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Expert Tips Kitchens Reno Trends

Make a statement with your splashback: the main options

The kitchen is a major focal point in any home, and with countless design and style choices for you to make – from the cabinetry, benchtops to the appliances and fixtures, the splashback should not be forgotten. There is a bounty of colours and materials on offer for your splashback which can add a level of sophistication and focal point to every kitchen.

Jen’s Caesarstone splash in her kitchen. Image: Jacqui Turk

But how do you decide what to splash on for your splashback?

Below, Heidi Schwieters, senior interior design consultant at Henley, shares her splashback insights and what is catching her eye in 2021.

Tiling it

From sleek subway tile, head-turning hand chiselled Moroccan tile to eye-catching patterned tile, these choices evoke a range of emotions and reactions from the subtle to the loud and proud. With tiles, you can either select a tile that blends in with the cabinetry or choose a tile that will make the kitchen pop. Think about not only what takes your fancy today but what has timeless appeal. I absolutely love the Kit-kat-shaped mosaic tiles with their modern and unique look.  They really add to the kitchen’s dramatic style which I adore. And you can also use grout to play on the tile effect and pattern.

The panache of porcelain

For the ultimate in sophistication, why not consider the impressive extra-large porcelain panel tiles. This splashback choice has an air of opulence to it that is stunning to look at and easy to care for, and as an added bonus there is no need for grout. These panels have a magnificent marble or concrete look, which will complement your cabinetry and will sit perfectly with any choice of colours and kitchen styles. With this panelling, the splashback becomes one of the standout features of the kitchen so you can pare back on other features to allow it to shine.

The real deal

Another splashback material hot on-trend is solid stone. With dozens of choices on offer, this is obviously an extravagant option for your kitchen. At Henely we have many clients who opt to have their Caesarstone benchtop’s match the splashback, creating this dazzling symmetry that is polished and refined.

Going glass

With glass, you can be as bold or as subtle as you wish, showcasing your personality or use the colouring to be the backdrop to other showstoppers in the kitchen. Glass selections eliminate grout which is another huge bonus, for the cleaning aspect. At Henley Design, our current favourite Glass splashbacks are Grey Pebble and Grey Reflection, both are beautiful and are subtle grey beige colours. Leaning themselves to the grey family as well as fitting effortlessly into warmer colour palettes. With Glass splashback we love to find colours that complement the scheme, enabling us to focus and draw the eye to our hero pieces such as the Caesarstone benchtops and laminex cabinetry.

The wonder of a window splashback

Window splashbacks are a simple yet stunning choice that allows natural light to seep throughout the home, bringing the outdoors inside. Being able to look at your outdoor area, with lots of greenery while your cook is such a simple delight that you won’t take for granted.

Henley is one of Australia’s leading home builders and has built over 50,000 homes Australia-wide including VIC, QLD, NSW and SA.

All images other than the top one via Henley.

Categories
Expert Tips Kitchens RENO ADDICT

How to: Choose a kitchen splash back

There was a time when there were very few options when it came to kitchen splash backs. Thankfully we’re no longer living in that era and if anything, we’re absolutely spoilt with fabulous choice. From mirror, to stone, tiles, glass or even window, there are so many great splash back options that have the power to propel your kitchen from drab to fab.

Image courtesy of Victoria Colour Glass
Image courtesy of Victoria Colour Glass

Mirror

A mirrored splash back can look fabulous and it doesn’t have to be super shiny like bathroom mirrors. In fact, there are some lovely smoky grey ones that have a subtler, mirrored finish. But given that mirror doesn’t add texture, colour of movement to a space you have to have a good reason to use it.

One excellent justification is if you want to highlight a beautiful view. Your kitchen splash back may be opposite a beautiful garden or amazing ocean view, or something else that you want to reflect. Another reason to use a mirror is to maximise a feeling of space. If your kitchen is on the diminutive side, a mirrored splash back can really open it up.

Just remember to be mindful of checking Australian standards with respect to the type of mirror you need to install as not all mirror works behind a hot plate – some will crack and shatter when they get hot.

Window

Using a window as a splash back is such a beautiful idea as it’s such an amazing way of connecting the inside of our homes with nature. Obviously this only works if you have the back side of your kitchen running along an external wall of your home and you must make sure there’s something to look at. If, for instance, the view is simply that of a Colorbond fence, you might want to reconsider installing a window If you are set on it though you could mount external art or an artificial or real green wall onto the fence – both options will make it much more attractive to look at.

But, like mirror, it’s really important that you check the Australian standards when it comes to glass – it can also shatter when it overheats.

Image courtesy of Impala Kitchens
Image courtesy of Impala Kitchens

Stone

People often discount stone as a splash back option because they think it will be too expensive. But not only are there some very affordable stone varieties on the market, the installation cost is less than tiles as there is no grouting required and the process doesn’t take as long.

Furthermore, if you’ve selected a stone bench top you will have to purchase an entire slab meaning may have a leftover piece. Slab dimensions vary, but generally they are 2400mm x 1200mm which means you might be able to get your splash back out of just one slab, making it a really affordable option.

Aside from being super easy to clean and heat-proof, stone splash backs have no grout lines and thus provide a beautiful, seamless look.

Coloured glass

My least favourite splash back option, while there are some great colour choices I think it is a rather clinical look. But there are a couple of exceptions in my mind – a glass splash back can look fabulous inside an uber modern home and I don’t mind black glass in the right spot.

Image courtesy of Ikea
Image courtesy of Ikea

Tiles

My favourite splash back option, tiles can bring so much texture and life into a kitchen. From the lovely movement and texture of a little mosaic tile to a timber-look variant, large format tiles or an on-trend patterned option, tiles can be amazing in a kitchen.

There are some things to consider though. If you want a really clean-edged finish you need to select a rectified tile for a nice, square edge and talk to your tiler about having really thin, almost imperceptible, grout lines. Some tiles are so well made and straight that you can forget the traditional grout joint entirely and simply have the tiles butt up against one another with a very thin line of sealant between then. This is a more specialised option though and will depend on your tiles and tiler’s experience.

And if you’re concerned about grout and the absorption of food stains from cooking, there are some amazing grouts around that are minimally porous too.

Laminate

If you have a really tight budget and you don’t have a cooktop in front of your splash back (and thus no heat issues) you could consider an amazing laminate or board product – from timber-look to metallics, there are some ultra-cool finishes out there.

–Naomi Findlay is one of our resident experts, principal of Silk Home and founder of the International Institute of Home Staging

Read all her articles for Reno Addict.

Categories
Designers Furniture

Copper obsession unleashes fabulous, unique business idea

It was while renovating her own home, and frustrated with the lack of kitchen splash back options, that Copper by Design’s Amanda Halfpenny decided to launch a business based around the reddish-orange metal. From raw copper to orange or turquoise patinas, we love the different finishes that can be created.

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Amanda’s own kitchen featuring her handmade copper splash back

“My work with copper started with our own renovation a couple of years ago, when we were working with a designer who suggested a glass splash back.  It wasn’t until we started choosing cabinetry, benchtops, and fittings that I realised our kitchen could end up looking like everyone else’s, which I didn’t want,” says Amanda, who became fixated on the idea of a copper splash back instead. “I started researching everything about copper, and how to ‘force’ patina.  I had a piece of copper cut to size and started playing around with it and after several weeks, we lacquered it and installed it. It was a fairly simple process upon reflection.”

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Lovely copper bathroom detail

An overwhelmingly positive response ensued, Amanda’s business idea was born and she added some homewares to her offering shortly after. “I began to make small side tables, Lazy Susans and the Cu Tray, which has been shortlisted for the 2016 Australian Contemporary Emerging Design Awards,” says Amanda, who is based in Perth.

IMG_2496

Side table – we love the turquoise patina

The process whereby Amanda ‘forces’ the copper’s patina is an interesting one. “Patinas, or verdigris, are the thin layers that form upon copper when the surface comes into contact with atmospheric conditions. The patina acts as a band-aid, protecting the copper from corrosion and decay, whilst simultaneously strengthening the metal. Different environments form differing patinas. From the colours of the hues, to the speed of patination, this is all dependent on the chemicals interacting with the copper,” says Amanda. The bespoke possibilities are obviously endless.

Amanda’s Cu Living Wall

“We have created a unique and distinctive patination process from the ground up. Using nothing but old-fashioned methods and organic, sustainable, ethical and recyclable products we can, in effect, accelerate time, and cater bespoke colour patterns to any custom request. With an eye on design, each piece is a unique labour of love – no two pieces are alike and each piece is a character with its own story to tell,” says Amanda.

Tray Male Whisky 4b

The Cu Tray

“Our business is heavily based on custom work and we love nothing more that meeting with people who want to bring copper into their space and together we make it work.  A good example of this is the Cu Living Wall project with landscape design company SolScapes.  These are walls that actually breathe – they are living walls!” says Amanda.

Check out Copper by Design here.

 

Categories
Bathrooms Kitchens RENO ADDICT

New on-trend marble collection from Granite Transformations

Perfect for renovators, Granite Transformations has a long history of fuss-free makeovers. Their range installs easily over existing kitchen benchtops and splash backs meaning costly and time-consuming demolition can be avoided.

CarraraA4_Final (2 of 3)Kitchen bench and splash back in Carrara

Responding to consumer tastes, the company has just released an on-trend marble collection and while it looks like the real thing it’s actually an engineered stone, making it non-porous, heat, scratch, stain and impact resistant.

Calacatta (1 of 2)

Kitchen bench and splash back in Calacatta

The super serviceable marble range includes four designs: Calacatta, Carrara, Portland White and our favourite, Statuario (a refined yet statement grey vein on a cool white background).

Originale: 360.00 x 360.00 dpi Chiave: 08007A0A - Iris Group - Iris Group Modello: Iris-SassuoloCretaPrint L4E842 135-08 2gs360 2011-09-15C-Br-Y-K Metodo: Qualit‡, Pi˘ inchiostro, Scegli il risultato con distanza minore, Non applica fattore di ritiro Confronto: Formula CIE00( 1.00, 1.00, 1.00 ) Level 2.00 Spot 1 Fidelity 91.72% File originale: Y:Acquisizioni�4 StonePeak Sass Pietre Marmi�20 Calacatta LoewsCalacatta PaiottiFD0031A-E-F-L_lum-20.tif Uso tinte: 14.58% 2.45% 18.40% 0.90% Copertura totale: 36.33%

Statuario

With slabs that are just 6.5mm thick, your bathroom or kitchen can be renovated in as little as one day by simply laying it over the top.

There’s nothing we like more than a swift, cost-effective reno. Click here for more.