I saw an episode of the Chip and Jo Gaines “Fixer Upper” show where Jo covered an entire kitchen wall in gorgeous brick for a back-splash. I had the same idea a while ago to use brick for a remodel, but the thought of keeping a brick back-splash wall clean of oven grease and the typical kitchen grime turns me off, because I wanted to use a rough brick surface (not really flush) and not the typical “smooth” brick tiles usually found on kitchen walls." Jo Gaines’ idea got me thinking again about a rough brick wall or back-splash. How do you folks with brick tile in your kitchen keep it clean?
Is this the one she did that you like?? https://www.google.ca/search?q=fixer+upper+brick+backsplash&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiDvd3GsYndAhUk5IMKHcFZBcQQsAR6BAgEEAE&biw=1439&bih=688#imgrc=j4iEyVB6QNQa7M:
I love the look of that brick back splash but I can’t imagine how one would keep it clean. I would think the grease would discolor it. Perhaps it is sealed with something.
There would be NO way to keep it clean. Grouted tile is bad enough.
It might look nice, but I wouldn’t do it in a cooking/prep area. A separate wall, yes.
At this point, my only choice for backsplash behind the cooking area is stainless, and I would actually love to have a sheet of glass in other prep areas. Some kitchens use stone, but I think it tends to be overwhelming in many cases.
Can you tell that I am TIRED of trying to clean grouted tile? 
Everything looks good when you first put it in………how will it look in 6 months is much more important.
I have had a rough stone backsplash for almost 5 years. It still looks great. My stove isn’t flat to the wall, though-it has it’ own “backsplash “ that keeps grease off the wall. I don’t fry, though, so it might be different if I did.
Yes abasket, I think that it was one of those. Tough to imagine keeping the brick spotless, the way I cook.
We have a porcelain backsplash that looks like brick. It is great and easy to care for!
I am clearly a much messier cook than the rest of you. 
No, Consolation. You are not a messy cook. You are a cook who hates messy backsplashes. Just like I do. Stainless or any impermeable material that does not stain will do for me.
(The first thing we did in this kitchen was to rip out limestone (!!!) countertops and replace them with quartz. No. Wine. Rings. No. Tomato. Sauce. Accidents. No. Beet Troubles. Love them!)
The eight of the back of the stove has always been my only “backsplash”. Never a problem with the wall getting dirty/greasy. Not frying must make a difference. That brick in the link actually looked good.
Countertops- unless for baking purposes (rolling out dough) I can’t see using marble as so often used on TV shows. I debated between quartz and granite but couldn’t find quartz I liked six years ago. Newer quartz can have less of a chip look, but not changing now.
Grease gets further than just the back of the cooktop. Ever check the tops of cabinets or the fridge? I wouldn’t do brick unless it’s another material that just looks like brick but is especially cleanable.
If you ever watch the few tv decorating shows that go back 6 months later, it’s rarely as perfect as day one. Drives me nuts.
If you like the look of brick, do an accent wall away from the cooktop. I agree that it would be a nightmare trying to keep clean and brick is too porous.
I enjoyed watching Fixer Upper and other such quality reno shows (they sure aren’t all quality!!!) but I often would like to see a “how we are faring a year later” - what has worked, what they still love, what isn’t practical. I’m sure designs are meant for real living but also for camera appeal.
Ultimately I will probably use porcelain tile or something similar. When I cook I am all over the place, so to speak. Cleaning a raised brick kitchen wall where the space for the grout is 1/4 or so in depth is too much trouble. But boy did Jo Gaines brick kitchen wall “look” great.
Nope. Brick is porous and it will absorb whatever comes its way no matter what.
One more vote for “too hard to keep clean”. That was the first thing our contractor pointed out to us when we were looking at a sort of 3D stone backsplash.
Could you put a piece of glass up in front of the brick to protect the area near the stove?
I love my corian backsplashes—very easy care!