Kitchen Design: Don't Forget the Backsplash
by Kate McIntyrekate.mcIntyre@interiordesignschoolreview.com
People tend to focus on the big two in kitchens--counters and cabinets--and the humble backsplashes can get short shrift. On a kitchen redesign project, you could always choose a plain backsplash--an inoffensive, neutral tile, for instance. But if you really want your kitchen design career to soar, you should think about making some bolder choices.
60-30-10 for Kitchen Design
Interior designers often rely on the 60-30-10 rule, which states that in any room, 60 percent of the decor should be one dominant color, 30 percent should be a primary accent color, and the remaining 10 percent a secondary accent color. In kitchen interior design, the cabinets represent the largest visible surface area, or the dominant color. The countertops make the next biggest visual impact as the primary accent. That leaves around 10 percent for a backsplash in the secondary accent color. Because the backsplash takes up such as small amount of space, you can try something unique.Brilliant Colors and Unusual Materials
Your accent color is the chance to make the other colors in the kitchen pop. For example, if you have chosen cherry finish cabinets and black solid surface countertops, a brilliant teal backsplash would make a big statement. Consider installing lighter tile to brighten up a dark kitchen or darker tile to add a little balance to a blindingly bright one.Smooth, matte ceramic tile is standard, but why not play with texture? You can incorporate more rough-hewn stone, hammered copper, stainless steel, or even concrete tiles. Glass tile gives you the best of both worlds--dramatic color and intriguing texture.
Getting Started On an Kitchen Design Career
To prepare for the challenges of your kitchen design career, you should find a kitchen design school with an up-to-date syllabus and instructors with industry experience. Most schools have alumni networks that can help you to compare kitchen design career options. Kitchens now represent such a big chunk of interior designers’ work that many designers decide to specialize in them.Source: About the Author
Kate McIntyre is a writer in Portland, Oregon. She holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.F.A. in fiction writing from Oregon State University.
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