Floored By Those Walls

From trendy tiles to vinyl floors, Hasmita Amtha rounds up the latest in wall and floor finishes for the kitchen

- Hasmita Amtha

When you think of kitchen design, walls and floors are often blurred in the excitement of cabinetry and countertop choices. However, wall and floor treatments are not only a necessity, but also are defining design elements that can make or break the desired aesthetic.

Here’s what’s new and trendy.

DESIGNER WALLS

Kitchen walls and splashbacks are the areas in a home where tiles and slabs are most commonly used. They’re loved for their low-maintenance appeal and the design diversity they offer the space.

For a surface that is easy to wipe clean of food splashes from the stove, tiles are the best solution. And they come in a wide range of colours, sizes and patterns, says Tile Africa’s Liza Watermeyer.

“The days of plain wall tiles are gone. Experiment with patterned tiles, cut décor or mosaics in your kitchen to showcase your personal style and create a warm inviting space.”

On personalisation, Ramielle de Jager of Wolkberg Casting Studios notes that home owners are generally considering their kitchens more closely and making personal choices, and are moving away from playing it safe.

“They’re being bolder and embracing a little more excitement on kitchen walls by combining different materials, colours and textures on a single wall or in a single room. We have seen [splashbacks] in Limesite tiles with specs of our Adorn semi-precious metal accessories being used more often.

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