A Soft Sage & Graphite Kitchen by Fiorito Interior Design

When I began this kitchen project, the space was constrained by an awkward peninsula and a dropped ceiling that compressed the room both physically and visually. Fluorescent fixtures sat behind a plastic diffuser, and the refrigerator was wedged beside the range, leaving the kitchen feeling crowded while also making poor use of the available space. The transformation began by taking things away. The dropped ceiling was removed, the fluorescent tubes went with it, and the room suddenly gained height and light. The peninsula was removed too, opening the floor plan and allowing the cabinetry to continue down an adjacent wall and incorporate a second window. What had been a small, enclosed kitchen became a generous working space with room for a slim, functional L-shaped island, additional cabinetry and, perhaps most importantly, a much more natural relationship between the different parts of the kitchen.

The palette is quiet, but there is a lot happening within it. Soft sage cabinetry grounds the room, while warm white upper cabinets and pantry cabinetry lift the space. A pure white quartz countertop provides a crisp surface against the cabinetry, and soft brass hardware adds just enough warmth. The new Sub Zero refrigerator was given its own wall, beside a full pantry, freeing the range wall to become a strong focal point. A Monogram range now sits centered beneath an angular stainless-steel Zephyr hood, framed by the kitchen's most distinctive element: a graphite backsplash made from WOW Design's Pottery tile. Inspired by Japanese handmade ceramics, the tiles have a wonderfully tactile, imperfect character. Most are deep graphite, but here and there the surface breaks into strokes of camel, dusty peach, and deep blue-gunmetal glaze. There is an almost painterly quality to the way those colors move across the wall, giving the kitchen something that is difficult to achieve with a more uniform material—the satisfying feeling that an artisan actually made it.

The rest of the room was designed around that same balance of simplicity and warmth. New pale oak flooring runs throughout the ground floor, bringing a natural material and a soft golden tone beneath the cooler sage and graphite. Floating oak shelves flank the windows and provide a home for plants, ceramics and a few favorite objects, while another pair of shelves beside the refrigerator creates a small landing place for the things that inevitably arrive with you at the end of the day—keys, mail, bags and whatever else happens to be in your hands. The island occupies a surprisingly small footprint, yet its L-shaped form provides both additional work surface and seating without interrupting the flow of the room. A deep sink with an integrated cutting board and roll-up drying rack, a commercial-style faucet and under-cabinet LED lighting bring the practical details up to the same level of thoughtfulness as the larger design decisions. In the end, the renovation did more than just enlarge the kitchen; it created a space that feels calm, contemporary, warm, and a little unexpected … and, most importantly, we created a kitchen that finally makes sense for the way my clients live.

All after photos by Bernardo Grijalva.

Seeing is believing, as the saying goes. Here are some "before" images showing the smaller square footprint hemmed in by the peninsula...

Do you have a kitchen that needs updating ... or taming? Contact me and let's create something beautiful together!

Happy designing!

Choosing A Kitchen Backsplash: From Classic Tile to Unexpected Materials

The kitchen backsplash is no longer just a practical feature—it’s a style statement. Gone are the days of a skimpy four to six inch run of material above the counter. Whether you're contemplating a cosmetic refresh or a full-on kitchen remodel, choosing the right backsplash can completely transform the look and feel of the space. With so many materials available from timeless tile to bold concrete or sleek metals, there’s something for every style and budget.

1. Classic Tile: Endless Styles and Patterns
Tile is the most traditional and versatile option for a backsplash. Whether it’s classic subway tile, intricate mosaic patterns, or hand-painted ceramics, tile offers endless customization. The most popular choice for a tile backsplash is porcelain since it is such a durable, maintenance-free material. But you can also look at tiles of other materials such as glass, metal, or stone. Mixing a gloss and matte version of a single tile can look intriguing for the subtle play of light, but for more drama, you can mix different materials for a completely unique style. Using grout colors that either blend or contrast depending on the material and what kind of feeling you want to create offers another chance for self-expression.

Black subway tile with white grout in kitchen by Corey Damen Jenkins

Small stone mosaic backsplash in kitchen by Fiorito Interior Design

Glass subway tiles in kitchen by Fiorito Interior Design

2. Glass: Sleek, Modern, and Reflective
Glass backsplashes offer a sleek, seamless look and reflect light beautifully, making your kitchen feel brighter and more open. You can choose from clear, frosted, or back-painted glass in any color. A full-height glass slab backsplash (instead of just a strip) creates a bold, contemporary effect. Reverse painting (called eglomisé) offers an array of design possibilities.

Glass sheet backsplash by Steffen Welsch Architects

Glass sheet backsplash by Griffin Enright Architects

Hand-painted eglomise backsplash by Billet Collins

3. Natural Stone: Rich Texture and Elegance
Marble, travertine, granite, and slate backsplashes bring natural texture and a sense of luxury. Each stone is unique, so you get a one-of-a-kind design. For a high-end look, I like to use the same material for the backsplash that was used for the counter top material. It makes the space feel more expansive. If however you would like to use a different material for the splash, I always let one of the materials be the star of the show. If you want to use a highly patterned backsplash, then a quieter counter top with little to no movement allows the splash to shine without creating a fight between materials.

Slab splash and counter in kitchen by Cari Giannoulias

Bookmatched stone slabs in kitchen by Everage Design

4. Quartz: Durable and Low-Maintenance
Quartz backsplashes are non-porous, easy to clean, and just like the stone options shown above, can match or contrast with quartz countertops. They offer a seamless, polished look without the maintenance of natural stone. Make sure to buy a reputable, well-known brand that has a high quartz to binder ratio for structural integrity.

Empira White quartz by Caesarstone

Primordia quartz by Caesarstone

5. Stainless Steel: Industrial Meets Chic
Stainless steel is heat- and stain-resistant, easy to clean, and offers a cool, industrial vibe. It’s especially popular in chef-style kitchens. Go beyond plain panels—consider pressed patterns or a brushed finish to add depth.

Stainless steel backsplash in kitchen by Cary Bernstein Architect

6. Other Metals: Brass, Copper, and Tin
Metallic backsplashes can add warmth, glam, or vintage charm. Brass and copper age beautifully, while tin offers an ornate, old-world aesthetic.

Brass backsplash

Copper backsplash by Halman Thompson

Pressed tin backsplash

7. Concrete: Raw, Edgy, and Modern
Concrete brings a raw, urban feel to the kitchen. It can be cast in panels or troweled directly onto walls for a seamless finish. So your kitchen doesn't feel too cold or sterile, you can combine with wood or warm tones to soften the industrial edge. (If the thought of real concrete is too much, there are porcelain tiles and quartz materials that accurately mimic the look and color of concrete!)

Concrete backsplash

Waxed and sealed concrete backsplash

8. Wood: Warm and Unexpected
Wood as a backsplash is a very unconventional choice but offers incredible warmth and texture. Reclaimed wood offers a great, organic and rustic look, or try slatted panels for a sleek Mid-Century or Scandinavian style. Keep in mind however that wood is a natural and highly porous material so use around a wet area means your wood must be sealed, preferably with a marine-grade varnish to keep it stain-free. With the right sealant, this material can be surprisingly durable. Additionally, there are porcelain tiles that mimic the look of plank wood and slatted wood that will provide the same look without the worry.

Wood backsplash and live edge countertop

Slatted wood backsplash

I like to think that choosing a kitchen backsplash is about more than just protection—it’s a design decision that can define your kitchen's character. Whether you're going for classic elegance, modern minimalism, or something totally unique, there’s a material out there that’s perfect for your vision. If you'd like to explore these and even more options, give me a call!

Happy designing!

A Light, Airy Kitchen by Fiorito Interior Design

Acquiring a new house is an exciting occasion but often has many challenges. So when my clients moved here to California from the east coast and purchased a home that was built in 1967, they came to me to help modernize and update the house that clearly had not been touched since the 70s. For the kitchen, we removed the dated orange oak cabinetry, tile counter tops (with pesky large grout lines), and cracked terra cotta flooring. This enabled us to start from scratch so we could create a light, bright kitchen in the soft fog and forest colors of the coastal mountain region of our area here in Northern California.

White cabinetry and light neutrals in the space create an airy, open feeling. European white oak flooring contributes to the organic feeling and grounds the space. New appliances (including a French-door Sub Zero refrigerator and a Wolf oven with coordinating microwave), hand-forged iron light fixtures, and a luxurious Crema Marfil marble counter and mosaic backsplash elevate this kitchen while the custom drapery panels, trestle table, and custom chairs in the dining area allow the kitchen to retain a casual, contemporary-California atmosphere.

All after photos by Bernardo Grijalva

Here is what it looked like before we gave it a new lease of life!

And here is the empty kitchen, just in drywall and ply sub-flooring, waiting to be made beautiful.

Do you have a dated kitchen that needs a lift? Call me!

Happy designing!

Slab and Template: Together Forever

I am currently working on a whole-house remodel for a client and we are in the kitchen phase. After we picked out our color scheme for the cabinets, counter, and backsplash, we set about choosing materials. I found a gorgeous backsplash made out of crosshatch pieces of light cream marble punctuated with decorative squares of variegated Dream Stone.

Since the feeling of this house is light, open, and calm, I wanted a counter material that would have very minimal movement in terms of a pattern so as not to compete with the texture of the backsplash. My clients prefer natural stone and one of the prettiest out there is Crema Marfil. This stone is a marble, and while I generally try to steer clients away from using marble in a kitchen setting as it can etch from acidic foods like vinegar and lemons, Crema Marfil is a little heartier. If properly sealed, and if you are the type of cook who cleans up as you go, then this marble could be for you. The cream color has beautiful clouds of tan and warm grey, making it a soft visual statement.

But choosing the type of material is only half the story. When buying slabs for a kitchen, I always like to bring clients to the marble and stone slab showroom so we can choose the exact slabs we want. Stone is a natural material and variation in color and pattern is an inevitability. So it is wise to have the slab warehouse open up what is called the "packet" (the bundle of stone slabs in their order of how they were mined from the quarry) for your inspection. After all, the sample you saw might be from a packet or bundle that was quarried years ago and the material being quarried now might not look the same in terms of color or veining.

My client and I went to the slab warehouse where they used a special mechanized crane to lift and lay out seven slabs for us to review. Only three are needed for the kitchen so we had a nice selection to choose from. Below you can see the rows and rows of slabs under the movable crane that travels up and down the aisles.

It's a delicate and dangerous operation as these slabs can weight upwards of 800 or 900 pounds each.

And here are the slabs, in sequence of how they appear in the packet, laid out for us to inspect.

After we chose three slabs, they were shipped to the fabricator for a template review. Larger marble and stone warehouses often only sell the material and do not act as fabricators (the ones who will cut the slabs up into counter shapes with properly sized holes for sinks and faucets, etc.). In this case, the fabricator is nearby so transport was relatively simple. If you choose your slabs from the fabricator, this step will obviously be eliminated.

Here are photos of the templates on our chosen slabs. A template is a pattern that is made by the fabricator of the exact dimensions and shapes of the counter top. Sink and faucet holes are cut on site to guarantee precision.

These are just a few of the many thousands of steps and decisions involved in a kitchen remodel. If you're thinking of a new kitchen but feel overwhelmed with the prospect, give me a call. I'm happy to guide you through it all to the kitchen of your dreams.

Happy designing!