Should it be a standout feature, or a subtle backdrop?
When renovating a kitchen, the splash back can often be the icing on the cake. With more people preferring the lifestyle benefits of an open plan layout, today's kitchens can be seen from different angles and from adjoining rooms. So, the dilemma - will your new kitchen splash back be subtle and neutral or make a bolder statement. What I tell my clients to be wary of is this; when the project's complete and you're standing in the dining room looking back at your new kitchen and splash back, will it put a smile on your face, or will you see it as a missed opportunity.
The good news is that unlike a bathroom renovation, there's no waterproofing membrane behind a splash back so if you opt for a tile, it's not permanent - you can always replace it if your taste changes or you just grow tired of it. As a rule of thumb, I usually recommend a neutral approach if resale is a major consideration (flipping or selling in the near future). You'll want to cast as wide a net as possible, so a splash back that blends well with your benchtop will give you a more seamless look. However, if you're going to stay put for a while, then get creative and opt for something that will put a smile on your face.
To that end, you'll be spoiled for choice - some may even find choosing the right tile overwhelming as there are so many to choose from. SO. MANY.
From subways to mosaics and everything in between, matte or gloss, smooth or textured, patterned or plain, the possibilities are endless. The one thing I would recommend against is laying large format tiles - unless of course it's a really large statement piece like a 1200mm x 600mm marble-look porcelain tile - but be careful if you're just laying a 600mm x 300mm tile, as these can often look like you've just laid some leftover floor tiles. If you were thinking you wanted larger tiles because it would mean less grout, then your problem isn't the size of the tile, the problem is that you're using the wrong grout.
Epoxy grout is non-porous and virtually impossible to get dirty. So go crazy and play with mosaics, penny rounds and kit kat tiles. While we're on the topic of mosaics, don't think that pool tiles are only for pools. Increasingly we are seeing pool tiles being utilised in bathrooms and splashbacks, and this will open up a whole other world of possibilities. Colour variations from the traditional blues and greens to more earthy tones of ochre and brown, to textured and metallic finishes - and now also in matte!!
So come in and visit us in our showroom and we'll be happy to help you turn your splash back dilemma into a splash back dream. And don't forget to bring sample swatches of your joinery and benchtop and we'll create a mood board for you so you can see how your new splash back will look.
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