If you’re looking for a new idea for kitchen design, specialty wallpaper may be the answer. And one of the most stunning applications is for the kitchen backsplash.
Malae Blakeley’s North Vancouver condo, recently remodelled, features a spectacular Norweigan wallpaper that is made from using photographic images of concrete, then transferred to wallpaper. Paired with white European-style cabinetry and undermount lighting , the look is sophisticated and cutting edge. There are several image styles for this look, and you can choose which features to highlight, such as concrete seams, divet marks, or irregularities in the surface. What this does is create a custom backsplash unlike any other.
Blakeley’s designer, Nadine Sheppard, sourced the wallpaper and together they worked to choose which features to highlight for the kitchen.
“I wanted to use a wallpaper that resembled concrete,” says Sheppard. “I found a company that produces a convincing photo paper that is water resistant and washable. And as luck would have it, this particular wallpaper manufacturer is carried in Vancouver through Resource Furniture .”
Sheppard has worked with Blakeley several times on interior design, and said achieving a special design was probably the most important contributing factor.
“Malae was game for elements that would make her new home unique and different from her previous home. It was the first time I have used concrete print paper as a kitchen backsplash and I had not seen it in application before,” Sheppard said.
The wallpaper cleans up easily with a damp sponge, but it’s not for everyone.
“You wouldn’t want to use this type of wallpaper if you’re frying chicken every day,” says Blakeley.
Whether the cost is comparable to a typical tile backsplash is relative: some tile sells for $60 per square foot, or for as little at $3 a square foot, says Sheppard. The cost for Blakeley’s kitchen was about $1,500. This backsplash, which measures on two walls as 39 inches and 110 inches wide — but with a height of 24.5 inches under the cabinetry — makes the kitchen look much bigger and spacious.
Some wallpapers are treated with water-resistant coating, or a Teflon-like substance. And the idea is catching on as numerous postings on Pinterest showcase geometric designs, sweeps of colour, as well as a brick look and paper that mimics the look of tile.
For some applications, the wallpaper is easy to remove so you can switch the look much cheaper than retiling. And the look is catching on as the popularity of this method has increased over the past several years. The one tip that often crops up is to be sure the drywall surface is entirely smooth before application, otherwise any bumps or depression will show up once the wallpaper is applied.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2019
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