Imagine, after weeks of searching, you finally find your dream home. It has the right number of bedrooms to accommodate your family. It has a spacious backyard, nice bathrooms, and is located in an excellent neighborhood. There is just one problem – the kitchen is a nightmare. The owners remodeled nearly every room in the house over the years but stopped at the kitchen. You then ask yourself, How do I remodel a kitchen? You are torn between the other amazing qualities of the house and the time, money, and labor associated with bringing the kitchen up to standard.
Kitchens are considered the heart of every home. It is where people cook meals, congregate, talk, and bond. Without it, a home would simply be ineffective.
Aside from practicality, kitchens are one of the biggest selling points of a home. So, whether you want to buy, sell, or update, pay careful attention to each component. For example, while cabinets, floors, and countertops, are some of the larger elements, remember to take care with details such as the backsplash as it will enhance your overall design.
Mirrored or Marble? Selecting a Kitchen Backsplash
The backsplash is one of the focal points of the kitchen.This is an area where owners can add personality and taste.
As you well know, the kitchen backsplash is the space between kitchen countertops and upper kitchen cabinets. It is also located around the sink and stove. This area is regularly splashed with moisture, grease, stains, and heat. So, in the interest of aesthetics and functionality, the backsplash should be durable as well as elegant. There are different textures, colors, and materials that provide visual appeal and style.
Material Options for Your Kitchen Remodel
How well do you know your materials? Aside from an eye-catching focal point what considerations might you need to make for the climate and type of cooking you do? For example, do you live in a moist climate? Do you often cook food with heavy odors or grease? These factors may impact your selection. The best time to select your tiling is before you start your project. This will help you stay on budget and avoid impulse buys that may be outside of the bounds of affordability.
Glass Tiles
With their smooth, polished surface, glass tiles are easy to clean, and offer resistance to oil, sauces, and other food stains. One only needs to wipe them over with a damp cloth to make the kitchen backsplash look like new again. This makes them a favored choice for both style and convenience.
Ceramic or Porcelain Tiles
These tiles have a heat-resistant, tough surface that can effectively handle grease, sauce, and other food splatters while offering attractive options. They come in a variety of colors, patterns, and textures. Ceramic tends to be the more cost-effective of the two yet has low maintenance requirements. Porcelain tiles, while pricier are less porous and more immune to mold and mildew.
Mirror Tiles
While being versatile, stylish, and opulent, mirror tiles give an aura of the exotic. Produced from mirrored glass or stainless steel, they are useful as accent tiles for the kitchen backsplash.
Marble Tiles
These tiles are a beautiful, luxurious, high-end product that, while being costly, requires high maintenance. Be mindful to choose a smooth tile instead of textured or rough stones which requires greater effort to clean. Also, these tiles should be checked regularly for sealing as the stone is porous.
Mother-of-Pearl Tiles
These tiles add glamor to a beautifully appointed kitchen. They are curiously hardy despite their delicate, luminous glow, but require more care than other options.
Avoid Common Kitchen Remodel Mistakes
Often owners or designers choose visual appeal or interest over practicality. This is a mistake. Instead, consider your needs and price point. Then consider what type of maintenance will be required to keep your backsplash from wearing prematurely.
Trim options: Trim pieces and decorative moldings that accompany the kitchen backsplash tiles, need to match in thickness and glaze, so order to create a cohesive look. Ordering separately could lead to mismatches.
Maintenance: Find out about the expected wear and tear of tiles, the ease of cleaning them, and special care details. For example, natural stones, or cork may need to be polished or sealed every few years.
Durability: Consider how long your option is expected to last. This means investigating the likelihood of cracking, warping, chipping, or staining.
Style: Observe colors of tile in natural light to choose the main color and accent colors. Also consider textures, tones, hues and the cohesiveness to other spaces in the house such as bathrooms.
