmetry of the narrow window and pendant lights hanging above.
The Allover Moment
An Art Deco vanity steals the show in this petite blush bathroom by Britt Zunino of Studio DB. Here, the designer drew inspiration from the arches in the mix-and-match mosaic floor tile to create a rounded pedestal piece out of Arabescato Rosa marble, which she then reflected on the wall. Even the double-height baseboards are crafted from the same material.
The Clever Corner
A random faucet placement seems intentional in Cathy and Garrett Poshusta’s butler’s pantry thanks to a marble backsplash with curved concave edges, a piece the couple found in their backyard scrap pile and honed themselves. An under-$200 tap finishes off this budget makeover.