Like your favorite button-down shirt, transitional style takes all the design elements you know and love and translates them into modern living. Transitional style is all about striking a balance between traditional and contemporary design–it wants to be elegant without feeling overdressed.
Classic yet casual, timeless yet versatile, transitional style’s staying power lies in its ability to please anyone. And while transitional style is often expressed in living rooms or bedrooms, we’re going to show you how easy it is to incorporate this flexible style into your kitchen using real-life examples.
Tile: 4x12 in Sparrow Gloss and Sparrow Matte // Design: Megan Warren // Image: Kathryn MacDonald
When it comes to a transitional palette, neutral colors dominate. White, taupe, cream, and grey all feel at home in a transitional space, often with a splash of an earthy, muted non-neutral to add a pop to your color story.
A tile backsplash is a perfect way to add that earthy color to your transitional-style kitchens, and we’ve put together our favorite transitional tile picks to make it easy for you! Sample them all here.
Try layering different neutral shades in a variety of textures to give a room extra dimension–or simply mimic the kitchen below with a Handpainted Tile backsplash in a muted palette. Reminiscent of a stained glass window, the pattern subtly pops between off-white shaker-style cabinets.
Tile: Denver in Yellow Motif // Design: Bonnie Wu Design // Image: Leslie Murchie Cascino
The more examples you see the more you’ll realize that there aren’t many rules when it comes to transitional kitchen design, as long as you’re blending modern and traditional styles to your liking.
If you’d rather feature color in your transitional kitchen instead of neutrals, go for it! The kitchen below beautifully demonstrates how to layer soft and deep blues while staying in the realm of transitional thanks to the traditional island, range hood, and cabinetry with modern pendant lighting and stools.
Tile: Chaine Homme in Slate Blue, 4x4 in French Linen // Design: Benita Cooper Design // Image: Michael Anthony Murphy
You’ll find a mix of manufactured and natural elements layered into a transitional home. Pairing elements like wood and woven fibers or quartz countertops and tile bring texture and dimension to a space, adding to its multifaceted take on design.
Real Simple Home’s stunning open-concept kitchen uses a counter-to-ceiling turquoise Brick backsplash to add texture, creating visual interest against the sleek white base cabinets.
Brick: San Gabriel // Design: Gina Rachelle Design // Image: Christopher Testani
If you want to incorporate colorful decorative tile into your transitional kitchen, consider a small area behind your stove top like below. The pop of pink leads the eye to the kitchen’s natural focal point, standing out beautifully among the neutral shaker cabinets and island.
Tile: Ogee Drop in Mesa // Design: Glew Build & Co. // Image: The Boho House
Or really go for it, like interior designers Meg and Joe Piercy of MegMade who created a transitional kitchen that fit this homeowner’s personality on their HGTV show Renovation Goldmine.
The show-stealing backsplash of Star & Cross Tile in Evergreen provides a regal backdrop to the transitional kitchen features including traditional cabinetry and stunning modern light fixture.
Tile: Star & Cross in Evergreen // Design: Megmade // Image: Erin Konrath Photography
To find a tile hue that speaks to you, consider the color of your kitchen cabinetry. If it’s light and bright, a tile that’s slightly darker will give your space depth. In the kitchen below, the vertically installed grey tile mimics the hue of the stainless steel appliances while playing nicely against the lighter cabinets.
Tile: 2x8 in Mist // Image: Rea Creative // Installer: Avex Kitchen Design and Installation
If you’re looking for transitional kitchen ideas, this space by the Brownstone Boys is an elegant example. Original brownstone window frames blend seamlessly with the modern light fixtures and island, and the green cabinetry brings the design right on trend.
We love the way natural stone marble countertops and the attractive H-shaped tile backsplash are paired together in this transitional kitchen, with the crackled glaze helping to add texture and a touch of patina to the crisp space.
Tile: Chaine Homme in Magnolia // Design: Brownstone Boys // Image: Nick Glimenakis
Timelessly fail-proof in the way transitional styles can be, neutrals help homes achieve a comfortable color balance–while neutral specialty-shaped Tile can help to break out of the traditional and freshen up a transitional space.
The beautifully approachable kitchen below uses warm white Star & Cross Tile to add endless interest among the wood shelves and cabinetry.
Tile: Star & Cross in Calcite // Design: The True House // Image: Mino Pro Media Group, LLC
Ready to try transitional tile in your kitchen? Start here with up to 5 free color samples. Our tile experts can help bring your vision to life with free design assistance, including cost estimates and photorealistic renderings.
