Decorating and Design - Working with red brick in kitchen
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JaneTh
11-20-04, 02:14 PM
:confused: Hi--We are redoing our kitchen in stages, and are about to replace the countertops, but I'm hoping someone can give me advice on how to choose the type of countertop.
The house was built in 1963, and the kitchen has not been changed since then. We have replaced the appliances, sink, stove, wall oven, with stainless steel. The cabinets are maple (I think), and very well made, so we will probably just refinish them. The floor is ugly yellow linoleum, and we will replace it last, so it can coordinate with the countertops.
What puzzles me is that one wall of the kitchen is brick. The brick is part of a central structure that has a fireplace on one side, facing the living room, and brick wall on the side facing the kitchen. It is old red brick. I don't mind it, but I can't figure out what kind of counter would go with it (one counter runs right into the brick wall). (The other walls are painted offwhite, and the other side of the dining room is light wood paneling).
We have lots of little samples of countertops. I really like granite or granite-look, in either gray or black. But I don't know if the granite texture would really go with the brick, and I can't visualize it just looking at those little chips. I know it will look different when we get big slabs of counter installed. Also, the kitchen is rather dark, and I think we should use fairly light colors. I would be happpy with a light-colored rock texture, if I could be sure it would work with the brick.
If anyone can give me any advice/guidance, I would very much appreciate it.
Thanks! Jane
The house was built in 1963, and the kitchen has not been changed since then. We have replaced the appliances, sink, stove, wall oven, with stainless steel. The cabinets are maple (I think), and very well made, so we will probably just refinish them. The floor is ugly yellow linoleum, and we will replace it last, so it can coordinate with the countertops.
What puzzles me is that one wall of the kitchen is brick. The brick is part of a central structure that has a fireplace on one side, facing the living room, and brick wall on the side facing the kitchen. It is old red brick. I don't mind it, but I can't figure out what kind of counter would go with it (one counter runs right into the brick wall). (The other walls are painted offwhite, and the other side of the dining room is light wood paneling).
We have lots of little samples of countertops. I really like granite or granite-look, in either gray or black. But I don't know if the granite texture would really go with the brick, and I can't visualize it just looking at those little chips. I know it will look different when we get big slabs of counter installed. Also, the kitchen is rather dark, and I think we should use fairly light colors. I would be happpy with a light-colored rock texture, if I could be sure it would work with the brick.
If anyone can give me any advice/guidance, I would very much appreciate it.
Thanks! Jane
Annette
11-22-04, 09:25 AM
i think the black would be stunning with the brick, and especially with the stainless appliances. and they won't make your kitchen dark. good lighting & a light wall color will keep it light.
the thing i have a problem with is the brown cabinets. i think to do your new kitchen justice, you should paint them white or whitewash them or distress them or something. i can't see regular old brown-toned cabinets with everything else new & stainless & granite. lightening them up will also help to lighten up the whole kitchen.
the thing i have a problem with is the brown cabinets. i think to do your new kitchen justice, you should paint them white or whitewash them or distress them or something. i can't see regular old brown-toned cabinets with everything else new & stainless & granite. lightening them up will also help to lighten up the whole kitchen.
Klyla
11-25-04, 01:37 AM
I hope this doesn't offend you, but I sense that you are afraid of color. Your room sounds very bland. Personally I think "old red brick" is a neutral. A sage green or tuscany gold would both look gorgeous on the walls with it.
I would stick with a "neutral" for the countertops but not too light. Don't be afraid of pattern and texture. On the other hand, if by stone if you mean that flecked corian type of thing, that would be great...but if you mean something like formica with a stone "pattern" in it I think that would compete with rather than complement the brick and look too funky, kind of "cheap".
You can't go wrong with granite if you choose a traditional style...like little flecks of stone. That big sweeps of swirling colors type of granite might be too contemporary for the brick IF your "maple" cabinets are colonial style. If your cabinets are contemporary then the big swirly stuff would be great because again, the brick is really pretty neutral.
One major thing to look into is the care of various countertops. Granite needs to be sealed once a year or so, don't go with slate or marble unless you are really into high maintenance.
We replaced our off-white formica countertops with granite tiles in a pattern called "Giallo Veneziano". We LOVE it!! Do a search online for it and you'll probably find a lot of websites with pictures of various countertop materials.
I would stick with a "neutral" for the countertops but not too light. Don't be afraid of pattern and texture. On the other hand, if by stone if you mean that flecked corian type of thing, that would be great...but if you mean something like formica with a stone "pattern" in it I think that would compete with rather than complement the brick and look too funky, kind of "cheap".
You can't go wrong with granite if you choose a traditional style...like little flecks of stone. That big sweeps of swirling colors type of granite might be too contemporary for the brick IF your "maple" cabinets are colonial style. If your cabinets are contemporary then the big swirly stuff would be great because again, the brick is really pretty neutral.
One major thing to look into is the care of various countertops. Granite needs to be sealed once a year or so, don't go with slate or marble unless you are really into high maintenance.
We replaced our off-white formica countertops with granite tiles in a pattern called "Giallo Veneziano". We LOVE it!! Do a search online for it and you'll probably find a lot of websites with pictures of various countertop materials.