Q: I started my kitchen renovations more than a year ago, and I was thinking that by now, an idea would have come up — but it still hasn't — to dress up a little and unusual corner in my kitchen, an almost hidden but very useful alcove where I cook.
I could do with more storage space, since I don't like having stuff on the countertop and I could do with a punch of color and I am thinking something bold like GOLD, as everything else in the loft is white or grey. At first, I thought that this white range hood would be invisible, but I don't like it and I doubt a gold backsplash would make me forget about it. What would you suggest?
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I suggest that you tile it. The alcove is quite narrow. So, food will spatter. Tile will save you from an endless mess. You could go with a metalic or something like that if you need that bit of gold. However, that could be a too much after a while. Good luck and please post your decision back to us later.
It is kind of unusual, but it might be less noticeable with a great piece of artwork on the wall between the patio doors and sink. If you're keeping the sink counter area neutral, you're better off continuing that in the stove alcove. You might try painting the range hood more of a grey similar to your countertop. Some kind of window covering also might lessen attention to the stove alcove.
That back wall (and possibly the side wall, too) is ideal for a splurge statement mosaic (stone or glass) tile. Or simply continue the countertop material up the back wall.
Like the other posters, I'd suggest a beautiful statement tile installation. Mosaic, glass, coloured penny tile....the options are endless. Would love to see what you settle on! Good luck.
P.S. I like the range hood.
I like your kitchen and I like that stove alcove. I suggest glass tile. You could go with browns and golds but I would go with something grey/silver/white to stay with the look and feel of the kitchen.
I think you'll like the range hood more when it's not surrounded by a clashing shade of off white. Tile will be your saviour. What about a nice Susan Jablon mosaic? She does nice glass backsplashes.
http://www.susanjablon.com/
Choosing a backsplash can be one of the hardest decisions to make - choose well, and it pulls all the other design elements together, choose poorly and it throws everything else out of whack.
I definitely think you should go with a backsplash. As others have pointed out, the placement of the cooking surface will lead to a lot of splatter on to the walls, and you should have something durable and easy to clean there. At first I was thinking pop of color - something like a nice mediterranian blue tile mosaic or something. But looking at the rest of the design elements in your home it seems you're going for that all-white look and I think you should commit to that. Get an interesting white tile (not glass) in either ceramic or marble. Actually get a sample of both and try it out - the ceramic to tie in with the cabinets, the marble to tie in with the countertops.
Why white? Because any color you get will only make the range hood you dislike standout more. Why not glass? My experience with glass is that even if it looks white before you install it, it ends up either a greenish or blueish color in use.
I also would recommend tiling all the way to the top of the sconce. In the long run, it's only a little more expensive but it would add a lot of drama to that area, and would take away the dominance of the range hood.
http://info.marbleandgranite.com/blog/bid/122192/New-Trends-for-Granite-Countertops-White-Carrara-Marble
http://www.ikrunk.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/modern-bathroom-wall-tile-ideas-500x374.jpg
I vote with glass tile rather than ceramic. I am always conscious of light, as dark space feel uncomfortable after a while. Glass tile will capture and reflect light better than ceramic; in fact, in the right light it faintly glows with the subtle color of the glass. I think glass tile would make this a striking feature instead of a second-thought sort of nook. After all, you have to stand there looking at those walls while you cook!
Marble subway tile to match your countertop all the way up to the ceiling and wrapped around both sides. If you want colour around there, I'd suggest a nice bold piece of art on the wall by the sink just before your cooktop area.
Paint the hood with a high temp auto paint. Rustoleum makes one. It would be less expected than tile and would make the space more noticeable.
If you could use more storage and want to disguise the hood at the same time, why not attach open shelving notched to fit around the upper part of the hood? It looks like there could be room for at least two shelves to hold small items. The shelves could be supported on the side walls and would help conceal the hood without interfering with its function.
All suggestions are great. If you aren't afraid of color, red would be cool in that space. Then you can get stools (if you have a counter) with red cushions in a cool design.
Best of luck.
I would use a beautiful Moroccan patterned tile or brightly coloured glass subway tile as in the Katie Ridder kitchen and bathroom here: http://www.cococozy.com/2011/10/book-first-look-designer-katie-ridders.html
I don't know about gold... I think it would grow tiresome after awhile. Maybe yellow instead?
Forgot to add, you should tile all three walls all the way up to the ceiling, and the white range hood looks fine. Maybe you could build in a ledge out of tile in the empty space behind the range for stuff you use a lot while cooking.
I suggest colourful (or not) acrylic backsplash panels. It goes with the minimal look of the kitchen.
The thing that bugs me most here is the asymmetry. Probably hard to fix the stove placement, but at least it's an asymmetrical unit. I'd think about doing a custom hood to completely fill the width of the alcove -- possibly with open shelving above. You can get hood inserts that could be built into custom woodwork pretty easily and affordably.
Stick to marble up the back wall 'hood wall' of the stove area it will never go out of style. It's a beautiful kitchen. Remember less is more.
Agree with the poster that suggested you tile all three walls of the little alcove all the way to the ceiling. Pick some color and it will really pop.
I'd do a custom-cut mirror or mirror tiles (either all the way to the ceiling) so it doesn't feel so closed in.
Dearmisha's suggestion is GORGEOUS! Wow, it would look great if you can find something like the tiles featured in the Katie Ridder kitchen.
I like the little nook. Its quirky and a little different. I agree that it needs some colour but personally wouldn't go with gold. (I am not keen on gold in general - personal view)
I agree that a backsplash would be great to help the nook stay clean. You could introduce a colour with a tiled or glass backsplash and then use which ever colour you have chosen and follow that scheme throughout in the rest of your apartment. Good luck :)