For an alternative to subway tile that's just as timeless, our handmade hex tiles offer up classic inspiration for your farmhouse kitchen backsplash. Refreshing your farmhouse kitchen with a neutral palette? Fireclay's Foundations Collection features our best-selling Tiles and patterns at budget-friendly prices. DESIGN Jessica Sparks PHOTOS Kim Lindsey Photography TILE SHOWN 4" Hexagon Tile in White Wash, Foundations Collection SEE MORE https://www.fireclaytile.com/gallery/detail/white-hexagon-kitchen-backsplash

The focal point in the kitchen is the deep navy, French range positioned in an alcove trimmed in distressed natural wood and finished with handmade tile. The arched marble backsplash of the bar creates a dramatic focal point visible from the dining room.

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client was referred to us from a past client. They are a busy 2-career household with young children and enjoy entertaining friends and family in their home. They have a beautiful open concept home but unfortunately the kitchen was not fitting for the rest of the home. They were not quite sure what to do with the space. We talked about trying to refresh it or do more of a minor remodel, but in the end they decided a full gut would get them to where they wanted to be. One problem was there was no place for guests to hang out other than the large and awkward banquette area. The brick wall and tiled hood area were feeling a bit dated and tired. The space was just not functional for their lifestyle. There was no prep space near the cooktop and no landing area for items coming out of the ovens or refrigerator, plus a big dead zone in the center of the room. Banquettes, like the one they previously had in the space, are great for small spaces, but when they get really large like this one, it makes getting in and out of the seating area awkward and uncomfortable. Plus, there was room for a large table, so we eliminated the awkward built in. We started by removing the faux brick wall between the kitchen and back entry. We relocated the entry to the garage over a couple feet in order to get every last inch out of the new kitchen. We also made the decision to close up the primary window that faced the pretty ho hum brick wall of the neighbor’s house. There was plenty of light coming in from the seating area, so we just didn’t feel the window was adding much to the room. Construction went smoothy. There was a bit of rework with electrical, flooring and HVAC, but in the end, we think it was well worth it. The clients really wanted a sleek contemporary look, and we originally had planned for a full height slab backsplash, but due to it’s size, it was a budget buster. Instead, we got creative and settled on large format porcelain tiles that have a similar feel but were a fraction of the cost. We made sure the wall was plumb and level so that the fit and finish would mimic that of slab material. The final space was quite a change. A large prep sink sits directly across from the new pro-style range with plenty additional prep space on the large island. The refrigerator and ovens now have miles of landing space, and a nice tight work triangle makes cooking a breeze. Since we wanted a more contemporary feel, not many wall cabinets were included. Instead, we outfitted some of the drawers for dish storage with a peg system. Two large pantries flanking the refrigerator hold baking supplies and small appliances. Large drawers by the cooktop hold pots and pans, and an appliance garage tucked away to the left of the range hides away miscellaneous items. The large island also houses a microwave drawer and tons of storage, most of which is drawers offering maximum convenience. The island now seats 5-6 people comfortably along with the new table in the seating area which can seat up to 8. Entertaining will be a breeze in this space. With such a clean backdrop, we knew we would need some drama with the lighting, so we chose two sets of staggered pendants, which we adjusted for the right visual balance above the island. We also included a small coffee station to the right of the main kitchen, which helps keep the coffee clutter out of the kitchen proper. Two tones of complimentary gray are featured in this kitchen. The perimeter is a light gray that reads almost white. The island is a gray stain that adds some depth and interest with the visible wood texture. The countertops are clean white quartz, and the hardware, barstools and light fixtures add warm brass tones. I see lots of cooking and entertaining with family and friends in the near future in this bright and airy new space. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Rick Ricozzi Photography
Inspiration for a coastal l-shaped beige floor kitchen remodel in Other with blue cabinets, blue backsplash, subway tile backsplash, an island and recessed-panel cabinets

Inspiration for a timeless blue tile and mosaic tile concrete floor alcove shower remodel in Detroit with a vessel sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray walls and gray countertops

Architecture & Interior Design: David Heide Design Studio Photography: William Wright
Arts and crafts l-shaped dark wood floor kitchen photo in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and gray backsplash

The concept of a modern design was created through the use of two-toned acrylic Grabill cabinets, stainless appliances, quartz countertops and a glass tile backsplash. The simple stainless hood installed in front of large format Porcelanosa tile creates a striking focal point, while a monochromatic color palette of grays and whites achieve the feel of a cohesive and airy space. Additionally, ample amounts of artificial light, was designed to keep this kitchen bright and inviting.

Example of a trendy kitchen design in Sacramento

Expertly paired with dark finishes, this kitchen's vertical green brick backsplash is stacked with sophistication. DESIGN Jessica Davis PHOTOS Emily Followill Photography Tile Shown: Glazed Thin Brick in San Gabriel

The original kitchen was dark and lacked storage space. It was cut off from the rest of the house and needed an update. We removed the wall between the dining room and kitchen and bumped the kitchen out in the rear of the house. We created lots of storage, a new island with seating and added windows bringing in much needed natural light. The kitchen is now a hub of activity for the whole family.

Jeff McNamara
Mid-sized elegant galley ceramic tile and gray floor dedicated laundry room photo in New York with white cabinets, a farmhouse sink, a side-by-side washer/dryer, white countertops and gray walls

Photography by Anna Herbst
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional galley porcelain tile eat-in kitchen remodel in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz countertops, multicolored backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This beautiful Birmingham, MI home had been renovated prior to our clients purchase, but the style and overall design was not a fit for their family. They really wanted to have a kitchen with a large “eat-in” island where their three growing children could gather, eat meals and enjoy time together. Additionally, they needed storage, lots of storage! We decided to create a completely new space. The original kitchen was a small “L” shaped workspace with the nook visible from the front entry. It was completely closed off to the large vaulted family room. Our team at MSDB re-designed and gutted the entire space. We removed the wall between the kitchen and family room and eliminated existing closet spaces and then added a small cantilevered addition toward the backyard. With the expanded open space, we were able to flip the kitchen into the old nook area and add an extra-large island. The new kitchen includes oversized built in Subzero refrigeration, a 48” Wolf dual fuel double oven range along with a large apron front sink overlooking the patio and a 2nd prep sink in the island. Additionally, we used hallway and closet storage to create a gorgeous walk-in pantry with beautiful frosted glass barn doors. As you slide the doors open the lights go on and you enter a completely new space with butcher block countertops for baking preparation and a coffee bar, subway tile backsplash and room for any kind of storage needed. The homeowners love the ability to display some of the wine they’ve purchased during their travels to Italy! We did not stop with the kitchen; a small bar was added in the new nook area with additional refrigeration. A brand-new mud room was created between the nook and garage with 12” x 24”, easy to clean, porcelain gray tile floor. The finishing touches were the new custom living room fireplace with marble mosaic tile surround and marble hearth and stunning extra wide plank hand scraped oak flooring throughout the entire first floor.

Valance under range adds a furniture feel. Soffit over hood creates a termination for the tile backsplash in this kitchen with 10' ceilings.
Enclosed kitchen - mid-sized traditional medium tone wood floor enclosed kitchen idea in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, gray backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

This was a full gut an renovation. The existing kitchen had very dated cabinets and didn't function well for the clients. A previous desk area was turned into hidden cabinetry to house the microwave and larger appliances and to keep the countertops clutter free. The original pendants were about 4" wide and were inappropriate for the large island. They were replaced with larger, brighter and more sophisticated pendants. The use of panel ready appliances with large matte black hardware made gave this a clean and sophisticated look. Mosaic tile was installed from the countertop to the ceiling and wall sconces were installed over the kitchen window. A different tile was used in the bar area which has a beverage refrigerator and an ice machine and floating shelves. The cabinetry in this area also includes a pullout drawer for dog food.

In the center of the kitchen is a waterfall island with classic marble countertop, oversized brass geometric pendants, and blue faux leather stools with brass frames. The tile backsplash behind the oven is a geometric marble with metallic inlay which creates a glamorous patterning. Photo: David Livingston

Greg Hadley
Eat-in kitchen - mid-sized contemporary single-wall medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen idea in DC Metro with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, granite countertops, red backsplash, porcelain backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Photo by Mary Costa
Inspiration for a contemporary galley open concept kitchen remodel in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, ceramic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and black countertops

These high gloss white cabinets are the perfect compliment to the single bowl sink. The black porcelain tile floor is low maintenance and a great touch to the minimalist look of the space. For more on Normandy Designer Chris Ebert, click here: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/designers/christopher-ebert/