12 Tile Kitchen Countertops That Are Surprisingly Fresh

By
Deirdre Sullivan
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Deirdre Sullivan
Deirdre Sullivan is an interior design expert and features writer who specializes in home improvement as well as design. She began her career as an assistant editor at Elle magazine and has more than a decade of experience. Deirdre contributes content for brands including The Spruce and Realtor.com, and has been a featured speaker at various conferences.
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Updated on 10/19/21
Modern kitchen with all white cabinets and appliances with light decor on black and white sqaure tiles

The Spruce / Christopher Lee Foto

Lately, tile kitchen countertops are starting to look surprisingly modern. Once a kitchen staple throughout the 70s, 80s, and 90s, these days thrifty homeowners see tile as an affordable alternative to more expensive counter materials such as quartz, marble, and granite. Even better, anyone with basic do-it-yourself skills can install some tile. So if you are looking for creative ways to refresh your cooking space without going broke, behold these inspirational tile kitchen countertops.

  • 01 of 12

    Hexagon Tile Kitchen Countertop Adds Pattern

    Hexagon Tile Kitchen Countertop Adds Pattern
    Seattle Custom Cabinets

    A retro-flavored cooking space by Seattle Custom Cabinets situated in the Pacific Northwest pairs a hexagon tile countertop with a subway tile backsplash. The winning combination boosts visual interest by adding contrasting patterns to the mostly white kitchen. Over the sink area are two vintage-inspired milk glass pendants lights. The range is a vintage Wedgewood double oven from the 1940s.

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  • 02 of 12

    Modern Square Tile Countertop in White

    white square tile kitchen counter sink and backsplash
    DTILE

    Ditch those straight lines in your kitchen with curved construction tiles. Doing so will ensure that a floor-to-ceiling tile pattern is not disrupted by sharp angles as shown in this small kitchen by DTILE based in the Netherlands. Even the tiny sink is covered with square tiles. Dove gray grout enhances the modern layout.

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  • 03 of 12

    Handmade Tiles on a Kitchen Island

    countertop with yellow handmade tiles
    DHD Architecture

    Handmade square yellow tiles are a lovely rustic touch in this spunky kitchen by New York City-based DHD Architecture. Tiles like these are best suited for countertops that are not subject to heavy-duty wear and tear.

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  • 04 of 12

    Marble Hexagon Tile Countertop

    Swedish kitchen with hexagon marble tile kitchen countertop
    Fantastic Frank

    A marble hexagon tile countertop makes a stylish first impression in this Swedish kitchen featured on Fantastic Frank. The backsplash is an affordable builder grade ceramic tile.

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  • 05 of 12

    Custom Kitchen Countertop Covered With Baby Blue Tiles

    countertops covered with baby blue tiles
    DTILE

    It is your kitchen after all, so it is perfectly okay to get mighty creative when tiling your cooking space. This custom kitchen features countertops covered with baby blue tiles. The cubby storage adds even more functionality into this stylish yet practical open concept room. The kitchen is by DTILE situated in the Netherlands.

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  • 06 of 12

    Tile Over a Laminate Countertop Using Marble Floor Tile

    Countertop covered with Marble floor tiles
    Tool Box Divas

    It's possible to cover a laminate countertop with some new tile. Here Timisha, the blogger behind Tool Box Divas gets the job done using marble floor tile—ingenious. Her super-smart DIY shares everything you need to know from the best tools to use, and the must-have tiling products for creating a watertight seal.

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  • 07 of 12

    Green Porcelain Tile Kitchen Countertop

    Green tile countertops in traditional white kitchen
    Lind Nelson Construction

    Porcelain tile is ideal for hardworking kitchens. The material is made up of different clays and minerals that when fired forms a very durable surface that is much harder than ceramic. In this traditional cooking space by Lind Nelson Construction out of Wayzata, Minnesota, porcelain tile covers the counters and backsplash. The lovely green tiles coordinate beautifully with the copper over hood and butcher block kitchen island.

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  • 08 of 12

    Large-Format Tile on Kitchen Countertop

    countertops with large format black Porcelain tile
    Schluter Systems L.P. / HGTV

    Tiles come in different sizes and shapes. Schluter Systems L.P. located through the U.S., installed large-format tiles in this cooking space featured on HGTV to eliminate the number of grout lines that come with using much smaller options.

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  • 09 of 12

    Gray Tile Kitchen Countertop

    Cool Gray Tile Kitchen Countertop
    DTILE

    Chocolate brown flat front cabinetry and cool gray tiles make this contemporary kitchen by the Dutch company DTILE feel incredibly modern. Both features pop against the crisp, white wall.

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  • 10 of 12

    Handcrafted Tiles Give a Modern Kitchen a Rustic Vibe

    Gray Handcrafted Tiles on countertop
    clé tile / Pinterest

    These gorgeous tiles from clé tile on Pinterest are 100 percent handcrafted and hand-cut. They add a rustic European touch to this kitchen countertop.

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  • 11 of 12

    Makeover a Laminate Countertop With Subway Tile

    countertop with white Subway Tile
    Jenny Steffens Hobick

    Here is another instance of how you can use tile to makeover an old and ugly laminate countertop. The best part? This project from lifestyle blogger Jenny Steffens Hobick costs around $40. Even better, it took a single afternoon to finish the job. If you lack the confidence to get started, she suggests watching a few tiling videos on YouTube.

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  • 12 of 12

    Yellow and White Retro Kitchen

    yellow and white tile retro kitchen
    Jackson Design and Remodeling

    You may not have guessed that everything in this retro cooking space is brand spanking new. Jackson Design and Remodeling based in San Diego, California went with a tile countertop because it worked with the kitchen's retro theme. The yellow range is Big Chill. The checkered floor is Marmoleum.