Liven up kitchen with backsplash of colour

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/01/2004 (8041 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DEAR Debbie — I have an old kitchen with almond appliances, and the backsplashes behind the stove and sink are almond plastic or Formica. The cabinets are a honeyed wood. I need an update that will work with the almond appliances.

–BryAnn C.

DEAR BryAnn — Almond is a neutral colour so you have lots of options. The first element I would change is the backsplash. It’s not a large surface and yet it makes a powerful visual impact. An easy, effective solution is to make a band of colour. This will break up the monotony of all the almond and honey. Use a contrasting colour such as blue or green. Even red would make a statement. Apply a couple of coats of varnish for easy cleanup.

Mosaic tile is a popular option, which will immediately update the kitchen. Choose from a selection of tiles or glass mosaic, or design your own one-of-a-kind pattern. Cut a piece of plywood to fit the backsplash area as it is far easier to lay the tiles working on a table than directly onto the wall. In this family kitchen, the children drew some objects and designs. We copied them onto the board and used black, white and mirrored tiles to fill in the picture. Once the tiles are in place, the board is attached to the wall with carpenter’s glue, and then grouted. Update the hardware on the cabinets and you will be amazed at your new kitchen.

DEAR Debbie — I have a windowless room in the basement and want to turn this into my sanctuary from daily stresses. It’s small and has a low ceiling, 6’3". I heard that mirrors and stripes can make a room feel larger. Please advise.

–Anne

DEAR Anne — The challenge is to create a mood that brings down your blood pressure and relaxes you. This can be achieved in any space with colour and texture. Natural tones such as taupes, browns and creams work well with splashes of blue — very calming. Vertical stripes will trick the eye into making the walls seem higher, and horizontal stripes will open up a room. Reflection is also calming. Try a series of mirrors and lots of candles. Choose warm flooring, bamboo and cork are my favourites, and piles of cushions to lounge on. I feel more relaxed already!

DEAR Debbie — My husband has inherited a painting that’s been in the family for more than 50 years. The frame is wooden and has ornate corners. To cover up the inevitable nicks and cracks, the frame was spray-painted gold, which has no depth and doesn’t enhance the wonderful Dutch scene at all. Can I salvage this old frame?

–Barbara VB

DEAR Barbara — One option to soften the hue and show off the ornate carving, is to apply a pure paint colour such as burnt umber artist’s oil over the gold base coat. You only need a small amount and can buy the tubes in art and crafts stores. Apply the oil paint with a brush, making sure to get it into all the nicks and crevices on the frame. Wipe the umber paint back with a clean soft rag, leaving some behind in the lines of the pattern. The traditional method of decoration for a frame such as the one you describe is to gild it. First paint the frame dark red and then apply gold leaf. You can then seal the finish with varnish — either flat or semi-gloss sheen depending on your preference. The highlighted character of the frame will complement the wonderful old scene in the painting.

The Painted House column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please e-mail your questions to askdebbie@painted-house.com. Check out Debbie’s website www.painted-house.com. and watch Debbie Travis’ Painted House on W, and Debbie Travis’ Facelift on HGTV. For more ideas look for Debbie’s newest books, Kids’ Rooms and Bedrooms.