New York Times: The Fix

“If you want your backsplash to blend in with the rest of the kitchen, one of the most common techniques is to continue the countertop material up onto the wall. Slabs of natural stone, quartz or other materials can rise just a few inches above the counter, fill the space between the counter and upper cabinets or even run to the ceiling in kitchens where there aren’t upper cabinets.

But there’s no rule that says you have to use exactly the same material for the counter and the backsplash. Marli Jones and Michael Kreuser, the owners of Rebel House, a Chicago-based interior design firm, frequently choose a more eye-catching material for the backsplash.

This approach is a great option for homeowners who like the look of marble counters but worry about etching and stains, Ms. Jones said. In a home in Park City, Utah, for instance, the firm installed solid white quartz counters that are nearly indestructible, but used more finicky Calacatta Arabescato marble with dramatic swirls of gray for the backsplash.

“Our goal was to do something fun and drive personality,” Ms. Jones said. “It could be a little more precious, because you’re not chopping or cooking directly on top of it.””

Photography: Lindsay Salazar