The Distinctive Life

LUXURY INTERIOR DESIGN

STUNNING METALLICS From entire backsplashes made of metallics (like eye-catching copper) to ceramic tiles with metallic accents, adding this element to a backsplash for the kitchen or bathroom can create a warm, custom look. One of Southern Living’s favorites is a mixed material option using tiny cobalt tiles with copper accents that perfectly reference existing copper fixtures and a bathroom inset in this redesign. Brass and gold are continuing to be popular this year for both cabinet hardware and kitchen and bath fixtures. This is a terrific opportunity to incorporate those elements into your backsplash, according to Jessica Parker Wachtel, senior project manager at GTM Architects, in an interview with Martha Stewart Living . Her recent choice was to include a “white and gold backsplash which adds a pop of pattern and ties in the brass hardware used throughout the space….” For an eye-catching design that brings a new dimension to your kitchen or bathroom, try choosing a backsplash tile that doesn’t fit into the traditional square or rectangular frame. For Nadia Subaran, co-founder of Aidan Design, that meant choosing tile in an arabesque shape in a light color for one of her latest redesigns that needed to make a statement while remaining subtle. According to Martha Stewart Living , Suburban reports that they “are seeing the arabesque—along with other geometric shapes return—as more homeowners are looking for unique shapes in backsplash materials, like ceramics.” UNUSUAL SHAPES AND PATTERNS

ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS

Interior designer Brenna Krouse, co-owner of K Squared Interior Design and Construction, tells Martha Stewart Living that she’s also a fan of using unusual tiles, including “large tiles with bold motifs.” As she reveals to the magazine: “I love to use a patterned tile on a backsplash because it becomes a ‘wow’ factor in the kitchen,” and it’s less labor-intensive than installing mosaics without losing the impact of an arresting design choice. VINTAGE BEADED- BOARD AND NATURALWOOD You might not immediately think of using wood as a backsplash for your kitchen or bathroom, but designers are increasingly adding it to spaces with a vintage or Cottagecore appeal. Southern Living opines that “a natural wood backsplash adds warmth and character to a kitchen,” but be sure to seal it properly so that it is easy to clean and is stain resistant. The editors also love the addition of beaded-board backsplash to a vintage- inspired master bath. Using this technique, you can easily create a picture-perfect feature wall that offers a custom feel to your space and an ideal complement to antique-like bathroom pieces, including an envy-inducing clawfoot or slipper tub.

Think outside the box. Any material that can withstand cooking spatter or water splashes, and can be easily cleaned, can be made into an impressive backsplash for the kitchen or bathroom. What do the editors at Southern Living suggest? The magazine loves using aged mirrors, either in squares or in one large piece. The aged look brings character to the space, and despite the aging artifacts, the mirrors still bounce natural light from nearby windows, pendant lights, and chandeliers. They look fantastic in vintage-inspired kitchens and bathrooms while bringing distinction and softness to industrial-chic spaces filled with brushed-concrete countertops and floors.

10 | THE DISTINCTIVE LIFE®

Volume 9