If you had asked an interior designer a few years ago what they thought about stainless steel kitchen furnishings, they most likely would have told you that stainless steel kitchens feel like being inside a stressful commercial kitchen – cold and lifeless. If you ask that designer the same question today, they will say that placing stainless steel in kitchens is chic, downright lusty, and completely functional.
The trick to making stainless steel work in your kitchen is to go all out with stainless floating shelves, a backsplash, and maybe even counters, to give a unified look rather than a bit of stainless steel added just anywhere. Then, add warmer materials into the rest of the room – like stone or wood floors – and light fixtures to give your kitchen that cozy industrial look.
Benefits of Stainless Steel Furnishings
Before we head over to how you can incorporate stainless steel into your kitchen, learn why you should do it in the first place. There are many benefits that stainless steel has over other building materials, and they are even more prevalent when it comes to the kitchen.
Here are some of their benefits:
- Durable - Unlike ceramic or stone tiles, stainless steel will not crack or shatter even when a heavy weight is dropped on it. You can drop heavy pots and pans on a stainless steel surface and the worst that will happen is a shallow dent. Even if the stainless steel is pitted with numerous dents and scratches, they only give more character and charm to the piece.
- Sleek - If you are looking to give your kitchen a modern overhaul, you can never go wrong with the metallic sheen of stainless steel. However, you might want to opt for a brushed surface rather than a super shiny one, as scuff marks and fingerprints will be less noticeable.
- Easy to Clean - Stainless steel really lives up to its moniker in the kitchen. Unlike a porous stone or wood surface, stainless steel resists adsorption of stains and odors. If you spill anything on the surface of a stainless steel countertop, it’s easy to wipe off with a damp soft cloth (and maybe a bit of mild detergent to sanitize). No need for special products or chemicals to make the surface clean and free of bacteria.
- Eco-Friendly – Stainless steel is 100% recyclable. As it is not coated with any toxic material, it does not produce toxic runoff. Stainless steel is considered a “green” material because it can be reused and recycled. Decrease your overall carbon footprint by choosing stainless for your kitchen.
Stainless Steel Furnishings for your Kitchen
Backsplashes
If you have a stainless steel cooking range and oven, you can complete its look by installing a stainless steel backsplash behind it. Not only does a stainless steel backsplash look great with a matching stovetop, it is also quite practical and much easier to clean compared to tiles where dirt and grime can linger in the grout lines.
Range Hoods
Aside from the backsplash, you can also install a custom stainless steel range hood over your stovetop. This makes the whole setup look like one homogeneous appliance, and instantly makes it a focal point in the room.
Floating Shelves
If you have dark-colored kitchen walls, like brick masonry, ditch the traditional wooden cupboards and install long stainless steel floating shelves instead. The great thing about using open shelving in your kitchen, aside from aesthetics, is that you can put your fine china and silverware on display instead of letting them collect dust in your cabinets.
In addition, because your groceries are out in the open, it will be easier for you to figure out which supplies you are running low on and add them to your shopping list.
Stainless Steel Countertops
If you want to give your kitchen a modern and sleek look but do not have enough budget for a full granite countertop, you can achieve the same high-end look by using a stainless steel counter.
There are quite a few benefits to using stainless steel as a countertop material. For one thing, it is very durable, so you don’t have to worry about dropping heavy items on the countertop and cracking it like you would on granite counters. It might leave a small dent, but that’s it.
Stainless steel is resistant to heat, water, stains and chemicals, so go ahead and get messy. Set a hot pot on your counter without fear. If you happen to spill red wine at your next dinner party, don’t panic – just wipe up this notorious stain maker with a damp cloth and all is good.
Dinner Tables
If you live in a small apartment and you do not have enough room for a dining room, you can just incorporate it into the kitchen. Probably one of the best ways to combine the dining area with the kitchen is by continuing the stainless steel theme, starting with the dinner table. You can find many stainless steel dining tables in most furniture stores these days, especially the smaller ones that can seat four persons.
On the other hand, you can also have a custom stainless-steel dinner table fabricated. You can take your desired tabletop measurements to a metal fabricating shop and have them make it out of a large gauge stainless steel sheet. You can also add a bit of rustic/industrial look to the table by adding old wooden chairs or a bench. You can usually find these kinds of things in most recycle stores or garage sales for cheap.
Conclusion
These are only a couple of the most popular methods of incorporating stainless steel into your kitchen. If you are thinking of giving your kitchen a major overhaul soon, you should consider using stainless steel as your main material.
Check out some of our stainless steel products here!
1 comment
I don’t have a kitchen area in my tiny studio apartment but This looks really cool to have in a home or large condo and great for cooking , And how Fabulous to meet all the amenities for people who love to cook and large area for family and friends.