Home Design - Glass tile backsplash

A single, subtle splash of color may be all that's needed to create the required atmosphere for a living space.This kitchen is central to the layout of living spaces in a penthouse apartment. It is in the great room, which comprises the entry vestibule, living area, dining table and kitchen, and intersects between these and the private spaces of the apartment.Kyle Gaffney, of SkB Architects, was asked by the owners, who entertain regularly, to design a kitchen that would be part of the great room experience."They wanted an entertainers' kitchen that looked like part of the living area, and with enough storage to allow them to tidy up quickly if the doorbell rings," he says.For a contemporary look, cabinetry is in a dark bog-oak veneer, with frosted glass overhead cabinets and open shelves to lighten it. Adding texture and an unexpected flash of color is a recycled-glass backsplash tiled in a random pattern. An extra-long island is specifically set up for entertaining. It defines the kitchen, separating the hosts' zone from the guest area, without intruding on any social interaction. Stained light gray, a recycled wood bar counter sits over the top of the living room end of the island. It can be a buffet during parties, and shields the sink from view. In the island are two sinks; one, extra-large and hidden behind the buffet, provides a place to hide dirty dishes, while the second, smaller sink, at the far end of the island, is for food preparation.