Decorative tiles in the kitchen. Artificial stone in the kitchen interior: design and finishing in the photo

Modern design offers hundreds of options for decorating a space, although many prefer to stick to traditional, but time-tested wallpaper or regular painting. However, other materials have unique aesthetics and properties that will transform any room - you just need to know how to use them. Today we will talk about the features of decorative stone in the interior of the kitchen, as well as wide possibilities its applications!

Key Features

Decorative rock attracts with its lively texture, volume and natural, even “wild” appearance, which serves not so much as decoration in the interior, but rather forms an image and creates a mood. Using it as interior decoration obliges you to take a responsible approach to the design of the entire space - this is not a neutral background, such as painted white wall, but a strong artistic decision.

This coating fits many styles and will also fit perfectly into the kitchen. country house or apartments. It looks very organic in a country interior, bringing a peculiar rustic charm and comfort, but modern styles also like to turn to natural (or imitating them) materials. In this matter it is necessary to rely on overall design kitchens.

Eg, stone cladding Combines with wood and other natural surfaces. Color range It’s also better to “borrow” from nature: white, sand, brown, black, gray shades, less often blue, green or burgundy. But brighter combinations will not “get along” with the strict nature of the stone. However, even in a glossy futuristic kitchen you can choose the finish of the desired texture, since this material is presented in a wide range.

Types of stone

Depending on their origin, there are two main groups of decorative stone: artificial and natural, which differ in composition.

Natural decorative stone

As the name implies, natural stone is created by nature and adapted for construction work by human hands. Connoisseurs of all things natural will say that such material radiates energy, has a positive effect on health, and also has a genuine living texture that allows you to create unique design— the pattern of one stone is never repeated.

This group includes slate with its strict relief; river stone, preserving natural shape even in the interior; sandstone, loved for its warm sandy hue; luxurious granite, noble marble and others. The main reason, why natural coating is not found in every home can be considered high cost.

Artificial decorative stone

Being a cheap analogue natural materials, artificial decorative stones quite successfully imitate their texture, while being more resistant to impact environment. They benefit from diversity. color solutions and versatility, as they are suitable for covering any part of the kitchen - arches or apron.

Despite its origin, artificial turf is considered absolutely environmentally friendly. For example, conglomerates consist of crumbs of granite, marble, as well as additional substances, such as quartz sand or limestone, which give the material increased strength. Porcelain tiles, including clay, spar and minerals, have unusual design, which looks more like small tiles.

Choosing yours perfect option, you should focus not only on the repair budget, but also on the desired appearance and place of finishing.

Advantages and disadvantages

To summarize the information about decorative stone, let’s consider the advantages of this solution.

1. Whatever type you choose, the stone finish will be stylish decoration interior, and will also allow you to hide imperfections in the surface of the walls. Thanks to its wide range, it fits into many styles, turning into their harmonious continuation.

2. Many types are perfect for the needs of the kitchen. In addition, they are easy to care for: just wipe with a damp cloth to remove drops of grease, splashes or soot.

3. The service life of such finishing is more than ten years, and therefore even marble surfaces do not seem such an expensive investment, not to mention cheap artificial analogues.

4. Decorative stone will fit perfectly into the kitchen interior thanks to another quality - environmental friendliness, which is indispensable in the place where food is prepared.

Compared to the advantages, there are not so many disadvantages, but they relate rather to certain species materials. After weighing the pros and cons, you can find a great option.

Kitchen apron made of stone

This kitchen area presents special requirements to finishing, so pick up suitable material sometimes it can be quite difficult. Here, due to its close location to work area, are present high humidity, high temperature and level of contamination with drops of fat or food, which not all types of decorative stone can cope with.

Porcelain tiles, despite their attractive appearance, are sensitive to cleaning agents, so removing dirt from its surface is quite problematic. Marble is also not recommended for cladding an apron, but conglomerates, which only a professional can visually distinguish from their natural “counterpart”, have high strength and are easy to care for.

Acrylic stone, another type of artificial stone, does not absorb moisture and does not deform under mechanical or physical stress, like quartz products. Gypsum products, which resemble sandstone and are easy to make yourself, are not moisture resistant, but this problem can be solved by covering it with a protective varnish.

Difficulties in choosing an apron may arise if the stone is used in finishing other elements of the kitchen. The fact is that designers do not recommend combining several types in one space, so this point must be thought through in advance.

The kitchen apron can be the only “stone” structure in the interior, thereby becoming the compositional center. If the material has a smooth surface, it can be combined with a countertop. This design solution suitable for many styles, be it Provence, country, classic or minimalism.

Stone wall in the kitchen interior

For wall cladding, the choice of raw materials is limited only decorative features and, of course, the budget. The part of the kitchen that is not located in close proximity to the work area is quite unpretentious, while creating the overall impression of the room.

No matter how beautiful the texture of the stone is, it is not recommended to use it on all walls - this finish is often combined with other types that have a smooth surface and neutral colors: plain wallpaper, painting or decorative plaster. This will balance the base material and also eliminate the “stone fortress” feeling.

This solution can be used for zoning by decorating the wall next to it. dining table, or creating accents - corners decorated with stone look very impressive.

It is better if the kitchen is spacious and well lit sunlight. But for small rooms you will either have to abandon the decorative stone, or choose a less textured and lighter option. Sandstone not only has a warm sandy color, but with the help of horizontal relief it visually expands the room.

Arches and doorways made of stone in the kitchen

With the help of stone you can even decorate the entrance to the kitchen - this is not only original solution, but also a practical option that can last for many years. In the case of a doorway, which is often subject to mechanical stress when the door is closed, the strength of the material will significantly extend its service life. It protects the structure from wear and tear, as wallpaper and other types of finishes become unsightly over time.

If you wanted to decorate the arch with natural stone, then do not rush to start purchasing. The fact is that to install it you will need not only special expensive mixtures, but also certain construction skills. It is difficult for them to line curves and hard to reach places- you can’t do this without the help of professionals, the price for which must be added to the total cost of the material.

Artificial analogues are more pliable, quite light and durable, and a wide range of colors will help to adjust the opening to the kitchen design: light shades to widen the passage, dark ones to create soft outlines.

This solution will fit perfectly into a minimalist or country style, turning the entrance into a separate element of decor.

If about technical specifications decorative stone can be read, the aesthetic properties must be seen with your own eyes. In this selection of photographs, we tried to illustrate the variety of textures, colors and solutions that will be the perfect complement to your kitchen design. Enjoy watching!

The bold combination of decorative stone and wallpaper is liked by many designers because it provides a wide choice of possibilities in decorating a hallway of any size and configuration.

Advantages of artificial stone in design

• Stone tiles withstand mechanical stress well. A variegated pattern and dark shades will help maintain the presentable appearance of the sections of walls around the door, sockets and mirrors for a long time.
• Stone is always perceived as an elite material. Therefore, it fits easily into luxury apartments in classic style.
• Modern ethnic design trends are readily used stone finishing in a dosed volume.
• High-quality stone imitation helps to fit photo wallpaper with a deep perspective into the interior (windows, terraces, patios, etc.).
• Mirrors benefit from this proximity, since the rough surface absorbs excess glare.
• Decorative stone is fireproof.
• Does not emit toxic substances, safe for health.
• Material can withstand big differences temperatures, which allows it to be used in the kitchen.
• Resistant to mold and mildew.

Features you need to know

In conditions of limited space, it is advisable to lay stone tiles in fragments. Otherwise, the effect of a dungeon or monastic cell will be created.

Spacious hallways in private mansions and cottages can afford to use instead of individual fragments accent wall decorated with stone tiles. It should be taken into account that thin plasterboard partitions are not able to withstand the impressive load from full-weight sandstone or granite. In this case, it is better to use high-quality gypsum imitations. They are no less expressive and unusually light.

You should also carefully use natural stone when designing semicircular arched spans. Give preference to either thinly sliced ​​slabs or gypsum tiles. Cement imitations can also be used. In any case, consider the weight decorative material and the power of the frame located inside the partitions.

Plays a big role correct lighting, which can completely depersonalize the texture of the stone or reveal it in all its glory. Front rays provide a minimum of shadows and smooth out the wall topography. Lamps that direct the flow of light from above and below allow you to create a play of shadows that reveals the volume and texture of each tile. Lighting must be thought out carefully so that each spot and sconce works for the overall result.

Combination of stone tiles and wallpaper

The stone goes well with all types of plaster, decorative putty, paint and wallpaper.

Since stone decor is quite expensive and labor-intensive, wallpaper provides an opportunity to reduce costs and speed up repairs.

Loft

The loft deliberately shows the material of the walls, the industrial filling of the old production premises, converted into residential apartments and houses.

A piece of wall that the builders “forgot” to plaster and wallpaper will serve as the basis for a light hanger model.

The red brick that frames the mirror will remind you of the era of construction booms. This style is generally characterized by the use of thin tiles that imitate brick and natural stone in combination with modern wallpaper moderate colors in calm tones.

Provence

Despite the fact that this style tends more towards wooden boards, clay, lime whitewash and light pastel colors, there is always a place for stone in a Provencal interior.

Choose light colors and large blocks. Sometimes it is possible to combine well tiles that imitate white brick, and a tree.

The stone is good with elegant fine forging. It works great in tandem with stylish wrought iron sconces. Wall lighting will provide light shadows that highlight the voluminous texture of the tiles.

It's always interesting to peek through a crack

A mirrored cabinet and a photo print framed in stone will allow you to be transported to the Mediterranean and feel like an archaeologist. Paste on top of the photo wallpaper gypsum tiles, imitating marble or limestone. Imagine the composition as a gap in an ancient wall, through which the walls of the old city are visible or a view of the seascape opens up. The view of the winding streets “running away” into the distance is also good.

Stone tiles allow you to make a beautiful transition to the image and add realism to the picture.

Corners and arches

Corners and arches experience particularly powerful mechanical stress. This is where wallpaper likes to peel up and stains appear.

The area above the baseboard is subject to pressure from the claws and teeth of pets and wet children's boots.

Stone and porcelain tiles help to maximize the durability of fresh renovations, because... They are resistant to stains and retain their color and shape for a long time.

Niches

Stone niches look good in classic, Provence and loft styles. Here you can place a mirror or several shelves for gloves, keys and hats.

But the special chic is the art gallery in improvised niches framed in precious stone. This idea can be easily implemented in country cottages. For apartments Soviet era such an idea is only possible if there is an adjoining long corridor.

Nuances at work

Sometimes craftsmen decide to stick gypsum tiles that imitate stone directly onto the wallpaper. This is justified in cases where the areas to be tiled are small and equal to 1-3 tiles. In larger fragments it is still necessary to lay the stone on the wall. Always consider the weight of the material and its properties. In order for the work to look neat, the wallpaper is cut with a small overlap, which is covered with a stone.

Decorating the walls in the hallway and kitchen with decorative stone and wallpaper in the photo (real examples):

For several decades now, decorative stone has become especially popular among finishing materials, the use of which has become an excellent alternative natural stone, used for many thousands of years. Now it is becoming more and more popular, which is explained by its aesthetic and performance characteristics.

Decorative stone has received a very special treatment, which can be explained by the fact that it very plausibly and naturally imitates the texture of natural stone, while its price is lower and more acceptable than that of natural stone. Its undeniable advantage lies in the fact that during the production of this stone only natural ingredients are used - cement and sand. Therefore, the resulting decorative stone can without a doubt be classified as environmentally friendly clean materials, which is especially important when decorating residential premises, in particular the kitchen. To obtain artificial stone, special molds are used, into which the prepared mixture is poured, after which it hardens, a product is obtained, one side of which is flat (reminiscent of facing tiles), and the second, decorative, imitates natural stone.

In addition to the price advantage over natural stone, decorative stone also has less weight, which greatly facilitates not only its transportation, but also its installation. Moreover, in terms of strength characteristics, artificial stone is in no way inferior to natural stone.

Today finishing the kitchen with decorative stone is associated not only with reliability, quality and beauty, but even with sophistication and originality of the interior. In addition, artificial stone goes well with many modern finishing materials. The kitchen is one of the few rooms in the home where, due to cooking, high humidity constantly forms, temperature changes occur, and it is susceptible to contamination. If the stone is chosen correctly, it will not be “afraid” of all these unpleasant manifestations. In addition, decorative stone shows good resistance to mechanical damage (for example, from hot objects or sharp knives).

Caring for decorative stone will not bring much trouble, as it can be easily washed with a rag or brush with the addition of ordinary household detergents.

There are many options for using decorative stone to decorate a kitchen, but most often it is used in the construction and decoration of fireplaces.

when decorating walls and designing kitchen aprons. The frequent use of artificial stone for finishing fireplaces is due to its low weight (only 25% of the weight of natural stone), which makes its use easy and simple. And also because the artificially created material interacts better with the wall surface (in particular, with plasterboard), which is the most commonly used material in construction and repairs. A fireplace decorated with artificial stone will create a unique atmosphere of coziness and comfort in the room. Most often, decorative stone when decorating a kitchen is used to finish the kitchen apron (this part of the wall located between the upper wall cabinets and the countertop), thanks to which this area becomes unique and original design. And the excellent performance qualities of decorative stone will prevent the formation of dirt and greatly facilitate maintenance. If we talk about wall decoration, then the use of decorative stone will allow you to create the necessary bright textured accents: you can make stone columns or lay out an unusual stone mosaic, or you can decorate the entire surface of the wall with stone - the look will be stunning, and the loss of area will be minimal.