How To Properly Use Textures When Designing Your Kitchen

There is plenty to consider when doing a kitchen remodel. Are you updating your cabinets, choosing new countertops, appliances and floors? Or, are you completely changing your kitchen layout, knocking down a wall, and creating an open plan kitchen design? After deciding on the practicalities, choosing your color scheme and style will put your own stamp on your kitchen design. However, if a kitchen is too sleek and lacks textural balance, it will look flat. Texture is a vital part of the end product as it stimulates both the visual and tactile senses and contributes to the personality of your kitchen design.

KITCHEN CABINETS

Kitchen design is moving away from clinical modernism towards a warm, layered look which mixes traditional and contemporary elements in a transitional style kitchen design. This style allows you to combine the clean lines of a contemporary design with the warm elements more typical in a traditional kitchen, and textures play a big part in this.  For example, keep the grain and texture visible on distressed wooden cabinets and mix them with sleek upper cabinets or island cabinetry in a contrasting finish with a smoother texture. Make a feature out of handles on shaker cabinets, such as brass with dark wood. Glass panels break up wooden cabinet doors, as do brushed steel, copper or chrome range hoods. Beadboard panels give depth around islands or peninsulas and molding at the top of cabinets adds more interest and draws the eye upwards.

COUNTERTOPS

If your kitchen remodeling includes an island, create food prep and dining zones simply by using contrasting countertops.  In this kitchen design in DeWitt the quartz countertop contrasts beautifully with the wooden eating area and stools around the island.

Or, include a sink in a unique material that offers a contrasting texture to the smooth countertop, like this copper farmhouse sink.

Nothing beats marble if you love to bake, but soapstone is lower maintenance, veined and pleasant to the touch, with the same look of old grandeur. The cheapest option however, is a butcherblock and wood will add warmth to any kitchen design.

WALLS

Feature walls make a statement with exposed brick, wood panels, textured wallpaper or bright colors. Leave the other walls plain in your kitchen remodel to maintain a timeless look and allow your feature wall to stand out. Include local materials like reclaimed barn wood, locally sourced stone, a regional tile, or local river rocks to make your kitchen design a one-of-a-kind tactile dream. Backsplashes are an ideal place to incorporate texture as a focal point. A metal backsplash like brass or copper adds glamour, and a stainless backsplash is an ideal complement to a modern design.  Metal works especially well with rich color schemes, and marks and nicks only add more character. Glazed or glass tiles add dimension while smaller mosaic tiles can provide more texture with a combination of different materials, colors, grout lines.  Patterns in a tiled backsplash add relief, dimension and texture too, even on a small scale. This kitchen remodel in East Lansing incorporates a blue motif on contrasting tiles, balancing out the wooden floors and cabinets.

FLOORS

Cement tiles are a great contrast for a modern kitchen. They look aged and come in a wide variety of patterns. Terracotta is perfect for a warm, classic feel, as is rustic or polished wood. Mix elements with your furniture too, such as wrought iron barstools with wood and stone. Natural materials will always have varied textures and work perfectly together and with shiny man-made objects.

This kitchen remodel in Lansing juxtaposes exposed brickwork with smooth wood floors and metal stools, giving a warm but industrial feel.

A combination of wood, glass, stone and metal will give your kitchen design a real lift. You don’t need a lot of color, just mix surfaces and textures to add warmth and style to your home remodel. Do you think your kitchen design is too one dimensional? Call us or drop by today to discuss your texture options with our kitchen design professionals!