Hi there! Alright, today we're are here to talk about something that most people don't really think about when they are designing their kitchen, but it's very important and that's grout. Carla in Haddonfield, New Jersey asks: my newly installed kitchen backsplash is a modern red glass mosaic tiles. My countertops are neutral coat surface. Is there a general rule about matching your grout color to your countertop?

The general rule is is that there is no general rule. Grout can change the look and feel of a backsplash which can change the look and feel of your space. Alright, so you have got this beautiful bold red tile. Now you've got to decide whether or not you want to do a lighter color grout, which will make each individual tile standout or something a little bit more subdued that's going to make the entire backsplash seem a little bit more seamless.

In this particular episode of Spice Up My Kitchen, I use the contrasting grout which can make each individual tile seem more prominent. This is a backsplash that's all glass. I didn't want to add a contrasting color to really bring out each individual tile, because they don't need help popping. So instead, I use the nice neutral color and each tile is just really, really connected to the other one; the beautiful cohesive look.

The wider the grout, then the more individual the tiles look which give it more visual interest and also texture. Take a look at this particular backsplash where we used a wider grout. And now, take a look at this backsplash where we use a thinner grout. You see the difference? The texture and the width makes each tile more visible. Now, if you have these gorgeous red glass tile and you really want to make you backsplash seem like one huge sheet of glass, I say, go for grout that matches the color of your tiles.

Now on the other hand, you could do something with a contrasting grout color, say like the color of your countertop. That's going to make each individual red tile pop. You just got to decide whether you want the tiles to be the star or the contrast to be the star.

Alright Carla, there you have it. Everything you want to know about grout that you were afraid to ask. Remember, little details can make a huge impact in your space. Alright, thanks for writing in and keep the questions coming, I am here to help.