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Yotam Ottolenghi’s kitchen features a hand-painted tile mural with personal references, while the layout was kept as he had requested. The Livingetc report presents decorative kitchen surfaces as a design trend, and designers advise considering materials’ suitability for heat, water and cleaning.
Chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s updated kitchen features a hand-painted tile mural, with the layout kept as he had asked. A Livingetc report presents the project as an example of a wider design trend toward personal decoration in kitchen backsplashes, alongside advice about choosing materials and protecting surfaces.
Ottolenghi told Livingetc that the biggest difference in the kitchen was the tiles. He had asked Roundhouse to keep the layout as it was, and the report says new white cabinet fronts replaced the old white fronts. Tiles daubed with a mural are above the cooker and behind the shelves. Artist Cecilie Maurud Barstad of Gilles & Cecilie painted the artwork onto tiles off-site; they were then fired and installed.
The artwork includes a taco, a Dungeons & Dragons logo—an interest of his children—and a cartoonish portrait of their cousin. Ottolenghi said the artist suggested including little illustrations of meaningful things. He hopes the wall will feel like a “wall of memories” when his children come home to visit in their 20s, and said the mural makes him happy.
The report describes other approaches to illustrated or patterned backsplashes, including murals painted directly on walls, stained glass and wallpaper. Its examples include a meadow-inspired tiled design created by Anna Glover after being commissioned by Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby, a de Gournay wallcovering in a Shanghai kitchen, and a custom stained-glass installation by JAM Design Works with Tenby & Penny.
A More Personal Kitchen Surface
The report describes a growing design trend in which kitchens feature personal, decorative surfaces. A backsplash is a prominent surface, and the article’s examples show how designers have used it for imagery and pattern. Ottolenghi’s comments convey the personal meaning he hopes the mural will hold for his family.
There are practical considerations. A kitchen backsplash may be exposed to heat, splashes, humidity and cleaning, so the suitability of a material and its protective finish matters alongside its appearance. The report discusses fired tiles, glass and wallpaper, as well as considerations for protecting surfaces and installing a stained-glass panel.
For readers considering a similar project, the report’s designers advise planning the mural alongside cabinetry, worktops and lighting. Jules Gallop says samples are invaluable because colors and textures can look different alongside other finishes. The article also discusses the importance of accurate templating around sockets, switches and cabinets.
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From Fired Tiles to Stained Glass
The Livingetc report frames Ottolenghi’s project as one of several ways to bring imagery into a kitchen backsplash. The methods differ: his artwork was painted on tiles before firing and installation; other projects use a wallcovering protected behind Perspex or a custom stained-glass panel. The source does not provide sales figures, survey results or other data showing the trend’s scale, so “growing” reflects the report’s characterization rather than a measured market change.
Designers quoted in the article emphasize that decorative surfaces need to be planned for their setting. JAM Design Works founder Jules Gallop says color, pattern and scale should relate to cabinetry, counters and lighting, and that accurate templating matters around sockets, switches and cabinets. In the stained-glass example she describes, the panel’s weight required reinforcement of the wall, and its installation had to allow access to internal LED panels.
Wallpaper and textile-based work may need additional protection. Harald Donoghue of de Gournay says protective finishes for fabrics are not heavy-duty and can dull colors and design details; he recommends a glass or Perspex barrier for stronger protection. The report also notes that de Gournay recommended Perspex over its silver-gilded paper wallcovering in the Shanghai kitchen example, given exposure to splashes and humidity.
““The biggest difference was the tiles.””
— Yotam Ottolenghi, speaking to Livingetc
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How Far the Trend Has Spread
The source offers examples and designer observations, but does not quantify how many homeowners are choosing mural backsplashes or compare demand with previous years. The report’s description of a growing trend should not be read as a market-wide measurement. It also does not give the cost, installation time or long-term maintenance requirements for Ottolenghi’s project.
Some practical details remain specific to each design and site. The report does not identify the exact tile materials or protective treatment used for Ottolenghi’s mural, or describe how it performs under day-to-day cooking conditions. More broadly, suitability depends on the surface, location and exposure to heat, water and cleaning; the examples do not establish that every mural method is appropriate for every kitchen.
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Planning a Mural for Daily Use
The source does not announce a next project or a scheduled milestone for Ottolenghi’s kitchen. For homeowners considering a similar feature, the next steps are practical: decide where the mural will sit, select a material suited to the conditions, review samples alongside the room’s other finishes, and plan precise measurements around fittings and cabinetry.
Before committing to wallpaper or textile-based artwork near cooking and washing areas, the report’s experts advise discussing an appropriate protective barrier, such as glass or Perspex. For heavy installations such as stained glass, the wall support and access requirements may also need assessment. The report leaves the wider popularity and durability of backsplash murals open; those questions will depend on future projects and homeowners’ experience with the materials.
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Key Questions
What did Yotam Ottolenghi change in his kitchen?
According to Livingetc, the layout stayed the same and the old white cabinet fronts were replaced with new white fronts. Ottolenghi said the biggest change was the hand-painted tile mural above the cooker and behind the shelves.
What is shown in Ottolenghi’s backsplash mural?
The mural includes a taco, a Dungeons & Dragons logo linked to his children’s interests, and a cartoon portrait they made of their cousin. Ottolenghi said he hopes the wall will become a collection of family memories.
What materials can be used for a kitchen backsplash mural?
The report describes fired, hand-painted tiles, artwork painted directly onto walls, stained glass and wallpaper. The right choice depends on the location and its exposure to heat, water, humidity and cleaning.
How can wallpaper be protected behind a kitchen backsplash?
Harald Donoghue of de Gournay recommends a glass or Perspex barrier for protection. He says protective finishes for textile grounds are not heavy-duty and can dull colors or design details.
Does the report show that backsplash murals are becoming more popular?
The report describes the murals as a growing design trend and gives several project examples, but it provides no market data or adoption figures. Its examples establish that designers are using the approach, not how widespread it is.
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