Kitchen- Backsplash & Cabinets Combo W Island & Countertop
2. Consider the cabinetry. Depending on the kitchen, Ahmann might start with the cabinet as the beginning of the materials palette. “This is what ends up being most ‘in your face,’ as the wall cabinets are smack dab at eye level,” he says. Kelly keeps his materials choices as simple and natural as possible. Slate, marble and wood are all common choices. He recommends sticking to a small palette — three or four materials — to keep it simple. Look for light-colored cabinetry to keep the space open and bright, using other materials in small doses for visual depth and texture.
Braided Beauty Designers: Jenni Leasia and Jordan Allen of Jenni Leasia Design Location: Portland, Oregon Size: 215 square feet (20 square meters) Homeowners’ request: Open and update a dark, closed-off kitchen to include lots of natural light and a high-impact backsplash Backsplash: Carrara and Thassos marble mosaic tile in Braid 2 pattern from Ann Sacks’ Benton Mosaics collection. “We were thinking of a mosaic but didn’t want it to be too ornate or traditional,” says designer Jenni Leasia. “This mosaic uses classic materials in a fresh organic pattern that plays well with the mint-green Lacanche range. The pattern has presence while allowing the range to stay center stage.”
Backsplash: Fatima hand-painted field tile in Mezzanotte finish from Walker Zanger’s Duquesa collection. “The backsplash was the wow factor to add to an otherwise white kitchen,” says designer Glenn Travis. “We considered doing a pattern tile on the floor, but the clients didn’t want to commit to that, so we put it on the walls. It really made the kitchen pop and added interest. The classic color palette and design will keep it timeless, so it wasn’t that risky to do.”
4. The Two-Tone Touch This modest-size kitchen in Pittsburgh glows with soft style. Designed by You-Neek Designs and built by Prime 1 Builders, it features two-tone cabinets (Jasper Stone for the lowers and Mindful Gray for the uppers, both by Sherwin-Williams) and two backsplash designs, one of which surrounds the windows for variety.
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