In these articles, we often highlight how residential design has evolved over the past few decades and which areas of the home have seen the most amazing changes in design and material options. It is hard to pick one facet of a home renovation design to say that it has seen the most dramatic change, but certainly the kitchen backsplash bids fair to take the title.

It’s hard to remember the last time we installed the old standard — 4” of the countertop material standing up against the wall. The backsplash has truly become the pièce de rèsistance of kitchen design — the artistic flair that changes the look of a finished kitchen in an instant. But this facet of kitchen design has evolved no less than cabinetry and countertops, and the available options in materials and design are almost limitless.

When we made the momentous shift from Formica to Ubatuba granite, we were thrilled with the extra 4” of granite along the back the counters. But then subway tile became the rage, and some even installed it on top of the granite backsplash (horrors!). Then the subway tile evolved into beveled edge, then long and thin, then cracked stone and vertical chevrons, and finally the Walker Zanger collection moved our kitchens into a whole new style dimension (and the same for our budget).

But tile is not the only material available for the backsplash. Carrying the countertop quartz up the wall to the wall cabinets or countertop hood provides a clean and smooth look that is both modern and timeless. We can even put your old wine corks to re-use as a cork backsplash at your wine bar! Give us a call today to start the style evolution conversation for your next kitchen remodel.

We're delighted to introduce Chris Pokela, our new Studio Manager at Designed for Downtown! Chris and her husband Matt recently moved to Greenville from Wisconsin to be closer to her two daughters who are now in the area.

Chris brings a wealth of experience to our team, having previously run her own interior design firm. This gave her extensive hands-on experience across a wide range of decor styles. She's incredibly excited to be in Greenville and to join Designed for Downtown, where she sees a wonderful opportunity to serve a large and growing market. Chris is eager to develop her role within our studio to better reach this expanding market.

Chris's journey into design began with an impressive feat: she completely redecorated a friend's house in just one week while her friend was on vacation! Despite limited construction skills at the time, she quickly assembled a team and learned everything on the fly, from faux beams to lighting. This hands-on approach, often doing much of the work herself, provided her with a strong foundation and deep expertise. She even jokes about the many stories from those early years, like a trim project that left her stained down one side, emphasizing that her own two hands were often her most valuable tools.

This dedication to being hands-on continues to be a core part of Chris's philosophy. She believes it gives her much better control over a project's outcome and is keen to bring this mindset to the Designed for Downtown studio. She aims to encourage our designers to get more involved directly with their projects, which she believes will streamline the handover between our design staff and the field team. As she puts it:

"It’s key to not just [be on the computer] but to get your own eyes on it. You have to physically feel the space you're creating'

While Chris currently enjoys dark, moody and vintage decor, she strongly emphasizes that her clients' preferences are always paramount.

“When it comes to a design for a client, it’s all about them. It’s all about fitting them and going with what their vision is. It’s important to have those conversations! Get to know them personally, and what they’re all about. Are they into music or flowers or something else? Let’s incorporate the space into where they’re living, so it’s not just a room but a part of them. I’ve [designed] everything from shabby chic to farmhouse to modern to eclectic, … and it might not be my style, but it’s for them. At the end of the day, that’s where they’re living.”

Chris is an experienced interior designer with extensive hands-on experience creating homes to suit diverse aesthetics and lifestyles, and we are thrilled to have her join Designed for Downtown.