Kitchen
Grout For patterned tile, usually the best bet is to choose a color that will blend into the tiles as much as possible so as to not interrupt the pattern. Look to the edges of the tile to see what color will be up against the tile the most. In this floor tile, the black is what stands out to the eye, but the white portions are more toward the edges of the tile, so a light grout is the more effective choice — a dark grout would chop the pattern up too much.
White tile + Gray grout Even in a simple brick pattern, a soft gray grout paired with white tile makes for a solid choice for traditional or transitional spaces. It brings a level of subtle richness that suits Shaker cabinets, veined stone counters, warm wood floors and other sumptuous finishes — and it’s timeless too.
White tile + Gray Grout It’s also useful for calling attention to an interesting layout of tiles in a plain shape, such as classic subway tile laid in a herringbone. The carefully selected pattern is emphasized by the grout, so the extra effort on installation doesn’t go to waste.
A soft gray just a few shades darker than the tile is a popular choice because it highlights a tile pattern without shouting for attention. This is especially true for tiles in which the shape, rather than a color or print, is the main feature, such as the charming fish scale shown here.
Unwrap Your Hood You may not want to eliminate any true upper cabinets, but the partial cabinets that wrap around a hood fan usually have little function other than hiding ductwork. Choose a beautiful range hood that is meant to be seen, and let it create a little visual break from the upper cabinets. Even this small bit of depth can make a kitchen feel less claustrophobic.
Use a Short Backsplash So you’ve carefully configured your storage, and now you’ve got some beautiful open wall space. To make that wall look 10 feet tall (even if it’s only 8), try using a short, minimal backsplash in a color that blends with the wall. The lack of an obvious dividing line between where the tile stops and the plain wall starts keeps the planes of the wall looking taller, so your open space looks positively vast.
Shallow Cabinets Here’s some outside-the-box thinking: Not all of your lower cabinets must be the standard 24-inch depth. Most cabinet lines (even stock cabinets from big box stores) also come in a 12- or 15-inch depth usually used for upper cabinets. Using slimmer lower cabinets for one area has its advantages. It opens a bit more floor space, which can make a big difference in a tight kitchen. It also reduces your storage slightly, but often the backs of deep cabinets are hard to reach anyway, so the shallower cabinets can be just right for everyday items.
Vertical Direct the eye upward. Choose patterns and visual elements that help to guide the gaze toward the ceiling. The vertical lines of the wall and ceiling boards in this kitchen lend the impression of greater height.
Paint Paint cabinets the same color as the walls. Limiting the cabinetry and the wall color to a single hue erases visual boundaries that might stop the eye. The conventional school of thought is that pale colors will reflect light and make the space feel bigger, and that’s certainly a safe approach. But don’t be afraid to go dark, either. Deep tones such as black, navy, charcoal and chocolate recede visually and create the impression that the walls are farther back than they really are.
Drawers Alper went with 24-inch-wide drawers throughout the kitchen, adding additional storage through floor-to-ceiling cabinetry next to the fridge. Large-format porcelain floor tiles made installation faster and labor less expensive. Flooring: Bedrosians; wall hooks: Marston, Restoration Hardware; lighting: Schoolhouse Electric; red clock: Etsy
Gray bottom cabinets - white top cabinets
microwave counter height
Microwave below countertop
move stove?
cornice over window matches vent hood
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