The client also wanted plate racks inside the niche, so Davis measured the plates and found that “there was enough height, but once the plates were placed in the slots, they fell backward. We only had a 6-inch depth to work with, so we reworked the rack and added cleats to hold the plates in place,” he says.
Back in Glass
Bright Hue Designer Jonas Carnemark of Carnemark Systems + Design, in Bethesda, Md., has used glass tile in backsplashes for a long time. “The durability and ease of cleaning make it a nice option,” he says. In addition, he points out, the material reflects light, but not as powerfully as mirror or polished metal, which can be too highly reflective and visually dominating. In this garage that was converted into a kitchen, the design team chose a rich blue iridescent Oceanside tile made from recycled glass.
In addition to glass-tile backsplashes, Carnemark has also specified sheets of glass that are painted on the back and installed with fasteners or set in an aluminum ledge with silicone. “You get nice color, but it’s durable,” he says. He displayed this option in his showroom using three 40-inch-wide, 5-foot-tall glass panels that run from the top of the stove to the ceiling.
Mosaic Mix Al York, a principal with McKinney Architects, in Austin, Texas, says glass tile is functional and durable and that the variety of choices available allow designers to reinforce the aesthetic of any project by choosing the appropriate style, size, color, and pattern. For his own kitchen, shown here, he wanted to contrast both matte and glossy surfaces. “The glass provides a sparkle at a point of focus over the oven,” he says.
York used tiles in three sizes — 4×4, 4×8, and 8×8 — and six colors to create a mosaic with a balanced blend of colors. “I did not want one corner too dark or too light,” he says. The multi colored backsplash also allowed him to tie the full color palette of the kitchen into a single package.
He says that different mosaic patterns can be used to create different moods, ranging from the vibrant mix in his kitchen to more restful and relaxing patterns.