Design Dilemma: Back Splash —
Countless times I see the lost opportunity of a good back-splash – no wait, let me rephrase that – a great back-splash! Somehow it is all too common that as soon as folks come to that decision making part of the process, they get cold feet and decide to play it safe. But, what a missed opportunity – don’t forget that kitchens need your personality too! I get it, maybe you’re thinking it’s easy for me to say since I’m a designer and do this all day. But remember, because I’m a professional, it’s my job to remind you not to get sucked into the process and out of the result.
Kitchen and bath remodels are long and arduous, not to mention costly, experiences. Most of us get as far as the cabinets and kitchen counter tops, that by the time it comes time to choose a back-splash, we are afraid of messing it all up. The most common mistake I see is placing the entire focus on the counter-tops (unusual granites, high end marbles) and fearing that anything else will take away from them. As a gentle reminder, all components contribute directly to the whole. And absolutely no kitchen will ever benefit from a beautiful counter top alone.
Spaces need dynamism, they need texture and most importantly, they need you. As in your personality that is. Are you lively? Are you playful or more serene? Do you cook a lot, or is your kitchen more of a make it on the fly, gather around place? Your back-splash should be reflective of this. And why such emphasis here? Because it serves as your primary vertical surface – i.e the one you see the most. As back-splash is like the jewelry of the kitchen, in a way it gives the space its soul.
So next time you choose a Carrara marble counter-top with beautifully painted cabinets, think of your homes architecture and your love of jewel tones and add something interesting such as this:
Photo: Urban Electric
Or how about with a warm wall color, add some geometric graphics? I cannot tell you how saves we get of this client project’s kitchen we did more recently.
Go on –
be playful and open up your new hard worked space to something truly fabulous and alive. Here are some of our favorite backsplash picks:
