kitchen
Modern slab backsplashes, it’s extra important for the elements to align pleasingly, or the look can become sloppy. Here, the cabinets and counter are sized to line up perfectly. When installing a peninsula with an overhang, you can also add or subtract an inch or two of counter to make the math work out just right.
In the case of a very large kitchen, taking tile to full height can bust the budget or completely overload the look. In a case like this, ending the tile vertically at the same line as the upper cabinets gives a better finish. If you use a darker color for the tiles than the remaining upper wall, it can visually help bring down the apparent ceiling line and make the room feel a little more intimate
Small kitchens. Fully covering the wall usually is your best bet in a small kitchen (or in a larger kitchen that has just a small area for the backsplash). This sort of layout, with just a single backsplash area between the fridge cabinet and the side wall tiling the entire area in one material makes for the tidiest finish, which can help make the kitchen look its biggest.
Tile the main walls of the kitchen (those that back the cabinets), ending at the corners rather than wrapping around to finish the sides, if there are any. In the case of an odd corner (like on the left in this kitchen by Spectra Design Build, where there is likely a pipe in the wall), consider the whole corner part of the “back.”
Spice storage, pots and pans, and cooking utensils placed immediately around cooking equipment ensure convenient and intuitive access to the tools and staples you need in meal preparation.
Consider dedicating a cabinet for cookware frequently used on the stovetop, and another cabinet with cookware more commonly used in the oven. Place warming appliances in this area to allow convenient transfer of food to your serving dishes. Breadboards and bread binswork well in the range center. Small appliances that belong in the range zone include toasters, waffle irons, bread makers and portable grills.
a range or a cooktop with wall ovens, comprise the range center, where cooking food and preparation for serving takes place. Place these functions toward or near the dining room. Anything that involves the cooking process needs to be within the range center. Ovens with ample countertop space next to or closely across from them provide a spot to set down hot items quickly. In immediate and obvious proximity to the range center, put potholders and other items that aid in handling hot cookware. Also use this location to transfer cooked food to serving dishes. Plan to store platters, bowls and other equipment used to get food to the table around the range center.
The sink center should be between the refrigerator and the range center, or cooking area, for maximum efficiency. Since sinks get the most use and traffic of any spot in the kitchen, centrally located sinks and dishwashers work best. Plan to have the most uncluttered countertop space in the sink center. The area in and around sinks is used for food-preparation tasks involving cleaning and cutting, as well as washing and cleaning up after meals. Place trash and recycling containers strategically so that tidy disposal happens effortlessly. Storage at sink centers includes places for everyday flatware, dishes and glassware, as well as activities involving waste management, dishtowel placement and storage, cleaning supplies, polishing and drying.
Kitchen island end. A dual garbage-and-recycling cabinet, a utensil drawer and a slim beverage fridge.
One end is a full-height, 12-inch-deep base cabinet that stores serving trays that can be easily pulled out for entertaining. On the other end, opposite the range, there’s a 12-inch-deep cabinet with dividers for cookie trays and muffin tins.
Kitchen island end. Two top drawers store napkins, place mats and other tableware close to a nearby bistro table. The bottom drawer stores a large stockpot that one of the homeowners wanted easy access to. “This tall stockpot was not going to fit in the pot-and-pan drawers to the left and right of the range,” Goldman says. “I need both of those drawer cabinets to be exactly the same dimensions to each other. Since she needed a particularly tall or deep bottom drawer, I suggested the end of the island, and tableware items in the two drawers above.”
windows
windows
breakfast area
storage
Backsplash : stone/engineered quartz slab: No grout lines for a seamless backsplash that’s also durable and easy to clean. Slab backsplashes can be made from the same material as the countertop, or you can change it up and go with a different coordinating stone or engineered quartz material. This is one of the more expensive backsplash options, running the gamut from $45 to $200 and up per square foot installed, but the finished product is super clean and elegant looking.
contemporary glass-top dining table, chairs and sleek pendant light above
When you have light counters, in, say, a luxe marble or hardy quartz, light appliances can bring the tones from these horizontal surfaces to your vertical surfaces, so your color scheme feels more tied together. Notice here how the counters pick up on the white of the glossy fridge, and also pick up the gray of the cabinets (via the rich veining), with silvery handles added to tie the latter two to each other.
Contrast your steely appliances with warmer metals like brass or bronze. Brushed brass is an especially strong choice to pair with stainless steel because it has a subtle warmth that doesn’t contrast the steel so obviously.
Stainless steel achieves a clean, streamlined aesthetic. In this case, select all your other metals (faucet, handles, furniture) to be close to your appliance finish to keep the whole design as sleek as possible. Note: Polished metal finishes look brighter but will show fingerprints more.
A knife drawer with interior dividers pulls out to the right of the range. The two drawers below store pots and pans. Curved rift-cut white oak floating shelves on the end of the upper cabinets hold cookbooks and collectibles.
spice drawer
A slab backsplash, especially in a material with lots of movement, makes for an eye-catching design statement.
Soft gray cabinets (Light Pewter by Benjamin Moore) join soft satin-brass fixtures, a light marble backsplash, quartzite countertops and dark floors provide a refreshing look.
Preserving the view by minimizing upper cabinets. Kitchen island end. Microwave drawer close to the refrigerator for convenience. An additional of the second sink near the dishwasher White Fantasy granite countertops. Multiple wall sconces. Backsplash is white Carrara marble mini tile in a fish-scale pattern. Use large windows to maximize the view, and then utilize every wall space left in the kitchen for cabinetry.Cabinetry that sat on the counter created the look of a hutch.
The appliance industry has come up with new downdraft stoves rather than an extractor hood that would take up half the island
An island with a sink allows for plenty of working space: “We stand at the sink approximately 90 percent of the time we spend in the kitchen.” The island has almost become a ‘dishwashing island,’ as we stand by the sink more than by the stove
Features of modern kitchens: Frameless cabinets. Also called overlay cabinets, frameless cabinets have doors that cover the entire face of the cabinet box. The doors usually have simple flat panels. Simple hardware. Look for C-channel hardware that’s integrated into the cabinet or simple bar pulls. Lack of ornamentation. Unlike contemporary spaces, where you might see boldly patterned tile or bright color, modern kitchens keep things streamlined, simple and mostly solid. Natural materials. Without ornamentation, the materials themselves take center stage in modern kitchens, whether they’re wood or marble. Sleek accent pieces. Lighting, seating and accent pieces are sleek and sculptural.
large expanses of glass; smooth surfaces like concrete, steel, stone and wood; and accents of chrome and black leather.
Streamlined Lighting Modern kitchen lighting is clean-lined and sculptural. Look for pendant lights, recessed and integrated lighting in silver, matte black, wood or white. For a warmer look, opt for shiny gold or copper.
Design Detail: Continuous Backsplash Backsplashes in modern kitchens are sleek and simple. Continuous materials like glass sheets, as shown here, and stone slabs offer a streamlined look and are also easy to clean — no pesky grout!
Design Detail: Continuous Backsplash Backsplashes in modern kitchens are sleek and simple. Continuous materials like glass sheets, as shown here, and stone slabs offer a streamlined look and are also easy to clean — no pesky grout!
Flat-Panel Cabinetry Frameless cabinets with flat-panel or slab doors have a minimalist look that is well-suited to modern kitchens. A flourish-free, linear design lets the beauty of natural wood grain or sleek cabinet pulls take center stage.
Neutral Color Palette The focus of a modern kitchen is on the architecture and structure of key elements, which means the color palette tends toward crisp and clean white, subtle neutrals and black. When brighter colors do show up, it is often in the form of accessories. Colors for modern kitchens: Neutrals. Dove gray, stone, wheat, cream, beige, putty Black and white. Architectural white, matte black Pops of color. Fire engine red, navy blue, royal blue, chartreuse, teal
What You Won’t Find in Modern Kitchens Modern kitchens stay away from clutter, excess embellishments and heavy, traditional furnishings. And unlike contemporary kitchens, they avoid experimental shapes and trends. Here’s what you won’t see: Cluttered surfaces Elaborate edge treatments on countertops Heavy, traditional furnishings Highly embellished millwork Trendy shapes, finishes and color palettes
Modern-Style Kitchens at a Glance Modern kitchens emphasize form and structure rather than surface ornamentation — think of smooth surfaces like concrete and steel, strong horizontal lines and plenty of open space. Here are some common elements to look for: Frameless cabinets Clean-lined faucets Sleek hardware Horizontal lines Neutral, limited color palette
The chandelier is made of blown glass in a light blue
pendants
Back-painted glass. If you want a really simple backsplash, a sheet of glass back-painted white might be the way to go. There are no grout lines, and you get a wipeable and smooth-looking surface.
Rectangles inside squares. This backsplash pattern comes from rectangles paired to create the look of a single square.
Large backsplash tiles arranged in a herringbone pattern bring a classic tile layout to this contemporary kitchen. Subtle gray coloring adds interest.
Elongated hexagon offers a fresh approach to both hexagon and subway tiles with its elongated shape, which can be laid horizontally or vertically. Here, taupe grout emphasizes the tile’s contemporary form.
Choose doors that work well with the overall look of your kitchen, especially the cabinetry. Think about the color palette, paneling and hardware. Interior doors should reflect the style of your home. Consider paneled doors for traditional or Craftsman homes and flat-slab doors in more modern houses.
openess
It’s a perfect counterpoint to glam brass. Matte black is a perfect finish to pair with your brass elements to bring out the best of both, with the warm shimmer of brass and the dry, flat finish of matte black being perfectly compatible opposites. Mix the two into a room with some stone and wood to get a rich and complex scheme without introducing a wild hue.
black window sashes are great for homes with a picturesque view. Black window mullions or trim present the scenery beyond like a gallery piece, drawing the eye to it without clashing. Black window sashes also look great from the outside in, giving your home a manor-like appeal reminiscent of age-old luxury homes.
Eliminate upper cabinets with focal point being the backsplash
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