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Kitchens Renovating Design Dilemma

terrazzo floor in kitchen.

3 years ago

hello and please help,
what colours would you suggest for my small dark kitchen, to go with this original 70s terrazzo floor? I was thinking wooden cabinets with a white countertop, but can't decide on the backsplash?
unfortunately, I can't replicate the exact terrazzo colours (beige with green and bown/purplish stones)
thank you!

Featured Answer

Juliet Docherty

3 years ago

Terazzo has a definite mid century vibe to me. If you like that kind of thing then I would look at that as your starting point.

https://thedesignfiles.net/2019/12/architecture-top-modernist-homes-2019/

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Comments (19)

kazzh
3 years ago
I think I would lean towards swapping your color blocks - white cabinetry with wood counters, that way the wood picks up the color from the floor, becoming a highlight rather than a block on top of the 'same' tone. Might also be worth some research to see if there are any ways to give terrazzo floors a good deep clean so the white springs back to life.
Wumi
3 years ago
You’re floor is gorgeous 😍.

I agree with @kazzh, I‘d look at getting it professionally cleaned, burnished, polished and sealed, it’ll brighten up the floor and make it all shiny!

I think wood tone or painted/coloured would look great as would contrast nicely. I’d pick a light colour from the flooring for your worktop and then a bold colour for your backsplash.

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If you want to try out a terrazo backsplash, I have seen some really nice terrazzo effect tiles from Mandarin Stone - https://www.mandarinstone.com/collections/porcelain-ceramic/terrazzo-effect-tiles/
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minnie101
3 years ago
I’d go for a mix of light‘ish wood base cabinets and white uppers if it’s dark with the white worktop. Some form of glossy olive tile could work again to bounce some light?
Jonathan
3 years ago
There are also terrazzo style surfaces that you can use for countertop and splashback.

Personally I would choose this forest then decide on the cabinet colour but given you describe the room as dark I would be looking for a white counter with some brown flecks to echo the floor, then either all white cabinets or white cabinets with coloured base cabinets.

https://www.hcsupplies.co.uk/product/solid-surface-worktops/apollo-magna-copper-pearl-solid-surface-3070x620x6mm-full-sheet-worktop?product_id=HCS-24981&gclid=Cj0KCQjw3duCBhCAARIsAJeFyPXQGeXDV6sBRdHiS84sb5dWjevRMaJWPm7YOaf_kb5YEtw96BP2yiwaAil1EALw_wcB
Juliet Docherty
3 years ago
Can you post some pictures from a bit further away to show if it looks 'busy' or not. With things like terrazzo it's hard to see the overall effect or colour. Lovely stuff though.
Carol B
3 years ago
I like the idea of swapping colour blocks. Maybe have a contrasting color for the tiles or go with white metro style tiles. Soft pink is popular atm and could work well with the floor. Always get a sample first to try it out - I'm sure you know this.
Ariadne P
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you everyone for the lovely ideas, yes it looks extremely busy:
Ariadne P
Original Author
3 years ago
It's quite dirty at the moment, but I will have it professionally cleaned, so it should become shiny and bright!
Juliet Docherty
3 years ago
As it's quite busy I would stick to totally plain worktops and tiles.
Ariadne P
Original Author
3 years ago
I agree with the worktops and tiles being totally plain, but what colour should I pick? the only two light colours are white and beige. I am a little worried that an all-white kitchen would look too clinical.
Would beige tiles look "dirty" as a backsplash?
Should I keep the wood accent somehow or use wood cabinets? I have noticed designers matching terrazzo with wood a lot!
Matching cabinets, worktops, backsplash, and floor is a headache to me!
Wumi
3 years ago
I would not be shy about going for a plain but bold colour on the back splash, worktop or cabinets. I'd get the floor done and get samples of cabinets, worktop and tiles to play around with. We're all commenting based on your photos, which is affected by camera lens, exposure, screen resolutions and our own colour perception!
Ariadne P
Original Author
3 years ago
The mid century vibe definitely appeals to me! thank you for the inspiration!
Sonia
3 years ago
i saw a kitchen with terrazzo flooring (and walls!) on Instagram the other day so I found it again. Ignore the walls, overload or what, but I loved the birch units. I think simple white tiles would go lovely. There are lots of interesting white tiles about such as hexagonal Or stacked.
Juliet Docherty
3 years ago
Claybrook kit kat tiles would go beautifully.

Check out the kitchen in this design files article below, it is absolutely stunning, mid century and not drenched with natural light.

https://www.claybrookstudio.co.uk/zeze-orchid-mosaic.html

https://thedesignfiles.net/2020/09/homes-lucy-spartalis-alastair-innes-dandenong-ranges/
Ariadne P
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you everyone,
for the helpful comments.
I'm leaning towards somehow combining shiny white cabinets, wooden cabinets or wooden accents, a white and/or a very light grey/white "marble" backsplash/worktop that would match the white marble in the terrazzo.
Still not sure.
I loved the modern mid-century style and will try to copy it.
Ariadne P
Original Author
3 years ago
hello, this my kitchen floor cleaned:
Wumi
3 years ago
Lovely! I can make out sage green, and pale lilac/purply/pinky grey colours.

How‘s about sage green cabinets, white countertops and white or pale dusty pink tiles back splash and light wooden or white upper cabinets? Sounds a bit mishmash, but I think it could work.
Wumi
3 years ago

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