Add a splash of pizazz to your kitchen
THE backsplash is a small area that can make a big difference in your kitchen’s personality. Although cabinets are often the first concern -- and where most of the money goes -- the backsplash is “a wonderful opportunity to do something fun, colorful and unusual,” says designer James Swan of Beverly Hills-based James Swan & Co. With so many options, the process can be confusing. How to decide between glass or ceramic tile? Solid color or pattern? Here, Swan explains how to make choices that will work for your home:
Planning: Before revamping a kitchen, Swan advises asking yourself three questions: How do I need the space to work for me? What do I want it to look like -- and is it appropriate in the context of this home? How am I going to allocate my resources to achieve the result? “Lay it out. Plan your space wisely,” Swan says, before quickly adding, “Then move on to the fun.”
Research: You must educate yourself, Swan says. Look through design publications. Take material samples home from the store. Hang them above the counters and examine them in the morning, afternoon and evening light. Pay attention to the other materials in your home: Do you have stained oak, maple or perhaps ash elsewhere?
Assess: Make lists of how the room will be used. “How do you see yourself using your kitchen?” Swan asks. Is it going to be a showplace? Or are you going to spend all day here? By assessing your practical needs, you can get through the crippling information overload and begin to narrow your choices. “It makes it easier for you to say, ‘This has nothing to do with what I need,’ ” he says.
Choosing: Maybe you want a quiet, beautifully crafted tile, or maybe you prefer something bold and exuberant. It depends on your personality. If clients feel lost, he advises them to look to their closet for inspiration. “See what you’re comfortable wearing around,” he says. “If your closet is filled with reserved things, colors and patterns, then we can go back to the kitchen with a new awareness.”
Materials: “Run screaming” from anything that requires a lot of grout, Swan says. “It is a cleaning nightmare. No matter what you do, and how careful you are, you won’t enjoy your kitchen.” Tile, however, is a huge part of the Craftsman vocabulary. If you must have tile in your home, the backsplash is a great place to install it. Swan advises pairing it with a stone countertop for a modern take in a traditional home. “It will look fresh and interesting,” he says.
Thrifty tip: A mirrored surface is one of the easiest and most cost-effective backsplashes. If you’re looking for a city-chic vibe, or something contemporary for a small space, panels of mirrors will enhance the light and make your kitchen seem larger. Swan likes smoky or peach tones. “It’s remarkable how much it can add to the room just by doubling the space visually.”
Nature: Look outside your kitchen window for inspiration. “It can become part of the package,” Swan says. “Flowers, gardenias, green and white, terracotta, nature may just spark something for you.” Look to natural stone, he says, citing a black, brown and white marble backsplash and counter he recently installed. The stone’s abundant veining climbs the walls. “You can’t make that up,” he says. Stone tile can cost five times as much as some ceramic tile, and large slabs of stone cost even more.
Metal: Some homeowners like a stainless-steel backsplash to match appliances or stainless-fronted cabinets, but the cost can easily exceed natural stone. Prices range from $20 to $100 per square foot, depending on the quality. Stainless panels also may require additional skilled labor to cut and install precisely. Panels that are made of powder-coated (and magnetic) metal or are finished in brass, copper or zinc are other expensive options.
Color: Think about what you want to experience in the space, Swan says. If you need your kitchen to be a pick-me-up in the morning, then try a shot of fire-engine red. “Red is a big family that can be very strong and fun,” he says. His color caveat: “We don’t eat things that are blue; therefore, we don’t want things that are blue in the kitchen.” Too much blue, if not balanced with earth tones, can become too strong.
Architecture: When in doubt, look to your home’s architecture for guidance. “You can break the rules, but that tends to be the exception,” Swan says. The best kitchens and baths are an extension of the home’s architecture. There should be some consistency. “If you’re talking about a house that is inspired by English Craftsman, there is a definite range of products for a Craftsman home.” Then ask: Who is going to use the space? What are the demands?
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