What to make an apron in the kitchen
The decoration in the kitchen should not only please the eye, but also be practical. Choosing material for an apron, you need to pay attention to its size, quality, aesthetic beauty and value. The distance above the work surface, i.e., the worktop and hanging cabinets of the headset, should be optimal to protect the wall from hot steam, oily splashes, grease and other contaminants. As a rule, finishing is carried out along the entire wall, but quite often it is limited to separate inserts, for example, in the washing zone, the slab.
Special features
Choosing a model of apron, consider its size. The height of this element is on average from 45 to 60 cm. When selecting certain dimensions, it is necessary to build on your own height and type of plate. The fact is that the owners of gas stoves must observe the distance between the hood and the cooking surface from 75-80 cm.
When you install the apron in the kitchen, leave a couple of centimeters under the top and bottom set, countertop.Visible joint should be hidden with the help of plinth or to treat the area with silicone, sealant. This is done so that the water does not numb beyond the floor cabinet, and its wooden walls do not swell, do not deform, or provoke the formation of mold and fungus.
Each material has its own characteristics, specifications. So, experts do not recommend using unglazed ceramic tiles, because it has a porous structure. If you do not want to face the accumulation of fat, moisture that is difficult to remove from the surface, pay attention to chipboard, glass, Italian tiles, MDF and plastic, artificial stone. All other materials will be an excellent barrier against bacteria and their reproduction. With proper care, the kitchen apron will last a long time.
To facilitate regular maintenance, try to choose the right smooth and smooth construction without seams, joints.
Varieties and colors
Often, a kitchen apron serves as an excellent designer accent in the interior. You can not spend fabulous money on the boring facades of the kitchen, super-washable wallpaper, expensive floor with insulation.It is enough to issue an apron with high-quality materials in an interesting color scheme. He will certainly attract the views of curious guests, great to decorate the overall atmosphere of the kitchen. On the market there is a tremendous amount of materials from which you can create a truly artistic masterpiece.
If you do not have enough money to buy elite European materials, you can use their cheaper counterparts. Such a finish made of MDF, chipboard, plastic perfectly imitates wood species, natural stone, creates amazing stained glass windows, the effect of broken stained glass, etc. When designing an apron, it is important to understand what role it will play in the kitchen interior. Sometimes it can be a great backdrop for a kitchen set or vice versa. In this area, you can place a 3D volumetric photo print, visually expanding the working space, giving the plot the interior of the kitchen.
It can be a seashore, a fascinating horizon line, flower still lifes, fantasy scenes, animal paintings or any national pattern (Scandinavian, Oriental, Provencal, Azulezhu, etc.). The universal color for the apron is still considered white.Plastic panels, glass will look great with a headset of any color. In order for them not to have a “sick” dull look, designers advise to dilute the snow-white tonality with a color insert from a mosaic, a ceramic decor, a photo printing. The neutral gamut also includes ayvori shade, beige, ivory, milky, cream.
If you stop on a colored apron, be sure to “support” its palette with other interior details. Best of all, if it will go in tone or pattern in a pattern with textile elements of the kitchen: curtains, decorative pillows, as well as wallpaper. Incredibly stylish in the kitchen will look the color of Marsala, burgundi, lime, emerald, ultramarine.
If for the bedroom the key color palette will be purple, then in the kitchen - rich purple. Aim to use as many natural colors as possible. By the way, all shades of brown, yellow, gray in contrast with black, white, cream, sand, pastel, etc. will appear.
Popular finishing materials
One of the most popular materials is a ceramic tile or a small format porcelain tile.They are available in price and quality, but more expensive than the option of chipboard, MDF. An order of magnitude higher are the aprons of sustainable glass, artificial stone. The latter are used mainly in country cottages and apartments to maintain the prestige of their real estate.
Tile
Try to choose a tile with a glossy surface for ease of care for it. Its brilliant surface will reflect the light that will visually expand the kitchen area. If you are not satisfied with small square meters, you can use volumetric decors, select embossed tile patterns, for example, with a 3d effect. For any interior a beige-brown color will turn out to be a win-win, no matter what style surrounds you (classic, kitsch, vintage or art nouveau).
The peculiarity of the tile is that it easily imitates other materials: stone, wood, glass. A popular ornament will be watercolor drawing or patterns with divorces. Small impurities and stains are practically invisible with them. When laying tile pay attention to problem areas, seams. Light grout will eventually lose its original color. It is important to use only high-quality materials with dirt-repellent, moisture-resistant components, for example, like an epoxy grout.
You can also choose a rectified tile, in which the distance between the seams does not exceed 2 mm. In this case, the darkened areas during the operation will not be noticeable. Experts advise choosing a tile with a special coating that is excellent against aggressive environments. With such material it will not be scary to use any chemical means, even with abrasive particles in the composition.
There are many options for laying Italian tiles. You can choose a checkerboard, traditional or offset. You can arrange it diagonally on the Soviet motif or by the kaleidoscope method (in a variety of colors). If you pick up a ceramic tile of 10 x 10 cm, then when laying you can do without additional trimming. It looks great in small kitchens.
Reduce the time of finishing work with ceramic tiles will turn out if you buy samples of medium size, from 30 x 30 cm and above. They can imitate small tiles, have cuts, grooves, but they will be laid several times faster.
Phototile
The apron made with the participation of photo tiles looks unusually fashionable.It will become a unique decoration for the kitchen, will add individuality, luxury to any interior. You can paint absolutely any print, pattern or design, even your family photo, above the hob. Such a decoration will certainly inspire you to cook delicious, mouth-watering dishes for your favorite household.
Glass
If you are a fighter for quality, strength and longevity, look at the models of tempered glass. You can decorate it at any time with a pattern, for example, from acrylic. The advantage of this finish will be pollution resistance, practical use, long service life.
The product perfectly "gets on" with a cooking surface, transfers any temperature drops, does not let moisture through. You can decorate glass with pictures of large flowers, images of birds, animals, vintage items, fruits or vegetables, and sweets.
Glitter glass will give the kitchen a neatness in any light. It is believed that glass, as well as models of laminate - the most noble type of finish, always looks laconic, expensive, prestigious. When mounting, it is better to use fasteners.You will not scratch headsets, facades, so the repair and finishing work can be carried out at any stage of construction. Equally popular will be the mirror apron, correcting all the flaws in the geometry of your kitchen.
Mosaic
The sophisticated design of a kitchen apron with a mosaic is a trend, consists of contrasting shades, non-trivial colors. The mosaic will give a special charm to the kitchen, tenderness and elegance. When installing such a structure, glue is used, a grout that takes most of the time to “remove” the seams. It is also necessary to observe the sequence when laying the mosaic.
Plastic
In the absence of sufficient funds, you can resort instead of an apron made of natural stone, Italian fresco, to a hypoallergenic plastic economy category. There are several options for such a kitchen:
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made of plastic based on MDF, particleboard or hardboard;
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the use of decorative plastic hot pressing;
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creating stunning visuals "under the tree", stone and other materials;
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using plastic made from polycarbonate.
All models are easy to install, care for them, extending the service life every year.You can also think of a budget option of chipboard and plastic. This design is easy to do with your own hands, replace if necessary. Quite often, the material goes colorless, transparent. Under it it turns out to stick stylish wallpapers, create photo printing.
This model exhibits excellent resistance to moisture, high temperatures. Want to get an apron at an affordable price without seams and joints - take into account the system of chipboard!
Artificial stone
One of the most aesthetically attractive ideas will be the use of artificial stone. In this case, it is better that the tabletop was framed from the same material. Despite its high cost, decoration is very popular among wealthy owners of cottages, penthouses, townhouses.
When installing requires high-quality work of experienced craftsmen who create the perfect picture of the interior. Careful handling of this surface ensures a long service life. The product perfectly tolerates frequent cleaning, including wet.
Styles
For the design in the style of a loft fit tile "pig" or a model under a brick.It has a rectangular shape and chamfered edges at the edges, which resembles a brick. This finish will look great in a classic and modern interior. It is possible to choose a standard version in the size of 10 x 20 cm, and a large format up to 15 x 45 cm.
As a rule, the hog is produced in a single color with a smooth glossy surface. The colors are mostly neutral, calm. Kitchen apron collections can be diluted with an interesting photo printing, drawings with fruits, berries, sweets and other culinary-related ideas.
For kitsch, eclectic styles, mosaic products will do. They give an atmosphere of well-being, comfort and joy in a wooden house. For luxurious Baroque, avant-garde, Romanesque, Mediterranean styles, wall panels are suitable, for which it is important to provide space and symmetry. Pastoral still lifes, landscape of famous cities (Ancient Greece, Venice, Florence, etc.) are suitable for the Victorian style. The tile imitating facing can be supplemented with textured patterns, a spectacular coating, and a stylized antique ornament.
For modern hi-tech, constructivism, avant-garde, it is better to use tempered glass with the image of a black and white city, landscapes, portraits, etc. Here you can also use full-color UV printing on glass, vinyl film with a pattern, triplex technology, matting, etc. styles are also suitable kitchen apron made of metal. Get a sort of fusion with a perfectly smooth surface, glossy shine.
You can use patterns with a scuffed effect for a vintage interior, and you can “lodge” even a sprig of lilac, green stems, and cotton to create a provencal style in tempered glass. All finishing options managed to earn positive feedback from satisfied customers.