Backsplashes, Arches & Color

Stories by Kathleen E. Syron

D+D: What are some of your standout backsplashes at the moment?

RM: For us, the word “trend” is an anathema to our work. We believe in projects of permanence and design for inheritability. The ultrahigh luxury market is using materials that will last at least 30 years and usually much longer. The only reason someone might change a design or product would be to repair plumbing. The tile or slab is not going to fail; it won’t wear out or fade. It will look just as beautiful years from now as it does today. This is why it is so important to choose a product that is visually, emotionally and physically resonant for the person using the space.

One new look I am seeing is the presence of color in our classification of really fine stone and tile, which I believe is a response to the ever-present gray and white kitchens. Homeowners are more apt to choose universally appealing designs if they plan to resell anytime in the near future. In my business, we tend to work on projects of permanence, where the client is emotionally invested in the materials they choose. In these cases, I always tell my clients, “Your backsplash has to make you happy first thing in the morning and last thing at night. If you have chosen something for any reason other than it delights you visually, then you made a mistake.” Color is overwhelmingly the number one visual feature that people register and respond to. It has the power to change one’s mood or attitude. So natural stones with colored veining and brightly hued tiles are becoming more and more popular, as is the combination of the two. The use of quartzite with glass tiles is very special.

Artistic Tile

Roy A. Marcus, Brand Ambassador

520 Secaucus Road

Secaucus, NJ 07094

201.864.7000 artistictile.com