A Playful Kitchen Reno Takes Inspiration From a Pair of Earrings
Patterned tiles by Concrete Collaborative define this bold kitchen revamp for a creative couple in Knoxville.
Patterned tiles by Concrete Collaborative define this bold kitchen revamp for a creative couple in Knoxville.
When couple Alaina Smith and Ryan Schaefer decided to redo their kitchen, they imagined a space that would reflect their creative spirits and become the social heart of their home. The new space by Lauderdale Design Group combines two existing rooms into a spacious open kitchen/dining area, and is a celebration of the home’s original midcentury design details with a bold splash of pattern and color—most notably in the geometric tiles by Concrete Collaborative that wrap around the kitchen.
Homeowner Alaina Smith likens the kitchen to "stepping into a David Hockney painting"—an effect largely achieved through the use of the Dwell x Strands collection of tiles by Concrete Collaborative.
Photo by Bess Cunningham Photography
The old kitchen was a compact, 117-square-foot space sandwiched between the home’s side entry, a narrow music room, and a hallway. Lauderdale Design Group merged these spaces into the single, open-plan kitchen with an adjacent dining room that covers 472-square-feet.
Dani Miller, principal of Lauderdale Design Group, had suggested using Concrete Collaborative’s patterned concrete tiles early in the design process. With such a bold feature, it was essential to keep the rest of the palette refined. "It took restraint in the adjacent finishes for the pattern and color of the tiles to work," explains Miller. "But, by providing warm, rich and yet refined materials in all areas apart from the backsplash, we created a space where the vibrant blue concrete tile could thrive."
The kitchen reflects the creative personalities of the homeowners—Alaina Smith, founder of accessories brand Cold Gold, and Ryan Schaefer, a musician, software designer, and founder of Hologram Electronics, which designs unique stomp boxes and pedals.
Photo by Bess Cunningham Photography
The walls and ceiling are drenched in warm, white paint (Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee), and a new timber floor has been installed to match the rest of the interior. Likewise, the cabinetry features maple veneer with a dark stain that echoes the rich coffee tones found throughout the home, and offers a striking backdrop for the blue patterned tiles. The colorful Concrete Collaborative Strands tiles used for the backsplash are a collaboration between Concrete Collaborative and Dwell, and the concrete tiles feature a design by architect Chris Deam that takes inspiration from Californian surf culture.
The smooth, clean lines of the Strands tiles take inspiration from surfboard shapes, and the tiles can be combined to create endless combinations of alternating patterns. The pattern is inlaid into each concrete tile using pigmented clay in a process known as "encaustic" patterning. This creates a durable surface ideal for bathroom floors, kitchen backsplashes, and courtyards.
Photo by Bess Cunningham Photography
See the full story on Dwell.com: A Playful Kitchen Reno Takes Inspiration From a Pair of Earrings
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