Kitchens are no longer just the place where food is prepared. It has become the place where the whole family gathers together and shares not only the food but also their joys and laughter. Kitchens have evolved based on the needs and demands of today's family.
Today's kitchen must be able to multi-task as well, a place where families gather together to catch up on the events of the day. By opting for the numerous varieties and amenities available today in kitchen furnishings and appliances, you would be able to lend an air of vibrancy and life into your kitchen. Today you have the option of choosing from a wide variety of tiles, both backsplash tiles and countertop tiles.
Ceramic Tile for kitchen countertop
Nothing impacts the look and feel of a kitchen more than its countertops. From stainless steel to ceramics, laminates to granite, kitchen countertops come in as many materials, finishes and colors as you can imagine. Ceramic tiles are one of the most inexpensive options for kitchen countertops.
They are easy to install, durable and easy to clean. They are available in a wide range of color, texture, price and design. Custom designed tiles are also available but are pretty expensive. But kitchen tiles can easily chip or crack. Besides grout lines are prone to stains and mildews.
Kitchen backsplash tile
Backsplashes are not just a part of the background anymore. With colorful tiles and exotic designs, backsplash can make a design statement. The area in between the countertop and the cabinets is referred to as the backsplash. This protects the walls from spills, stains and splashes, which occur while cooking. You can create your own design by playing around with colors, patterns and textures. You can either match it with your countertop or contrast it. Since it is the last place to be filled in when modeling your kitchen, you can take your time to imagine and design the backsplash of your choice.
Ceramic tiles are still the best choice when it comes to backsplashes. A wide variety of ceramic tiles are available in the market today in various designs, colors, shapes and thickness. Ceramic tiles can also be handmade and customized according to your needs and requirements. The customized tiles are hand painted, glazed and fired to last a lifetime.
The colors don't fade or wash away and can be easily cleaned with any normal household cleaner. Unique hand painted tiles create a gorgeous look and can become the focal point of the kitchen. Ceramic tile borders are also available in different patterns and add a classic touch to the entire setting.
Backsplashes can also be installed in stainless steel. They are easy to clean and lend a clean and contemporary look. Stainless steel goes very well with wooden countertops as well as laminates. Glass backsplash is the in-thing today. Glass and glitter also add a glamorous touch to your kitchen. Glass backsplashes come in a range of vibrant colors like fuchsia, teal, gold, silver, orange and red.
Kitchen Wall Tile
Kitchen designers point out that the first thing the eyes see on entering the kitchen are its wall. And today, people are using tiles to cover the bare kitchen walls. Tile is being used in all its glory to beautify kitchen walls. Be it ceramic or porcelain, glass or metallic, the choice is mind boggling. You can mix glass with contemporary metal tiles or mix more colors to create a contrasting effect. You can choose bright colors which allow for interplay of light or opt for handmade tiles with exotic glazes. Rustic porcelain tiles can also be used on the walls as well as the floors. They impart an aged natural stone look.
Alternatively, you can opt for wavy edged, matte finish tiles in subtle colors and use porcelain slate imitation for the floors. Highly glazed tiles give a sleek and contemporary look. Another way of designing the kitchen wall is by splitting it into two sections horizontally and using floral tiles on the top part and blending various colors in the bottom half. Different types of insets and borders are also available. They offer a cool and chic contrast to plain tiles of various shades. Kitchen tiles are also available in tumbled Marble. Tumbled marble refers to pieces of marble cut and put through tumbling process to create an aged look.
Kitchen wall tiles in glass are the current rage in stylish kitchen decor. Glass tiles can be used to produce a variety of field patterns, border designs and medallions. You can opt for a sparkling collection of intricately detailed borders and file tile patterns featuring gem-like mini glass tiles. Glass tiles exhibit subtle woven designs and elegant nature themes in colors of your choice.
Also, most of the glass tiles are high skid resistant and excellent for floors and provides an exquisite complement to natural stone materials. Manufacturers also offer glass tiles with sandy surface texture. Naturalistic collection of lines and decors are available in stylized water, foliage and geological patterns. Glass products are an obvious choice for those who desire beauty and style in everyday life.
Backsplash tile
Through-body porcelain tiles offer one of the best values in the design industry. They can be used for interior and exterior applications, on both walls and floors. They are highly durable; slip resistant, easy to clean and relatively inexpensive. They are available in a wide variety of designs and colors and in many sizes, shapes and finishes.
Stainless steel can also be used for kitchen walls. They impart a shiny and contemporary look to the kitchen. You can choose from a wide range of patterns including honey comb, small and large squares, bricks, in-brushed, checked and diamond shaped tiles. They are available in matte, polished, semi-polished and bush-hammered finish.
By opting for the right design, you can even transform a windowless area of your kitchen into a room with a view. Beautiful Tuscan landscapes, tropical beach scenes, bird, fish floral tiles, murals, wine art - the options are aplenty. In fact, some art studios create a customized tile mural of your choice by reproducing your images onto ceramic, glass or tumbled marble tiles.
Whether designing the countertop or the backsplash, let your imagination run wild. After all, it is your kitchen, and you definitely deserve the best.