The trend in kitchen design has been to remodel kitchens to make them unique, showcasing the individualism and character of homeowners. As a result, new building materials have flooded the market and kitchen designers have come up with ingenious ways to make the old anew. A kitchen is no longer just functional – it’s a canvas which homeowners use to express their creativity.
At the Complete Kitchen and Bath Design Studio, a big portion of our business is kitchen remodeling. We are involved in dozens of remodels every year. That includes upgrading kitchen cabinets, flooring, interior painting, countertops and backsplashes. We are seeing many trends in kitchen designs, one of them being making better use of backsplashes as a design element in kitchen remodeling.
Originally, backsplashes were used to protect the back wall, adjacent to the kitchen faucet and countertops, from food and liquid splatters. Backsplashes are normally 6 to 8 inches in height and constructed of tile or the same material as the kitchen countertop. Even though backsplashes still serve that important protective function, they have become much more than that. After all, if you need it in the kitchen and it’s on display, why not make it beautiful right?
Even in kitchen equipped with beautiful granite countertops, stylish kitchen cabinets, top of the line stainless steel appliances, the focal point of kitchens is now on backsplashes thanks to brilliant kitchen designers who started using materials and colors that complement and contrast with other elements in the kitchen. No longer do kitchen designers restrict backsplashes to a six-inch height. The trend is now to extend backsplashes to the underside of upper kitchen cabinets or all the way to the ceiling, if possible as a design element.
Backsplash materials
The choices of material for backsplashes are almost endless. From the classic, and still very much in demand subway tiles to chalkboard backsplashes on which you can scribble recipes or leave notes for family members, the choice is yours. If you don’t mind grout and patterns that repeat themselves, mosaic tiles and glass tiles are a great options. If grout lines are too much of a hassle for you, you could opt of a solid slab of marble, granite and ever stainless steel for your backsplash. And don’t be too skeptic about going higher with your backsplash, the higher and wider the backsplash area, the more it will define your kitchen and add style to your kitchen.
In choosing a backsplash material and color, choose wisely so it does not conflict with the style of cabinets and countertops you have chosen for your kitchen. Some styles don’t mix well. The professional designers at the Complete Kitchen and Bath Design Studio can help you with selecting a great backsplash for your kitchen remodeling project. We work with many home builders and are knowledgeable of the latest trends in kitchen designs including colors, materials and design elements. Visit our showroom today .