Adding Visual Interest With Texture

Kitchen updates rank among the most popular home improvements and typically provide an excellent return on investment.

When remodeling a kitchen, some of the mainstays are granite countertops, stainless appliances, and statement lighting. But also trending is texture, an important design element that adds dimension to a room.

In 2014’s National Kitchen and Bath Association annual trade show and EuroCucina (the world’s largest kitchen trade show), the buzz was all about the layering of textures with combinations of concrete, metals, glass, wood, quartz and marble, and even laminates and veneers.

There is an art to adding texture; you don’t want to go overboard. When adding texture, instead pick one or two areas where it will add some punch, but not be a visual distraction.

For example, a backsplash is one area of the kitchen that can easily be incorporated with texture. Picture your shiny countertop against a contrasting matte backsplash or a tumbled travertine. If it’s not your style, the entire backsplash doesn’t have to be the same. Consider adding a mosaic or stained glass insert, either randomly scattered or perhaps centered in the back of the stove. If you’re a fan of an all-glass backsplash, consider blending with stone, marble, or metals.

Another way to use texture is to break up the counterspace. If all your undercabinet counters are the same material, you might break it up with butcher block surrounding the prep sink. Of if the countertops are shiny, a honed finish on the island adds interest. For a cook who likes to bake, a section of counter may be marble for rolling out dough.

Texture is not only about rough and smooth, contrasting colors and woods are also a visual texture. Contrast painted wood cabinets with a stained island base. Instead of all your cabinets having closed doors, consider the many options of glass panels or one or two open shelves.

Lights add another layer of texture and interest. Accent, decorative, and ambient lighting are an important element of great kitchen design.

Another way to add interest in the kitchen is the use of greenery – an infusion of organic elements. Herbs and plants can be integrated into the design with their own shelving, mini greenhouses, or decorative potting. Green plants, flowering plants, and herbs not only add a visual element, but an aromatic one as well.

Adding the right amount of texture is fun because the possibilities are many. But with so many patterns, colors, and materials to choose from, it can also be overwhelming. The Sales Design Consultant at Callen are more than happy to help you select what will look beautiful and functional for your home.