Thinking of Remodeling Your Kitchen?

May 15, 2019 by Suzanne Lasky

Below is a guest post focusing on the back splash design element for the kitchen. When S Interior Design works with their clients on kitchen remodels, we generally select the larger design elements such as counter tops and cabinet style before selecting the back splash materials. There are however situations where the ‘perfect’ back splash material guides the design direction and we build from that design element. The article below is easy to read and provides guidance on how to select the best material for your back splash taking not only looks but functionality into consideration.

How to Choose the Perfect Kitchen Backsplash

A great kitchen backsplash is not only functional, protecting your walls from grease and dings, it’s also beautiful, a design statement that adds to the beauty of your home and the character of your space.

The options for style, materials, pattern, and color are endless, so the task of choosing one can be overwhelming. In order to help you choose the right one for your kitchen, here are six questions to ask when choosing the right kitchen backsplash for you.

1. How much do you want to spend?

The first question you should ask yourself is how much money you want to spend on the project. The size of your budget will affect the quality and brand of material you are able to buy. It will also affect whether you will be able to hire a professional to do the installation or whether you will need to take on the task yourself.

Before you start shopping, identify your budget and stick to it. You’ll be more pleased with the result if you don’t stretch your funds beyond their limit.

2. How often do you cook?

If you cook regularly, you’ll want to make sure you choose a backsplash material that is durable, stain resistant, and easy to clean. Classic subway tile is stylish and versatile and is very easy to clean. Brick is classic and durable, but it’s tough to clean and will show grease stains over time. Stone, however, is one of the most durable materials you can use for your kitchen surfaces, but it often comes at a steep price.

Whatever you choose, the rule of thumb is that the more often you cook, the tougher, more heat-resistant, and long-lasting the material should be.

5. How much space do you have?

The amount of space you have for your backsplash will help determine whether you should go simple or busy with your backsplash design. This will also affect how much you have in your budget to spend on your backsplash material. You can make a great statement with an interesting material, pattern, or color across a small and concentrated space.

Keep in mind that busy tile patterns, when applied across a large area, can overwhelm a room and grow tiresome over time. The larger the space, the simpler the pattern should be.

3. Do you want to install the backsplash yourself?
If you choose a backsplash material or tile that requires intricate designs or hefty cutting materials, you may be better off hiring a professional to handle the installation.

Most DIYers can handle simple running bond or stack bond tile patterns, but herringbone and parquet-inspired styles may be more of a headache than they’re worth, so calling in the pros may save you a great deal of time and frustration. How much you’re willing to spend on the project will affect whether you can afford to hire a pro, of course.

4. What is the style of your kitchen?

Do you like sleek and modern or traditional and timeless? Is your home rustic or minimalist? Trendy or classic? The style of your home and especially the style of your kitchen will affect the type and style of backsplash you choose. Fish scale tile says trendy and playful, marble says stately and tasteful, subway tile says classic and sensible. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to coordinate it with the style you love.

You’ll also want to make sure that your backsplash coordinates with your countertops, cabinets, appliances, and flooring. If you need help picturing the finished product, try a design app that lets you take photos of you space and try on new styles.

6. How do you want your space to feel?

Once you’ve decided on the style you’re going for, you should then decide the way you want your kitchen to feel. Do you want to convey simplicity and function or are you looking for luxury and decadence? Do you want to reflect light into the room or create a sense of comfortable warmth?

If you want to create a light and airy feel in your home, then choosing a light-colored or transparent material is the way to go. Avoid dark soapstone and marble and heavy brick.

If you want to create a feel of luxury and indulgence, then heavily veined marble or sturdy granite might be the right choice for you (granite is very durable and heat-resistant as well).

Kitchen Back Splash–Do You Have One?

August 28, 2012 by Suzanne Lasky

A kitchen back splash is a perfect example of how design elements can be both FUNCTIONAL and LOOK GREAT. Having a back splash will protect your walls from stove top splatter from food and oil and water. Often people will simply add a 4-6 inch back splash in the same material as the counter top. We encourage you to take it beyond that and extend up higher, preferably to just under the wall mounted cabinets and even higher at the cook top wall. Similar principles apply in bathroom design.

I realize that S Interior Design is a big fan of the glass tile back splash as evidenced by the last 3 kitchen remodels we have completed for clients. Here are a few pictures that show 3 options we have used. This illustrates that even within only the category of glass tiles, the choices are many. One of our favorite options is from Oceanside Glasstile as they strive to eco-friendly in their manufacturing processes.

Below is a guest post courtesy of Erin Devine on the subject of kitchen back splashes.

Selecting the Perfect Kitchen Backsplash

Selecting the right colors and textures for your kitchen back splash can be a tricky task when you consider all of the options out there. There are as many kitchen and design choices as there are back splashes to choose from. Fortunately, knowing a few “do’s” and “don’t’s” can make the process much easier.

Keep in mind that busy patterns detract from the rest of the kitchen’s décor. If any busy pattern is to be used, it should contain colors from the kitchen to tie everything in and not create too much of a focal point. Further, the area of back splashes should not be large in comparison to the rest of the wall space.

Glass tile is one of the prettiest types of tile. Glass doesn’t attract mildew or mold, cleans easily, and offers numerous color choices. The reflective property of glass tile makes it one of the most favored of tiles because it offers an unparalleled shine and rich color.

Choose a backsplash to enrich the overall look of the kitchen rather than the space it occupies. For instance, choosing backsplashes one or two shades darker than the cupboards is wise. You can also choose a color similar to the floor in the case where the rest of the interior is of a light color. With that said, choosing colors that do not mesh create an eyesore. Glass tile backsplashes create somewhat of a focal point, however, they should not contrast so much from the rest of the interior that they’re all the eyes focus on.

Backsplashes belong under cabinets and neatly contained between other fixtures. Moreover, back splashes look best when placed underneath the cabinets. On the other hand, if pulled out onto a joining wall without a cabinet to frame them, the look is awkward. Keep back splashes underneath or butting cabinets or choose one in a color one to two shades within the shade of the wall so that it blends in. However, where cupboards frame the back splash, it is safe to go with a darker color.

Avoid drastic colored tiles where the rest of the décor is neutrally toned and colored. Whatever colors are present in back splashes should tie in well with the rest of the kitchen. In the instance of a multicolored kitchen, choose small tiles with each color to create a mosaic or opt for a simple design with a dramatic border.

The idea of back splashes is to accentuate the beauty within the kitchen—to pull everything together. The idea is to add to, rather than detract from, the overall appearance of the kitchen. When things don’t “look right,” people know it. Whether a person has an eye for interior design, colors or creativity, they quickly notice if things are off. Not to mention that home is a place for self-expression, rather than being overly concerned with how others perceive their choice of décor. For this reason, establishing individual preferences is key for any interior project. Back splashes are beautiful and functional and are meant to be enjoyed, so make sure that you choose a back splash that reflects your taste and accentuates the design of the rest of your kitchen.

Erin Devine is a guest writer for Floor & Décor Outlets, a flooring and tile retailer with a do-it-yourself attitude and an eye for style. She loves writing and maintaining her own interior design blog, DIY Home & Floor.