TL;DR
Dave and Jenny Marrs used a cream-colored checkered square-tile backsplash with soft-blue cabinets in a kitchen featured in Season 7, Episode 9 of Fixer to Fabulous. The diagonal layout shows how simple square tiles and contrasting colors can add pattern without relying on a plain or subway-tile design.
Dave and Jenny Marrs used a cream-colored, checkered square-tile backsplash alongside soft-blue kitchen cabinets in a home featured in Season 7, Episode 9 of HGTV’s Fixer to Fabulous. The design offers an alternative to plain solid-color and subway-tile backsplashes, using a straightforward pattern to give the kitchen more visual character.
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The kitchen was part of a project to build a three-bedroom home on the foundations of an old barn. Jenny Marrs described the palette and design on the couple’s blog: “We chose a soft blue for the cabinets and paired it with a cream-colored, checkered square backsplash for a classic farmhouse look.” The backsplash combines two light tile colors, keeping the pattern noticeable without making the surface a high-contrast focal point.
The tiles appear to be 4-by-4-inch squares set on the diagonal, creating a diamond-shaped arrangement, also known as a harlequin layout. The same square tiles could instead be installed with straight horizontal and vertical edges for a conventional checkerboard grid. The episode and blog description establish the kitchen’s design, but do not provide a product name, price, or installation specifications.
Several variables could change the effect if homeowners adapt the idea: tile colors, orientation, grout shade and tile size. The Marrs used off-white grout, while a darker grout or more pronounced grout lines would make the grid stand out more. The design description suggests 6-by-6-inch tiles as one possible option for a larger kitchen with high ceilings, where fewer grout lines may suit the scale of the room.
A checkerboard backsplash adds character with simple tiles
Dave and Jenny Marrs paired cream-colored square tiles with soft-blue cabinets for a classic farmhouse look. The diagonal pattern brings visual interest without elaborate shapes.
A familiar tile, a different feel
The repeating two-color pattern changes how simple square tiles read on the kitchen wall.
- Cream-colored checkerboard squares
- Soft-blue cabinets
- Tiles appear set diagonally
- Use a straight checkerboard grid
- Try black and white for stronger contrast
- Choose forest green and sage for a tonal look
Tune the pattern to the room
Tile scale and grout can make the checkerboard stand out or recede.
Compare diagonal placement with a straight grid.
Larger tiles and grout close in color to the tile can soften the pattern.
Check actual dimensions, backsplash suitability and installation requirements before buying.
What the project details confirm
The article describes the look, but leaves product specifications open.
- The Marrs’ blog identifies the palette as soft-blue cabinets and a cream-colored checkered square backsplash.
- The tiles appear to be 4-by-4-inch squares; this is not a confirmed measurement.
- Brand, price, material and installation details are not provided.
A Pattern That Changes the Kitchen
The design is a practical example of how a backsplash can add pattern and contrast without elaborate tile shapes. Square tiles are a familiar format, but arranging them diagonally and alternating two colors changes how the wall reads. That distinction matters for homeowners who want a kitchen to feel more individual while retaining a restrained, farmhouse-inspired palette.
The approach also leaves room for adaptation rather than prescribing one color scheme. Cream and beige can keep a checkerboard relatively subtle; black and white would create a stronger contrast, while forest green and sage could make the pattern more tonal. Those are possible variations, not color combinations shown in the Marrs’ kitchen. The central design choice is the repeating two-color layout, which can be adjusted to fit the room and surrounding finishes.
Scale and grout affect the result as much as the tile colors. Smaller tiles or wide, dark grout lines can make the grid more prominent, while larger tiles and grout close in color to the tile can soften it. Considering those details before choosing materials helps readers judge whether a checkerboard will complement the cabinets, counters and overall kitchen rather than compete with them.
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The Barn-Foundation Kitchen
The backsplash appeared in Season 7, Episode 9 of Fixer to Fabulous, during a project centered on creating a three-bedroom home on the foundations of an old barn. Within that project, the kitchen paired soft-blue cabinetry with a cream checkered backsplash. Jenny Marrs’ blog description identifies the intended look as classic farmhouse style.
The design draws on a simple, familiar material and changes its impact through placement and repetition. Checkerboard patterns are also used on floors, but the episode shows the idea on a kitchen backsplash. The available description does not say whether the Marrs developed the pattern specifically for this project or identify the tile manufacturer.
“We chose a soft blue for the cabinets and paired it with a cream-colored, checkered square backsplash for a classic farmhouse look.”
— Jenny Marrs, on the Marrs’ blog
Tile Specifications Not Provided
The available project details do not identify the tile brand, material, finish, exact dimensions or cost. The tiles are described as appearing to be classic 4-by-4-inch squares, so that measurement should not be treated as a confirmed product specification. There is also no information about installation methods, maintenance requirements or whether the backsplash was later changed.
Suggestions such as black-and-white or green tonal checkerboards are design alternatives, not details from the featured kitchen. The description does not provide a measured comparison of durability, cleaning or cost between those options and subway tile. Homeowners would need to check product details and match grout and tile choices to their own space.
Considerations Before Replicating It
No follow-up announcement or additional project milestone is specified. Readers considering a similar backsplash can first decide whether they want the tiles set diagonally or in a straight grid, then compare color samples with the cabinets and other finishes. Tile size should be judged against the room’s dimensions, while grout color and joint width can make the checker pattern more or less pronounced.
Before purchasing, homeowners should confirm the selected tile’s actual dimensions, suitability for a kitchen backsplash and installation requirements with the retailer or installer. The Marrs’ example provides a visual design reference, but the final choice will depend on the materials available and the proportions of each kitchen.
Key Questions
What backsplash did Dave and Jenny Marrs use?
They paired soft-blue cabinets with a cream-colored checkered square-tile backsplash in a Fixer to Fabulous kitchen.
Which episode featured the kitchen?
The kitchen appeared in Season 7, Episode 9 of HGTV’s Fixer to Fabulous, in a project to build a three-bedroom home on an old barn’s foundations.
How were the backsplash tiles arranged?
The squares appear to be set on the diagonal in a diamond, or harlequin, pattern. A straight checkerboard grid is another possible arrangement.
Can the checkerboard idea work with other colors?
Yes. Black and white or two related shades such as forest green and sage are possible adaptations. Those combinations are suggestions, not the colors used in the featured kitchen.
What details should homeowners check before copying the look?
Consider tile size, layout, grout color and grout-line width in relation to the room. The specific tile brand, exact dimensions and installation details for the Marrs’ kitchen have not been provided.
Source: hunker.com
