I bet that’s just right up on your to-do list for your kitchen design, isn’t it? *grin*
I pulled the top stock photo because I’d originally thought that all the black squares on the backsplash were outlet covers and how it’d make a perfect post about keeping covers straight (you’d be surprised how many aren’t, especially in the new model and tract homes I see.) But then I saw that the bigger squares were tile pieces, and the photo became a multi-purpose tool.
Pay attention in the planning stages
First off, let’s tackle the above “design.” When you’re designing your own kitchen, please don’t match the outlets to the decorative piece as shown above. They’re not the same size, it’s impossible to line them up, and they completely detract from the symmetry on the wall—as you can see. You want the outlets to be subtler than that, and perhaps to even blend in.
It’s a challenge to do on a budget – make them blend perfectly (unless we want to make that extra investment; many people don’t.)
I’ve designed dozens of kitchens where the covers do stand out…when one is actually looking at them. *grin* We don’t pay that much attention to them unless something brings them to our attention, like above, or they’re crooked and don’t fit.
Alternative solutions
If someone had been paying attention at the beginning, they might have been able to either:
- Add plug strips under the wall cabinets, such as Task Lighting’s plug strip (note: this is a more expensive option, and not suitable for everyone—let’s face it, it’s easier to plug in straight on the wall, but if you have an intricate pattern, like below, imagine a lovely, white outlet right in the middle of it. *shudder*)
(Credit: Task Lighting – it’s the silver bar tucked above the tile. I imagine the company chose stainless
and white so the bar would show up – they have a brown which would have blended with the cabinets.)
- Change the sizing of the tile deco (the black square) to either be more in proportion with the black outlets (if you must) or select a color for the outlets that blend more into the splash (and add one more deco piece at the end.)
One of our projects we’re working on now has 2x2 dots and the outlets are spaced between them – they don’t match, and the colors are subtle. The outlets should blend right in. When that happens, you have another option as well: they don’t have to line up at all, like so:
- Pay attention to the type of tile you’re using. If there are specialty tile, such as pencil liners, or embossed tile, an outlet stuck in the middle of them completely destroys the effect. Our awesome electrician (I know you’re reading this. Does this give me future credits?) and I spend a fair amount of time discussing outlet placement, such as we did below:
As a final alternative, if you can’t beat them, either make them a piece of art on their own (I might simplify the splash though):
(Credit: Switch hits. No, I wouldn’t use this in a kitchen, but it’s fun,
and it’s probably 5 p.m. somewhere…)
Or have a specialty artist faux-finish them:
(Credit: Lisa Tureson of Faux Creations. I don’t know Lisa personally—I just found her on the Web.)
Final solutions
In the top photo, I might have suggested 3 options depending on budget:
- an ivory outlet
- an ivory outlet with a faux finished cover
- the angled strip plugs
And perhaps an outlet/switch placement that wouldn’t have fought with the deco piece.
~*~
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