kitchen update
TerraCotta Properties used standard 12-by-12 polished Venatino marble and had it cut into 4-by-12 strips to create this clean, textural effect. “We paired it with a black grout, which makes the pattern really pop and showcases the oversized dimension of the tile,” says TerraCotta Properties cofounder Ili Hidalgo-Nilsson. “This whole house is in a historic district, and while the renovation called for adherence to the period style and materials, the slight deviation in tile size, shape and grout color gave it an unexpected appeal, which is classic and modern at once. Plus with so many windows and no upper cabinets, the backsplash had to make a statement.”
Nicola Interiors Save Email Tumbled marble tile. This backsplash works in a similar way; it mostly has just slight variations in color that coordinate with the creamy tones of the Giallo Ornamental granite counters, punctuated by darker tiles here and there. When choosing your accent tiles, you’ll have a few places to pick up the right hues. Look to the range of colors in your granite pattern to find the right darker tones. Look to your cabinet color as well. Tie the cabinets to the countertops with these accent tiles.
Maintenance: Maintaining durable soapstone is a breeze — usually soap and water will do the trick. Untreated, natural soapstone is soft gray; however, applying mineral oil can enhance the inherent natural veining and evenly darken its color. Most scratches will disappear after a mineral oil treatment, while others can be buffed out with a very fine-grit sandpaper.
The basics: Soapstone (also known as steatite) is impervious to chemicals, acid and water, making it an ideal material for kitchen sinks. The quarried metamorphic rock — made up of talc, chlorite and other minerals — is softer than most other natural stones. However, it's still denser than marble, slate, limestone and granite.
The waterfall counter in the foreground is made from a natural limestone usually called Indus Gold. Limestone shares a lot of the finicky characteristics of marble, so if you're concerned about marble's patina, don't consider limestone. However, if you like the idea of a stone that will show its age, limestone's a terrific option.
Sometimes, a run-of-the-mill granite with a finish other than a high sheen can make it look altogether new and unusual. The counter shown here is Absolute Black granite with a honed finish. Honed is countertop-speak for matte. Honed finishes on granite make them easier to keep looking clean, and they demand less attention than their shiny cousins.
The beautiful counters shown here are zinc. Zinc is a counter material that's been used for centuries and and it's made the same way today as it always has been. Sheets of zinc are hammered and fit over a wood form. The resulting counter is naturally anti-bacterial, resilient and develops a warm, soft grey patina. Its patina is what's known as a living finish. That means that it will continue to evolve and change over time.
White subway tile will never go out of style. Here, it's a neutral backdrop for the gorgeous curved hood and matching floating shelves. The tile molding protrudes ever so slightly to become a horizontal element in the visual space between the shelves and counter.
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