Kitchen design involves the careful pairing of complementary elements to create a cohesive look. Thoughtfully coordinating countertops, cabinets, backsplashes, and lighting results in artful, elegant spaces. Follow these tips for selecting and combining kitchen surfaces beautifully.
Countertops Set the Tone
Countertops act as the kitchen’s anchor, impacting the overall aesthetic through their distinctive color patterns and textures. Choose a material that resonates with your personal style and everyday needs.
Granite’s elegantly veined surfacing complements both traditional and contemporary designs while providing durability. Concrete offers rustic industrial charm but requires diligent sealing. Quartz provides modern sleekness and scratch-resistance while butcher block warms up kitchens with natural wood grain beauty (though it can stain).
Whichever material you select, visit distributors to view large slabs in person. This allows seeing how each stone’s unique patterning will appear. The countertop inspires the rest of the kitchen’s look.
Complement with Cabinetry
Kitchen cabinets frame the countertops and establish the room’s foundation. Their style should complement the counters to create a unified aesthetic. Pull inspiration from the countertops to harmonize finishes.
According to the experts at Bedrock Quartz, bold granite or marble countertops shine against simple Shaker-style cabinetry in crisp white. Elegant quartz blends seamlessly with streamlined flat-front modern doors. Butcher block calls for classic wood cabinets with visible grains.
Stain or paint cabinetry a shade that accentuates the countertops’ colors. For example, creamy white cabinets allow dramatic blue-gray granite to pop; contrasting finishes lend interest while coordinating.
Select a Statement Backsplash
While fundamentally functional, the backsplash offers a blank decorative canvas directly above countertops. Capitalize on this prime spot to inject personal style.
For contemporary cool, choose sleek glass or metal tile in silver, copper, or gold. Choose an eclectic patterned mosaic to complement ornate marble countertops. Pick natural stone like travertine to match granite.
Set rectangular subway tile vertically or horizontally to direct sightlines. Run marble, stone, or ceramic tile from countertop to ceiling for dramatic effect. The tailored backsplash completes the refined look.
Mind the Transitions
Well-executed kitchens artfully transition between countertops, backsplashes, and cabinetry through mindful design choices. Employ decorative trim for defined separation without stark contrast.
Use tile edging or beaded marble profiles between the backsplash and countertops. Complement with crown molding capping cabinets and consider a contrasting countertop edge profile to accent the surface.
Soften boundaries between granite and drywall with an artistic paint technique rather than harsh tile edges. Use inside corner trim where cabinetry meets backsplash. The deliberate details polish the design.
Lighting Enhances Design
Strategically illuminate kitchen surfaces to highlight the dimensional details and overall ambiance. Use a mix of lighting like pendants, under-cabinet, and recessed fixtures.
Hang pendants directly above islands and sinks to cast a warm glow on countertops. Under-cabinet lighting eliminates shadows on task areas. Use dimmers to raise and lower lights.
Aim mini pendants to accent focal backsplashes. Let recessed cans wash work surfaces in even radiance. Dark granite pops under bright task lighting; illumination showcases the kitchen’s finery.
Infuse Personality with Accessories
Accessories provide the finishing touch, adding pops of color, sheen and personalized style. Display ceramics, greenery, art, and window treatments that complete your dream kitchen.
Fill open shelves with glazed pottery in coordinating hues. Mount framed recipe pages on tile backsplashes. Suspend air plants in macrame holders near windows, and use roman shades and curtains to soften windows.
Roll out an ornate area rug to define kitchen zones. The handpicked accents express your tastes.
Conclusion
Thoughtfully coordinating countertop, cabinet, backsplash, and lighting selections means you can artfully compose kitchen spaces with artistic impact. Pair textures and hues that complete one another. Mindful details ensure the design delights.