Overhauling a kitchen is an arduous and many-layered process. There are so many decisions to make, and then as soon as you make those it opens up a whole other layer of sub-decisions underneath that. It’s like a nesting doll of anxiety. For instance, if you intend to go the tile route, you then have to decide on your look, pattern, and placement. There are as many different tiles out there as there are kitchens to put them in. Here are a couple of jumping-off points, featuring the tiles of Soci.
Shop Soci Mosaic Tile:
When you think about tiles you probably think floors first, but there is another important area of your kitchen that you absolutely want to consider. ‘Backsplashes’ are the expanses of wall behind a sink or a stove–just generally the places that are in the blast radius when you are cooking or cleaning. Tiles are much easier to clean than a painted wall, letting you easily wipe down any cooking splashes or sink misfires. Damask and arabesque patterns are both popular choices for backsplashes, since they are complicated and decorative, able to make a big impact in a relatively small space.
A house I briefly stayed in over a summer had a very small kitchen. For some mysterious reason the landlord had hung a mirror over the stove–possibly in order to open up the space a little. Of course, all that happened was the mirror got fogged over with steam and grease and you got a great view of your frazzled reflection while you were cooking. There is seriously nothing more distracting than focusing on a zit on your nose when you’re trying to strain pasta. So to that end I am a huge fan of coming up with alternate ways add some visual interest to the space. Patterned tiles are a great way to do that.
This is a style that I like a lot when it is executed well. Tiles that combine a couple different patterns can be really interesting, but keep in mind that you will want to have a relatively large space to put them in, otherwise it can easily overwhelm the eye. Busy patterns not only look tacky, they can also be fairly anxiety-inducing in a small area. I like this effect of continuing the same pattern onto the wall; it moves the eye from one place to the next effectively and improves the flow of the space.
Shop Soci Field Tile:
Here is something I think is really cool–tile designed to look like something else. It can totally change the vibe of a room. Tile that mimics other materials isn’t anything new, but it’s a classic for a reason. This particular tile is porcelain made to look like concrete slabs–giving the room an industrial, contemporary feel–but there is also mock-marble, both light and dark wood, and pretty much anything you’d want a floor to be made of. Soci has a lot of different mock-tiles. I know the photo above is of a living room, but this sort of thing would be great for a modern kitchen, paired with black and white for a sleekly contemporary feel, or with color to give it a little depth.
Choosing the right tiles for your kitchen can be a dicey prospect. They are going to be getting a lot of use, and you’re going to end up spending a lot of time staring at them. Soci’s tiles range from the cleanly simple, to the intricate and arresting, making it easy to choose the best fit for your space.
