A home is a very personal space; a safe sanctuary that we believe is our own! Yet, for many of us, our house is not really ours. Having moved from one rented apartment to another for nearly a decade before owning a home, I can personally relate to the many frustrations that one encounters when it comes to decorating a rental. For starters, you almost have zero room for maneuvering things around and when it comes to creative custom solutions, you cannot get anything done around the house. In the rented apartment, it is often a choice between your security deposit and decorating freedom!

Get creative with the gallery wall design in your home [From: Room & Board]

But that does not have to be the case every time and today, we are starting a whole new series that will help you in transforming your rental home forever! We start with a feature that is simple to create, trendy and is a great way to add personal style and taste to your home – the gallery wall. Yes, the moment we talk about gallery walls, your mind automatically conjures up hammer, nails and plenty of holes! But with the smart ideas below, you can avoid both the holes and the fear of losing your deposit even as the perfect gallery wall comes alive!

Sleek Ledges and Floating Shelves

This one is easy, contemporary and an idea that adds much more than just a gallery wall to the living room or the bedroom. Sleek picture ledges are easy to install, take very little time and effort and you do not have to be a DIY expert to work with them. As an added bonus, they offer a hint of additional storage and display space for decorative pieces beyond just the photo frames and wall art collection. You can add a couple of cool decorative vases, freshen up the scenery with some seasonal flowers or even go minimal with just a picture or two on the ledge when you feel the gallery wall has overstayed its welcome.

Turn the living room corner into a cool gallery wall with smart picture ledges [From: Third Coast Interiors]

Eye-catching gallery wall in the living room is just perfect for a rental home [From: Kat Alves Photography]

Slim and contemporary ledges allow you to create gallery wall in no time at all!

Clips and Tapes

There was a time not too long ago when you could just not trust tape to hold a photo frame. Yet, today’s 3M and washi tapes are sturdy enough to safely hold all those picture frames as you fashion a wonderful gallery wall full of family photos. If this approach still feels a bit risky, then there is another fun option of using clips to hang the small art prints and photographs. This creates an eye-catching and casually-chic gallery wall that is perfect for small homes and apartments.

Create a rental-friendly gallery wall suing 3M and washi tape

Using clipboards to create a cool and unique gallery wall [From: minto]

Casually Classy

Hanging the large wall art piece might just not be possible in the rental home without permanently damaging the wall in some shape or form. This is where a bohemian, shabby-chic approach to decorating the room helps. Just place those art pieces on one side of the room so that they are gently leaning on the wall and combine it with a small picture ledge for the best possible look. This approach is simple, classy and one that gives you ample decorating freedom.

Gorgeous wall art pieces placed casually on the floor and leaning against the wall

You need not always hang the art pieces for the biggest visual impact!

Find your own unique style to create gallery wall in the rental home without damaging the walls!

Finding Creative Solutions

There are plenty of other ingenious ideas that allow you to embrace that lovely gallery wall in a rental without causing damage to the walls. Wire frames and metallic grids are a cool way to display photos and wall art while you can even think about buying one or two small, custom easels for those special paintings. Do not limit yourself to the idea of the traditional gallery wall as you explore ways to add a personal touch to your rental home!

Creative rental-friendly gallery wall ideas

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Modern kitchen is a space that offers a wide range of design possibilities. You can alter everything from the countertops and the backsplash to the cabinet color and the floating shelves in the backdrop much more easily now than at any time in the past. For some of use, this opens up a fun new world where trying out new trends and ideas is that much easier. It also ensures an easier kitchen renovation of makeover that still leaves the existing dining area or living space in the open-plan living largely untouched. As we break away from the last remaining influences of 2021 and start embracing 2022 fully, today we explore a kitchen backsplash trend that is an absolute must-have – the stone slab!

Captivating stone finishes fashion both the island and the backdrop in this kitchen [From: Dana Benson Construction]

Natural stone slab backsplashes in the kitchen have become an eye-catching trend in the last few years. Even if you are worried about natural stone, composite stone surfaces offer a much more durable alternative that is equally captivating. The stone slab backsplash can easily alter your kitchen aesthetics and it is definitely not a look that is relegated to modern kitchens alone. From the traditional to the contemporary and eclectic to farmhouse, this is a collection of some of the very best stone slab kitchen backsplash ideas along with a basic guide on what it takes to make them work –

Replacing the Subway Tile

It is the subway tile that has been a popular option in homes across the globe when it comes to tasteful kitchen backsplashes in the last few years. But those wanting to move away from this monotonous look and willing to try something much more stoic, should consider adding the stone slab backsplash. The stone slab creates the visual of a single, continuous backsplash, giving the modest kitchen a more spacious appeal. It can also be a cost-effective option when compared to fancier tiles if you are willing to choose the right stone. Most importantly, a stone slab backsplash matched with the right countertop creates a wonderful sense of continuity in the modern kitchen.

Curated stone slab backsplash in black with unique pattern makes an impressive statement

Beautiful stone slab backsplash for the traditional kitchen in white and gray

Bluish-gray stone backsplash in the white kitchen with bar chairs in blue [From: Geometra Design]

Choose a stone slab backsplash for the kitchen that fits into your budget [From: Fraley and Company]

Discover the Right Stone

Moving away from the subway-tiled backsplash and towards a stone slab almost immediately uplifts the style quotient of the kitchen. This is not a knock on the subway tile look, but rather a nod to the sense of sophistication and ‘air of luxury’ that the stone slab ushers in. The look is just so very perfect for contemporary kitchens that want to lean towards minimalism, but with a hint of restraint. Yet, add the same stone slab to the traditional or farmhouse kitchen and it still shines through by providing the ‘it factor’ to an aging kitchen.

Minimal modern kitchen in stone and wood with a dark backsplash

Repeating the stone used for the backsplash in the kitchen to create smart countertops

All-white kitchen with stone slab backsplash

Be it granite, marble, quartz or quartzite, the stone slab you choose for the backsplash depends as much on your budget as it does on the style and color palette of the kitchen. A stone lab with large veining and bold pattern can be the showstopper of the modest kitchen, even if it is generally much more at home in larger spaces. You can also choose a small area between the range and hood for the slab backsplash; a smart way to reduce cost without compromising on overall aesthetics.

Stunningly beautiful marble stone slab backsplash also covers the hood in this kitchen with green cabinets [From: Whitehall Homes]

Stone slab backsplash with matching counters and island top creates a minimal look in the kitchen [From: Plain & Posh]

Dashing kitchen with stone slab backsplash combined with natural edge counter top

Decorating Around the Backsplash

So, you have your stone slab backsplash in the kitchen all sorted. But there is still the matter of bringing it together with the other elements in the kitchen! Start by trying to choose a slab of natural or composite stone for the backsplash that is same as your countertops. If you can repeat it for the kitchen island, even better! Slim floating windows above of the stone slab along with the hood help define it better while windows next to the backsplash aid in cutting down on the renovation costs. It is not that hard to get the loom right once you settle on a style and color scheme in the kitchen.

Gorgeous New York Kitchen with stone slab backsplash that matches the island countertop [From: Steph Gaelick Designs]

White is not the only color when it comes to stone slab backsplashes in the kitchen [From: Dan Rak Design]

White stone slab backsplash is just perfect for this lovely white and wood kitchen [From: Lars Remodeling & Design]

Floor and stone slab backsplash complement one another in this small contemporary kitchen

You're reading Stone Slab Kitchen Backsplash: 15 Ideas to Move Past the Subway Tile, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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Wood countertops in the kitchen are neither revolutionary nor something that have suddenly taken homes across the world by a storm. The classic kitchen countertop in wood has been around for a long while now. But the arrival of 80’s and 90’s saw homeowners shift away from wood and embrace man-made materials like Corian that add refinement and sparkle. But the early 2010’s saw a shift away from these artificial finishes once again and wood has become a major element in kitchens with cabinets, countertops and even accent walls being draped in wood. It is a part of this blossoming trend that has seen a popularity spurt in wood-topped kitchen islands.

Contemporary kitchen in gray with a fabulous island top in wood along with copper handles and pendant lighting [From: Idesign Interiors]

Moving past natural and composite stone finishes, acrylic polymer surfaces and other man-made materials, wood-topped kitchen islands add something unique and exceptional to the modern kitchen. Often ushering in visual and textural contrast, these countertops can be combined with islands that are themselves not clad in wood. Elegant, understated and yet timeless, this is a look at some of the best wood-topped kitchen islands along with many benefits that they offer –

Mix and Match Different Countertops

One of the cool kitchen countertop trends these days is to combine different kitchen countertops across the room while still managing to create a curated, modern look. This is where the kitchen island with wooden countertop comes in handy. You can choose a material for the prep zone in the kitchen that is much more durable and low-maintenance like natural stone, quartzite or even Corian while adding a bit woodsy charm to the space using the island top. This makes for a more dynamic and efficient kitchen that also compliments the living space gorgeously.

Bright and cheerful modern-industrial kitchen with a smart central island in blue and wood [From: Dependable Renovations]

Creative contemporary kitchen island in blue with a wood-top and storage space on it sides [From: Architectural Squared]

Kitchen island countertop with a natural-edge design offers both textural and visual contrast [From: Heather Cleveland Design]

For the White Kitchen

Before purely concentrating on the different ways in which wood-topped kitchen islands can fit in to the modern white kitchen look, it is important to understand the many options available when it comes to wood countertops. From maple and oak to wenge, walnut and teak, there are many different species of wood that you can choose from depending on your island usage, budget and the aesthetics of the kitchen. While wood countertops can be elegant and even a touch easy on your kitchenware when compared to stone, they are easily prone to cuts and cracks and any liquid spills need to be taken care of as soon as possible.

Gorgeous wood-topped kitchen island for the traditional kitchen in white [From: Cutting Edge Design]

Small and space-savvy contemporary kitchen of New York home with a wood and white color scheme [From: kimberly peck architect]

In the modern white kitchen, the wood-topped island stands as a statement addition that offers both visual and material contrast. With wood and white being a popular choice in most homes, it goes without saying that the island adds to this color palette.

Busy modern eclectic kitchen with a smart wood-topped kitchen island at its heart [From: Inbetween Architecture]

Finding the right wood type for the modern kitchen island [From: Wm. F. Holland/Architect]

Finding Custom Solutions

There are many different varieties of the wood countertop that you can try out depending on the style of your kitchen and the size of the island. Your options start with the basic end grain, flat grain and edge grain styles and from there you can explore other, more intricate unique patterns as well. In case you love the raw, eco-friendly look, then live-edge wood countertop is also a great alternative. Make sure though that you finish the island top in food-safe mineral oil, if you are planning to use it as a prep zone in the kitchen. If the wood-topped island is not going to be used for food perpetration, then a more basic, lacquer finish should do the job.

Innovative wood island top design that matches with the other countertops in the kitchen [From: TVL Creative]

Natural wood slab for the smart kitchen island in the contemporary home [From: Karson Photography]

Deep gray and wood kitchen island adds to the color palette of the kitchen

Gray and wood kitchen with a colorful rug that enlivens the space [From: Houseace]

You're reading Wood-Topped Kitchen Island: Adding Visual and Textural Contrast, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

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