Kitchen Backsplash: Designing Like the Pro's

Food and water splashes from the sink and sprays and spills from the stove and countertop always end up on the backsplash; it constantly takes the abuse in the kitchen. So what's the secret to having an amazing and resilient backsplash? Find a designer who knows how to handle it!
The first thing to consider when mulling over a backsplash is materials and color. These are significant in order to create a design that sets the tone and expresses the personality in your kitchen. Once you've figured out the hard part gather your plans, elevations, countertops, and cabinet finishes and visit your local tile store.
Your designer will be concerned with placement of switches, outlets and pot fillers. These items can really detract from the overall design. For example, if your border runs through an out let cover it can disrupt the overall look. So let's avoid that issue and make sure your electrician places outlets close to the countertop and horizontal versus vertical.
Switches are always able to be installed in areas that avoid tile, and by using plug molding, installed under cabinets and hidden by light rails, it bypasses outlet troubles. And if a disposer is a must have then install the switch on the countertop!
Now, selecting tile. It's best to pick material after thinking of all the dimensions so that there are as few small tile cuts as possible. The goal is to have tile that works with height dimensions between the countertop and bottom wall cabinets. It's important to help the customer to find what colors and textures reflect their style and personality.
Patterned tiles work well to create an overall repeat similar to wallpaper. The pillowed tile seen here was hand painted to match the clients fabric colors in the adjacent family room. The tiles are 6 x 6 which makes the 18" high backsplash area seamless without cuts. In this kitchen plug molding was used so there were no outlets on the backsplash and the switches were placed on return walls.
Mosaic tiles are another great option for a backsplash. The mosaic creates texture and can offer an abundance of color and material choices. There are stone, glass, metal, slate, and combinations of these as well. They come in various patterns and shapes to create beautiful blends. Mosaic blends are perfect when there are different height backsplash areas like under the window sill, behind a hood area, along a peninsula and inside an open shelf. (Milwit Backsplash)
Another great tile choice are hand painted tiles. They're beautiful and unique offering a customized backsplash that is entirely yours. Many art tile companies offer murals, borders, and decorative pieces, all hand made, that can be ordered using your color pallet. The possibilities and ideas are endless and all easily painted on ceramic tile and stone.
Last but not least decorative tiles can work in a backsplash in a multitude of ways. Many Art tile lines offer Crown moldings, borders, decorative field tiles and dots to make beautiful backsplashes. The glaze offerings are usually extensive and can be custom made if the client wishes. Many professional cook top backsplash areas are a wonderful place to create a focal point. If you are interested in a particular theme there are bees, butterflies, acorns, animals, and floral.
Finally, glass tiles, an extremely popular choice for contemporary kitchens, eclectic kitchens, and the transitional kitchens. The ease of maintenance that glass provides is a great motivator in choosing it. The reflective qualities are a great source of light and color and offer a variety of textures and patterns as well. There are large contemporary glass tiles as well as mosaic glass tiles; just about anything a customer may want.


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