In an area that’s bigger than a breadbox and smaller than a wall, framed by cabinets or other features, a kitchen backsplash is a natural place for a striking artistic touch. Whether with vivid colors, a dramatic pattern or both, a bold backsplash can take a kitchen from sensible to sensational in the blink of an eye — as you’ll see in these cooking spaces created by three talented designers.
Before Photo
Epoch Solutions, Inc.
“After” photo by Jimmy White Photography
1. Marvelously Modern
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple and their dog
Location: Bradenton, Florida
Size: 312 square feet (29 square meters); 12 by 26 feet
Designer: Ann Marie Hoeksema of Epoch Solutions
Before: Despite being in a 1960s home, this Florida kitchen was far from feeling groovy. Not only was it awash in one-note wood, but it was boxed into a corner and had a basic galley layout. The owners, who love color, tasked Ann Marie Hoeksema with creating an open space that would hold a kitchen, bar and dining nook, all done up in contemporary-meets-midcentury style.
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Epoch Solutions, Inc.
After: The newly wide-open space lets the sunshine in, all the better to appreciate the art gallery appeal. Plenty of white via the walls, cabinets and countertops balances black American walnut elements throughout, and the neutral palette cedes the spotlight to a radiant backsplash in shades of turquoise. The backsplash’s vertically stacked, elongated hexagonal tiles embody just the right blend of midcentury and contemporary that the homeowners were looking for.
Adding to the artistic effect is a walnut box set into the upper cabinetry, showcasing prized alabaster bowls.
Tile: Watercolors picket in O’Keefe, Lunada Bay; cabinetry: Lauriermax; countertop: Caesarstone in Organic White
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Before Photo
Savvy Interiors
“After” photo by Dandelion Dreams Photography
2. Mediterranean Meets Contemporary
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two young kids
Location: Del Mar, California
Size: About 200 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Susan Wintersteen of Savvy Interiors
Before: Brown-on-brown features, discontinuous travertine floor tiles and a chunky island gave this Southern California kitchen a heavy, dated feel. The homeowners wanted to lighten the look and ease up on its Mediterranean vibe while preserving the aesthetic connection to the rest of the house. They brought on Susan Wintersteen to design a more contemporary-style kitchen that would include island seating for six.
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Savvy Interiors
After: The footprint and the wood doors flanking the range wall didn’t change, but everything else is new. White oak flooring speaks to the custom white oak range hood. Marble-look quartz on the island and adjoining breakfast table adds an elegant counterpoint to casual, textural counter stools. And green cabinetry with brass hardware enlivens the otherwise neutral palette.
The star of this transformed kitchen, however, is the range wall backsplash, made of laser-cut marble with a brass inlay. Two other backsplashes, not seen here, are composed of subtler geometric white porcelain tiles, to avoid pulling focus.
Any idea where the new fridge is, by the way? (Hint: Those aren’t actual drawers below the cabinet mirrors to the left.)
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Before Photo
Becky Harris
“After” photos by Alyssa Lee Photography
3. Geometry Lesson
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young family
Location: Edina, Minnesota
Size: 366 square feet (34 square meters); 23¼ by 15¾ feet
Designer: Emily Pueringer Design Studio
Contractor: Quality Cut Design | Remodel
Before: With a wee one on the way and hardly any room to cook or wash baby bottles, these Minnesota homeowners needed a bigger kitchen pronto. They also wanted a brighter design that would suit their personality and their 1950s ranch home, as well as be more open to the dining room — that dark space hiding in the back left here. Designer Emily Pueringer dreamed up a dramatic transformation.
11 Must-Haves in a Designer’s Dream Kitchen
Emily Pueringer Design Studio
After: Expanding into the backyard allowed for a 300-square-foot addition that houses the new kitchen — plenty of room for ample counter space and cabinetry plus a large island with seating for four. The former kitchen is now a mudroom.
Brilliant green mosaic backsplash tile was the jumping-off point for the kitchen’s new style: transitional with a nod to midcentury’s playful side. The color, which the island base picks up, stands out against a neutral backdrop of cool white and warm hickory. Dashes of gleam via brass pendant lights cap off the design.
Backsplash tile: Mercury Mosaics and Tile; paint colors: Country Squire (island) and Snowbound (trim), Sherwin-Williams
Emily Pueringer Design Studio
The newly designed dining room, now open to the kitchen, has a convenient home bar that gives the green backsplash tile another spot in the limelight.
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