After many years of sleek, flawless kitchens in minimalist and monochromatic styles, there has been a recent swing towards a less harsh and more relaxed look. This is clearly illustrated by the emergence of wabi-sabi design, which is being seen in kitchens all around the country.
Wabi-sabi style is based on ancient Japanese Zen principles which embraces imperfection, texture and the richness of life. A wabi-sabi inspired kitchen looks and feels warm, welcoming and lived in, which is a direct contrast to the cultivated simplicity and clean lines of minimalism. If you'd like to create a wabi-sabi style kitchen in your home, here are two great ideas to try.
1. A textured splashback
The kitchen splashback is a relatively large surface that provides you with a great opportunity to make it a sympathetic feature in wabi-sabi style. Unlike the seamless, shining splashbacks that have been in fashion in recent years, a wabi-sabi inspired splashback should add texture, colour and an attractive, non-uniform surface.
Tumbled tiles are an excellent choice for this feature. They're created by agitating normal tiles with either small stones or sand to create worn and imperfect edges and surfaces. Copper is another excellent choice for a wabi-sabi splashback. As copper ages, it develops a unique and striking patina that will add a genteel and timeless look to your kitchen.
2. Mixed materials
Another important attribute of wabi-sabi design is creating harmonious contrast between the different features of a room. The most effective way to do this is to use a variety of different materials for the different features of your new kitchen, including flooring, bench tops, cabinetry and tap ware.
Natural materials are great choices for creating this type of contrast, because they inherently work with each other. This helps to keep the contrast organic, subtle and sympathetic, instead of being overt, bold and too dramatic.
Natural stone varieties, such as marble, granite and sandstone, are excellent choices. They add colour, texture and a beautiful randomised pattern to the room. This is also true of timber, with every piece having its own unique hue and wood grain. Both natural stone and timber also contrast beautifully with man-made materials such as ceramic tiles, metallic tap ware and door hardware and glass.
Wabi-sabi style has some clearly defined principles, but it's also a way to have some fun and experiment with your own ideas. The most important thing is to create a kitchen that appeals to you on a personal level and adds warmth, charm and comfort to your home.
Share30 January 2019
If you're thinking about bringing elements of the outdoors into your home but you don't know how to go about it, you've come to the right place. I'm Betty, and I've been in the unfortunately predicament of having severe hay fever and allergies for much of my life. I got sick of loading myself up with anti-histamines just to experience the outdoors everyday, so I decided to look into home additions that would bring that feeling inside where I was safe from pollen. I spent a long time researching solariums, pools, and other constructions, and now I have the home—and life—of my dreams. And now I'm sharing the tips and ideas I've learned with you!
