Paisley Tile Backsplash Takes This Kitchen to a Whole New Level
The remodeled Toronto kitchen features a soapstone-topped island and a bold backsplash that makes an impression
Jess McBride
April 18, 2018
Houzz Contributor. Custom decorating professional and content creator for the home design industry with a lifelong passion for color, pattern, and texture of every "stripe"
Houzz Contributor. Custom decorating professional and content creator for the home... More
Photos by Valerie Wilcox
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with two kids
Location: Toronto
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Frankie Castro of Square Footage
The wife and mother of this Toronto family of four is an art school graduate and avid baker. Therefore, creating a kitchen that was artistic and bold but also functional for cooking, baking and eating together as a family was essential to the design. The homeowners brought in designer Frankie Castro to take their old kitchen down to the studs and create a new space that serves as a functional work of art.
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A young couple with two kids
Location: Toronto
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Frankie Castro of Square Footage
The wife and mother of this Toronto family of four is an art school graduate and avid baker. Therefore, creating a kitchen that was artistic and bold but also functional for cooking, baking and eating together as a family was essential to the design. The homeowners brought in designer Frankie Castro to take their old kitchen down to the studs and create a new space that serves as a functional work of art.
The homeowners weren’t afraid of color and craved something artistic to define their style. With the wide range of beautiful, artisanal tiles on the market, the backsplash was an ideal spot for a bold choice. Castro covered the range wall with 18-by-48-inch Spanish tile in Mettro Source’s Montblanc Paisley pattern. The tile has a raised texture that makes the pattern even more dynamic.
Castro brought the tile all the way up to the ceiling. “Sometimes clients are cautious in their design selections and some would maybe look at this tile and think, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so bold.’ But sometimes the more of it you add, the less bold it feels.”
Castro brought the tile all the way up to the ceiling. “Sometimes clients are cautious in their design selections and some would maybe look at this tile and think, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s so bold.’ But sometimes the more of it you add, the less bold it feels.”
The homeowners made it a priority to have plenty of seating. They wanted a large island and a separate seating area where they could eat with their feet on the floor. The designer’s challenge was to avoid the feeling of a “room full of chairs,” which can result from too many surfaces at the same level. So Castro cut a round extendable table into the island at a lower level to accommodate standard-size dining chairs.
The dining chairs are covered in a soft green velvet, and the custom barstools are in woven leather, for durability and richness. “When you have a focal point as strong as the paisley tile, you really can’t dilute it. The only thing you can really add, for richness, is texture.”
The dining chairs are covered in a soft green velvet, and the custom barstools are in woven leather, for durability and richness. “When you have a focal point as strong as the paisley tile, you really can’t dilute it. The only thing you can really add, for richness, is texture.”
Castro improved the flow of the kitchen further by replacing a standard door with a pocket door between the kitchen and dining room. You can see it to the left of the wall ovens. “Once you have such a beautiful kitchen, you want to open it up and make it more inviting,” and hiding the door inside a wall was one way to do that.
Chandelier: Meurice in brass, Jonathan Adler; browse modern brass chandeliers
Chandelier: Meurice in brass, Jonathan Adler; browse modern brass chandeliers
A pocket of walnut-clad open shelves tucked within tall pantries helps lighten the look and provides a nice display space for the couple’s collection of dishware. Castro mixed in these open shelves because “sometimes when everything is behind closed doors, it’s a little intimidating for guests to help themselves or for kids to put dishes away.”
Near the entrance to the kitchen and to the left of the cabinet wall, Castro created a command center with a magnetic chalkboard where family members can write notes, hang mementos and stay organized. “No matter how beautiful your kitchen is, you need a place for practical life,” she says.
Near the entrance to the kitchen and to the left of the cabinet wall, Castro created a command center with a magnetic chalkboard where family members can write notes, hang mementos and stay organized. “No matter how beautiful your kitchen is, you need a place for practical life,” she says.
Instead of crown molding at the top of the cabinetry, Castro applied a tall filler piece with trim to make the space feel more modern. “Paisley is so old-world, so the natural inclination would be to play with that and add crown molding, but I wanted to keep it more modern.”
The only place you’ll find crown molding in this kitchen is atop the walnut range hood. This kitchen is a mix of modern and old-world style. Most people choose the ‘safest’ options, says Castro, but the only way to ensure that you’ll love a room for a really long time and won’t grow tired of it is to truly reflect your personal style.
The only place you’ll find crown molding in this kitchen is atop the walnut range hood. This kitchen is a mix of modern and old-world style. Most people choose the ‘safest’ options, says Castro, but the only way to ensure that you’ll love a room for a really long time and won’t grow tired of it is to truly reflect your personal style.
The sink and island countertop is made out of soapstone. The countertop features grooves that dip into the sink to help drain the juices of freshly cut fruits and veggies. The base of the island is painted a dark black to act as a dramatic contrast to the kitchen’s white walls and cabinets.
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Beautifully designed. With the cabinets being white, it allows other features to stand out and not be "too much". Also, using colors from the tile as the seating color choices was a smart way to keep the kitchen together. A great way to show your artistic side, but still keeping it simple.
Everyone should do as they please and not for other people...I love to see someone NOT follow trends....it shows originality. I personally love this kitchen because it says "happy"...don't take life too seriously...and I'm doing what makes me happy!!! That I can respect more than someone who follows trends and is so generic.....generic is boring....because everyone else has it...urg....
Soapstone is my most favorite surface in my kitchen. It's smooth, warm, waterproof, stain proof and forgiving of dropped pots. The slab used has a beautiful color range.