Designing from Blank Slate to Reality

The Design Files As I mentioned this week, it's pretty fun to pull my furniture around and start to “live” with the rooms arranged closer to what I envision. But at the same time, it's a bit frustrating to have to wait to really see everything I imagine! I don't want to be patient, ha, I'm […]

This article Designing from Blank Slate to Reality is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

25 High-Class IKEA Hacks

Many people think of IKEA as a budget store. It may be a budget store, but take something basic and add a little paint, hardware and creativity to take IKEA pieces to the next level. High-class and IKEA don't normally go together, but these High-Class IKEA hacks will change your mind. The details and imagination put into simple pieces will have you thinking these hacks cost way more than they actually did. 

Library Wall by Bliss at Home for Better Homes and Gardens

Classy Bookshelves by The Makerista

Crown Molding Bookcases by Brittany Makes

Gold Leaf Desk by Style Me Pretty

Office Built-Ins by Southern Revivals

Cobalt Office Chair by Style Me Pretty

Next up, 11 more fancy IKEA Hacks.

The post 25 High-Class IKEA Hacks appeared first on Remodelaholic.

Van Cleef & Arpels Place Vendome Paris

Van Cleef & Arpels Place Vendome Paris

Designing from Blank Slate to Reality

The Design Files As I mentioned this week, it's pretty fun to pull my furniture around and start to “live” with the rooms arranged closer to what I envision. But at the same time, it's a bit frustrating to have to wait to really see everything I imagine! I don't want to be patient, ha, I'm […]

This article Designing from Blank Slate to Reality is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

25 High-Class IKEA Hacks

Many people think of IKEA as a budget store. It may be a budget store, but take something basic and add a little paint, hardware and creativity to take IKEA pieces to the next level. High-class and IKEA don't normally go together, but these High-Class IKEA hacks will change your mind. The details and imagination put into simple pieces will have you thinking these hacks cost way more than they actually did. 

Library Wall by Bliss at Home for Better Homes and Gardens

Classy Bookshelves by The Makerista

Crown Molding Bookcases by Brittany Makes

Gold Leaf Desk by Style Me Pretty

Office Built-Ins by Southern Revivals

Cobalt Office Chair by Style Me Pretty

Next up, 11 more fancy IKEA Hacks.

The post 25 High-Class IKEA Hacks appeared first on Remodelaholic.

Van Cleef & Arpels Place Vendome Paris

Van Cleef & Arpels Place Vendome Paris

How to Conceal (or Highlight) a Light Switch or Outlet

Unless (or sometimes even if) you're building a home from scratch, chances are you have some unsightly outlets, light switches, or control panels that mess with the flow of your decor. It can be so frustrating to choose the perfect … Continued

The post How to Conceal (or Highlight) a Light Switch or Outlet appeared first on QB Blog.

The Dining Room {Refining the Vision and Experimenting}

When I last was brainstorming on the blog about our kitchen and dining room, and what the main floor plan might feel like, basically the conclusion was to leave the kitchen in the kitchen and keep the dining room as a dining room, rather than swapping the two rooms (BRILLIANT IDEA, right?). With all my brainstorming and planning, I've […]

This article The Dining Room {Refining the Vision and Experimenting} is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

How to Conceal (or Highlight) a Light Switch or Outlet

Unless (or sometimes even if) you're building a home from scratch, chances are you have some unsightly outlets, light switches, or control panels that mess with the flow of your decor. It can be so frustrating to choose the perfect … Continued

The post How to Conceal (or Highlight) a Light Switch or Outlet appeared first on QB Blog.

The Dining Room {Refining the Vision and Experimenting}

When I last was brainstorming on the blog about our kitchen and dining room, and what the main floor plan might feel like, basically the conclusion was to leave the kitchen in the kitchen and keep the dining room as a dining room, rather than swapping the two rooms (BRILLIANT IDEA, right?). With all my brainstorming and planning, I've […]

This article The Dining Room {Refining the Vision and Experimenting} is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

14 Neutral Backsplashes: My Monochromatic Tour of Yin and Yang

Backsplashes have graduated from part of the countertop to their own glorious entity. There are so many options!   As I've been looking for my own backsplash, I have been cycling through the  yin and yang options–wonderful, delicate feminine yin and bold masculine yang. It's hard to decide which one I like more.

Photo Source: Sharing Stories of Design by Sarah Sherman Samuel

I love the soft, cloudy lines in this marble backsplash and the uninterrupted feel. I wonder if I installed oversized tiles with matching grout if I could get the same look DIY? What do you think?

Get this look

White and Tan Marble Porcelain Tile | White and Tan Marble Porcelain Tile

(Spring Sale till April 8)

Photo Source: Grain Designers

This Carrera Stone herringbone pattern give the same impressionist softness.  It's kind of the perfect meeting of understated color, structure, and movement.

Get this look

Mosaic Herringbone Tile

(Spring Sale till April 8)

Photo Source: Palmer Weiss

This subway carrera is also lovely, refined and classic.  It makes me feel like the Venus de Milo will be coming over for brunch.

Get this look

Subway Carrera

Photo Source: Home Bunch

With slightly more color and more contrast, you can still enjoy a classic Greek sculpture look.  Note how the designer combined the darker gray mottled subways with the lighter marbled countertop.  I am loving the combination–one with the flowing swirls of marble and the other with the ordered lines of subway tile, and both with undulating color.

Photo Source: Just a Girl and Her Blog

I don't know why it is but hexies make me happy, even in soft colors and classic stone! Why is that?  Add an accent color like this turquoise and I just feel fabulous!  Bright white grout ties into the cabinets and frames the hexagons.

Get this look

Hexagon Backsplash Tiles

(Spring Sale till April 8)

Photo Source: The House Diaries

Even without the accent color, the hexies add a subtle excitement.  If you love restraint in design, hexies are the perfect ever so subtle secret wink to your hidden mischief.

Get this look

Hexagon Backsplash Tiles

(Spring Sale till April 8)

Photo Source: Traditional Kitchen by Lititz Kitchen & Bath Remodelers Kitchens by Eileen via Houzz

Basketweave backsplash in a white kitchen with chrome appliances and both dark and light countertops!  Nirvana!  I love the woven pattern of the basketweave.  It's light, but it's dark.  It's calm, but its unique.  Love!

Get this look

Basketweave Tiles

(Spring Sale till April 8)

Photo Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Now I'm standing on the balance of Yin and Yang. Bright white cabinets, not a lot of contrast, lots of reflected light, but also cosmopolitan stainless steel. This clever mix of materials, incorporating the chrome appliances into the decor with a few well placed steel tiles and the backsplash behind the stove, raise a simple subway to the next level.  And BONUS! Looks like easy clean up to me!

Photo Source: HGTV

Metal subways and dark cabinets present an industrial feel. Lustrous tiles give a modern flair to a retro tile.  Note the stripe of dark tiles on the right side of the backsplash.  The burnished asymetric dark stripe provides an unexpected detail, softening the impact of the entire wall of steel. The round dishes on the shelves also balance the yang.  

Get this look

Stainless Steel Mosaic Tiles | Stainless Steel Brick Tiles

Photo Source: Beeyoutifull Life Image by Nicholas Design Collaborative

This modern kitchen makes my wheels spin!  I have been scoping out all sorts of stainless steel tiles and so many of them would be amazing in an application like this!  If your kitchen opens up into a great room, consider creating a focal spot of stainless steel tiles.  The kitchen-ness of the room is toned down by the strong architectural lines of the stainless steel. I love that the rest of the backsplash disappears into the walls, so the stove-splash can shine.

This is such a flexible idea!  Whatever you love could really make a statement without swallowing the whole kitchen. Remember to consider how much sheen you want.  Amazing!

Get this look

Modern Trapezoid Stainless Tiles | Cobblestone Stainless Tiles | Random Liner Brick Stainless Tiles

Photo Source: HGTV

I love these large wood-look tiles.  Vertical lines in the installation and horizontal lines in the wood look modern and so yang! This picture just says Manhattan to me. I found a source of even larger tiles in several wood patterns and colors that seemed like they would be amazing too.

Get this look

Wood Grain Tiles

(Spring Sale till April 8)

Photo Source: Apartment 34

This kitchen presents a glimpse of a lighter version of kitchen above–smaller tiles but woody.  Again, modern, minimalist!  I can almost feel sea air and warm breezes just looking at this picture. It looks like they used actual wood, but I also like the idea of the easier clean-up and longevity of woody tiles.

Photo Source: Home Design Ideas

I guess I've found a theme I didn't know i liked: vertical installation of long narrow tiles.  Such a  strong and bold look.  That grout looks metallic, matching the sink and fixtures.  Is it inset metal strips? Who knew that would be such an effective way to tie the kitchen together!

Photo Source: Eden Mosaic Tiles

Check out this commercial lunch kitchen look.  It just sparkles with clean, slick and chic.  Although the backsplash is black, the effect is much lighter because of the reflected light.  Consider the different effects of natural light and artificial light on this color when you are planning so you get the results you want.  You could also try a black and silver mix.

Get this look

Thin Metal Backsplash Tiles | Black Stainless Tiles

 

Thanks for taking my tour with me!  Thanks to Build Direct, Eden Mosaic Tiles, and stainlesssteelbacksplash.com for hosting this post and making our lives more beautiful!

 

Fyi–BuildDirect is hosting their Spring Sale and most of the BuildDirect tiles showcased above are on sale–not to mention a thousand other amazing remodeling and furnishing desirables! You can check them out here: www.builddirect.com

The post 14 Neutral Backsplashes: My Monochromatic Tour of Yin and Yang appeared first on Remodelaholic.