The area of wall between your kitchen countertop and ceiling offers a canvas for introducing color, pattern, and texture - perhaps even a combination of these elements. In these remarkable transformations, experts employed repetitive geometric tile patterns to craft kitchen backsplashes that span the spectrum from understated to striking, and from timeless to contemporary. Take a look to ignite your creativity!
1) Black and White and Sophisticated All Over
Residents: A couple
Location: Atlanta
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters)
Designers: Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole of Kandrac & Kole Interior Design
Contractor: Atlanta Remodeling & Construction
Cabinetry Design and Construction: Cabinet Resources
Before: This Atlanta kitchen was home to a couple who shared a passion for cooking. They were content with the kitchen's basic layout, particularly their island's stovetop. However, the kitchen suffered from issues like a cluttered countertop, outdated cabinet design, and worn-out tile flooring. In search of a fresh start, the homeowners enlisted the expertise of interior designers Joann Kandrac and Kelly Kole for a comprehensive renovation that involved stripping the space down to the studs.
After: While the major appliance locations remained unchanged, Kandrac and Kole initiated a dramatic overhaul by replacing the outdated cabinetry with new, highly functional units. These new cabinets were designed to be more efficient and user-friendly. They feature concealed divided tray storage above the ovens, convenient trash pullouts adjacent to the sink, ample storage on both sides of the island, and deep drawers for ergonomic storage. Customized inserts for utensils and spices were also integrated into the design.
To enhance the kitchen's aesthetic appeal, the island was crowned with a 6-centimeter-thick Bianco Drift by Caesarstone, which imparted a commanding presence. The perimeter counters, in contrast, retained a standard 3-centimeter thickness.
Furthermore, the designers seamlessly extended the renovation to the flooring by installing new hardwood that harmonized with the recently laid hardwood floors in an adjacent room, creating a cohesive and visually pleasing transition.
2) Petal Power
Residents: A couple with two kids
Location: Piedmont, California
Size: 185 square feet (17 square meters)
Designer: Nadja Pentic of Knocknock
Before: This kitchen in Piedmont, California, was in dire need of attention. Its cabinets were literally falling off their hinges, and the vintage stove was on the brink of failure. The kitchen also presented a challenge with an existing beam and fireplace, which, as seen on the left, couldn't be relocated. Given these constraints, the homeowners enlisted designer Nadja Pentic to orchestrate a kitchen makeover, necessitating creative solutions to maximize the existing footprint.
After: In her masterful redesign, Pentic prioritized brightness and functionality. To infuse the kitchen with more natural light, she enlarged the window over the sink and introduced recessed LED ceiling lights. The entire space was treated to a fresh, airy ambiance with walls, ceilings, and trim painted in Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore. The transformation extended to the countertops as well, with the perimeter cabinets adorned with marble-look quartz surfaces.
Drawing inspiration from the midcentury modern style, Pentic curated an elegant contrast by pairing sleek flat-panel white upper cabinets with lower cabinets and drawers swathed in a rich walnut veneer. The peninsula retained its distinctive dark gray quartz countertop, providing a striking counterpoint to the predominantly white palette. This fusion of materials and styles created a kitchen that seamlessly balances both form and function.
3) Mid-Mod Masterpiece
Residents: A couple and their two dogs
Location: Hendersonville, North Carolina
Size: 700 square feet (65 square meters)
Designers: Dawn Driskill and Betsy Edwards of The Design Gallery
Contractor: Chandler Ward of Paramount Building Services
Before: The existing kitchen within this 1990s-era North Carolina Deck House possessed a distinctive midcentury influence. However, time had taken its toll on the space. The tile countertop, aging range, and grooved cabinet doors no longer exuded the desired cool and contemporary vibe. Furthermore, the kitchen's design fell short in terms of optimizing natural light, connecting with the rest of the home, and showcasing the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
After: In their skillful redesign, Dawn Driskill and Betsy Edwards paid homage to the kitchen's inherent character while infusing it with contemporary elegance. They retained the kitchen's distinctive architectural elements, including the posts and beams, mahogany windows, tongue-and-groove ceiling, and recessed lights on top of the trim moldings—features that are emblematic of Deck House design. The original hardwood floors and the island's size and location were also preserved to maintain the space's essence.
To enhance functionality and modernize the space, they made strategic changes. The kitchen was seamlessly integrated with adjacent rooms, creating a more open and connected living environment. Streamlined track lighting illuminated the space efficiently. Alder cabinetry, stained to resemble the timeless walnut wood often found in midcentury cabinetry and furniture, added warmth and sophistication. The former tile countertops were replaced with quartz, offering a sleek and durable surface. Additionally, drawers and cabinets were thoughtfully fitted with inserts and pullouts, optimizing storage and usability. This transformation skillfully blended the charm of the past with the convenience of contemporary living.
4) Over the Moon
Residents: A couple
Location: San Francisco
Size: 230 square feet (21 square meters)
Designer: Christine Lin of Form + Field
Before: The owners of this San Francisco kitchen had made recent upgrades to several of their appliances, yet they remained dissatisfied with the kitchen's uninspiring, generic style. The U-shaped layout presented another challenge as it obstructed the flow between the kitchen and the adjacent dining room, separated by the oven wall. Additionally, the stainless steel refrigerator's protrusion disrupted traffic flow within the space. The kitchen needed a fresh vision and a more functional design.
After: Under the guidance of designer Christine Lin, this kitchen underwent a remarkable transformation. The wall that once housed the ovens was removed to create an open and spacious atmosphere. To maintain structural integrity, a ceiling beam was introduced for support, noticeable when comparing this image to the previous one taken from the same viewpoint.
The ovens and cooktop found a new home on the left wall, and a substantial island took center stage in the revamped L-shaped layout, contributing to a more open and inviting feel. In a strategic move, a new sink was placed directly below the window, allowing for natural light and a pleasant view while working. To further optimize the kitchen's functionality, Lin relocated the existing dishwasher and refrigerator to the right of the sink. This renovation breathed new life into the space, making it both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
5) Farmhouse Refresh
Residents: A couple with two sons
Location: Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Size: 343 square feet (32 square meters)
Designer: Carly Gockeler of KraftMaster Renovations
Before: As their children transitioned into their teenage years, this family found their existing 173-square-foot kitchen to be too cramped for everyone. Additionally, the adjacent playroom (located at the back of the photo, behind the microwave) had fallen out of favor and was underutilized. Seeking inspiration from Houzz, the couple decided to enlist the expertise of designer Carly Gockeler to rejuvenate the space, creating a more open and inviting environment.
After: By removing the wall between the kitchen and playroom, the kitchen's size doubled, enabling Gockeler to introduce a built-in breakfast nook at the rear and a slender island as the central workspace. The refrigerator wall was shifted about 2 feet into the living room, creating a more spacious and efficient layout.
The kitchen was revitalized with a farmhouse-inspired aesthetic, featuring matte oak floors, a rustic alder island base, a weathered spruce shiplap range hood, and soft gray cabinets (Repose Gray by Sherwin-Williams) with an X detail on select Shaker-style fronts. The backsplash incorporated off-white porcelain tiles with a subtle greige pattern, reminiscent of weathered European dyed-cement floor tiles.
Incorporating the client's inspiration, Gockeler found budget-friendly handmade encaustic-look tiles that contributed to the kitchen's character with a soft and tasteful color palette.
6) Avian Accents
Resident: A single homeowner
Location: Wayne, Pennsylvania
Size: 180 square feet (17 square meters); 12 by 15 feet
Designer: Studio Robert Jamieson
Contractor: Okin Pivot
Before: The existing kitchen in this 1968 home, designed by architect Robert McElroy, failed to make the most of the home's stunning floor-to-ceiling glass walls and exposed beams. It was essentially isolated from the nearby dining room and the picturesque wooded views outside. Moreover, the kitchen's finishes appeared dated, but not in a desirable manner. Recognizing the need for a transformation, the homeowner enlisted designer Robert Jamieson to open up the space and infuse it with a vibrant, colorful, midcentury-modern-inspired aesthetic.
After: Jamieson's vision involved the removal of a wall, seamlessly connecting the kitchen to the adjacent dining area and its expansive wall of windows. Within this newly opened space, he introduced a striking bank of tall, sleek storage units clad in walnut, cleverly incorporating an integrated refrigerator on one side. Positioned between this storage unit and the cooking area on the opposite side, there now resides an island featuring matte white cabinet fronts and rounded open shelving for both practical storage and decorative display.
Adding a playful touch of color and midcentury flair to the space is a robin's-egg blue appliance - a Big Chill dishwasher that pays homage to the style of the mid-20th century. This vibrant addition adds character and personality to the kitchen's overall design.
The homeowner's request to honor the wild birds frequenting his property led Jamieson to infuse avian elements into the kitchen's design. Although the backsplash provided an ideal canvas, finding the perfect tiles proved challenging, prompting Jamieson to exercise his creativity.
"We eventually located 3-inch triangular gray field tiles from Fireclay Tile, while the tiles featuring the birds were custom-ordered as 4-by-4-inch rectangular tiles from Artaic and meticulously field-cut to the required size," explained Jamieson.
The resulting representations of cardinals and blue jays evoke the striking, graphic shapes reminiscent of artist Charley Harper's iconic bird illustrations from the 1950s, beautifully integrating the natural world into the kitchen's aesthetic.
Source: Houzz.com by Suzanne Ennis