Homeowners with large kitchens may wish to install an island with different wood tones and counter than the rest of the kitchen to help achieve a more versatile look. While these tones will generally complement one another, the kitchen backsplash becomes the perfect place to help unify the two toned kitchen.
Single Color Backsplash in a Two Toned Kitchen
While the kitchen backsplash can be a way to pull all the colors of the kitchen together, as well as accent colors from adjacent rooms, there are times when a single color will work better. When the rest of the kitchen design is neutral in color, a solid color of backsplash tile can add depth and texture to the room.
If the kitchen design is made up primarily of creams and browns with neutral countertops as well, it may be wise to introduce some color into the design in the tile. This helps to warm and personalize the room, as well as give additional interest to the space.
For otherwise neutral two toned kitchens, try using a soft color throughout the backsplash. Try to avoid extremely saturated colors, as this may seem glaring in the absence of other colors in the room. Pull the tone of the tile from the rest of the kitchen to help unify; if the cabinetry is warm in tone, the tile should be warm as well; if bright whites and cool toned wenges are used, then the tile should be cool in tone.
Two or More Colors in the Backsplash
For kitchens which use quartz counters in solid colors, or which use multi-toned granite counters, the use of two or more colors of tile in the backsplash may help to pull the design together.
In modern kitchens, when the kitchen island counter is a bright, saturated color and the main counters are more neutral in tone, a multi colored backsplash of several saturated colors can be employed. Custom blends of mosaics, of a random mixture of colors in glass tiles or ceramic tiles can be used to give the kitchen additional pop. Simply make sure that the saturation level of all the colors in the same, and that the island counter color is included.
For kitchens which have a wild patterned granite, as well as a more sedate granite, two colored backsplashes can help to tie the two areas together. If a heavily veined granite is used on the island counter, such as Rainforest Green, while a more sedate granite such as Kerala Green is used on the main counters, then the accent tones of the backsplash tile should come from the island.
Try taking the lightest color from the main counter, such as Ivory in Kerala Green and using it as the predominate color of the backsplash. This could be as simple a design as subway tile, or more elaborate with decorative tiles.
Pull bold lime greens, golds, rusts as accent colors from the Rainforest Green. Run two bands of a bold color in subway tiles through the more sedate field, or use decorative tiles in these tones cut into the corners of tumbled marble or handmade ceramic tiles for a more traditional look.
The backsplash of the kitchen can be used as a way to bring decoration to the space, but also to add a finished component to the space. Use the backsplash the anchor point of the two toned kitchen and finish the design today.
Sarabeth Asaff - Sarabeth Asaff is a freelance writer and artist with a passion for cooking and good food. Growing up in the kitchen of her Lebanese ...
