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Chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s recently updated kitchen features a hand-painted tile mural by artist Cecilie Maurud Barstad, designed with personal references to his children. Livingetc reports that designers are increasingly treating kitchen backsplashes as decorative, personal features, while advising careful planning for heat, moisture and cleaning.
Yotam Ottolenghi’s updated kitchen features a hand-painted tile mural that replaces the room’s previous backsplash, offering a personal example of a design approach that Livingetc says is gaining traction. The work, created by Cecilie Maurud Barstad of Gilles & Cecilie, includes illustrations connected to Ottolenghi’s children and turns a functional cooking area into a family keepsake.
Ottolenghi told Livingetc that the kitchen’s layout remained unchanged and that the white cabinet fronts were replaced with new white fronts. The tiles were the biggest difference, he said. They cover the wall above the cooker and behind shelves. The mural was painted on tiles off-site, fired and then installed, according to the report.
The imagery includes a taco, a Dungeons & Dragons logo reflecting his children’s interest in the game, and a cartoon-style portrait they made of their cousin. Ottolenghi said he hopes the wall will feel like a “wall of memories” when his children return home as adults. The report does not provide a cost or installation timeline.
Livingetc presents the kitchen as one example of a broader interior-design trend: murals are being used on backsplashes in place of finishes chosen only for practicality. The report describes options ranging from painted tiles and artwork applied directly to walls to stained glass and wallpaper, each with different requirements for protection and installation.
Personal Art Meets Kitchen Practicality
The mural illustrates how homeowners and designers can use a kitchen surface to carry personal meaning, rather than treating it solely as a practical finish. In Ottolenghi’s case, the images are tied to family life, while the kitchen’s basic layout and cabinet color remained familiar. That makes the project a specific example of decorative change without a full remodel.
There are practical trade-offs. A backsplash is exposed to heat, water, grease and cleaning, and some materials may need a barrier or a protective finish. The design therefore affects more than appearance: material choice and detailing can shape maintenance, durability and installation needs. The report offers design advice, not a performance comparison or evidence that murals are suitable for every kitchen.
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How the Mural Was Designed
The Livingetc report places Ottolenghi’s renovation among several projects using artwork in kitchens. Examples include a meadow-inspired tiled mural commissioned by Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby, a floral wallcovering on metallic paper in a Shanghai kitchen, and a stained-glass splashback designed by JAM Design Works with specialist maker Tenby & Penny. These are examples featured by the publication, not a survey establishing how common the trend is.
Different approaches call for different precautions. Harald Donoghue of wallpaper brand de Gournay told Livingetc that protective treatments for textile grounds are not heavy-duty and can dull colors or design details. He recommended a glass or Perspex barrier for added protection. JAM Design Works founder Jules Gallop said the stained-glass piece in one project was heavy enough to require wall reinforcement and an enclosure that kept its LED panels accessible.
Gallop also advised planning a backsplash as part of the full kitchen design, considering cabinetry, worktops, lighting, sockets and switches. She said accurate templating and samples matter because finishes can look different beside one another and the surface must suit the conditions where it will be installed.
““The biggest difference was the tiles.””
— Yotam Ottolenghi, speaking to Livingetc
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Costs and Durability Remain Unreported
The report does not state how much Ottolenghi’s mural cost, how long the work took, or what maintenance it requires. It also does not identify a specific protective treatment for his tiles. While the piece says the tiles were fired before installation, it gives no technical details about their finish or resistance to stains and cleaning.
The article describes a growing design trend but provides no market data, sales figures or survey showing its scale. Its examples establish that designers are using murals in different forms, but they do not show how widely homeowners are adopting them or how each material performs over time. The suitability of any particular design will depend on the material, placement and kitchen conditions.
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Planning a Mural for Your Kitchen
No further renovation milestones for Ottolenghi’s kitchen are reported. For readers considering a similar feature, the designers quoted by Livingetc recommend choosing imagery and colors in relation to the room, checking samples beside existing finishes, and planning precise cuts around fixtures and cabinetry. Materials should be specified for exposure to heat, water and cleaning.
Wallpaper or textile-based artwork may need a protective glass or Perspex barrier, while heavy stained glass can require structural support and access for any integrated lighting. The report does not give project-specific guidance for every installation, so homeowners should confirm product requirements with the designer, supplier and installer before work begins.
heat and moisture resistant backsplash tiles
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Key Questions
What changed in Yotam Ottolenghi’s kitchen?
According to Livingetc, the layout stayed the same and white cabinet fronts were replaced with new white fronts. The main change was a hand-painted tile mural installed above the cooker and behind shelves.
What does Ottolenghi’s backsplash mural show?
The mural includes a taco, a Dungeons & Dragons logo and a cartoon-style portrait made by his children of their cousin. Ottolenghi said the references were suggested by the artist and that he hopes the wall will become a family memory.
What materials can be used for a backsplash mural?
The report describes hand-painted tiles, murals applied directly to walls, stained glass and wallpaper. Each option has different installation and protection needs, particularly around moisture, heat and cleaning.
How should homeowners protect mural wallpaper?
Harald Donoghue of de Gournay told Livingetc that protective finishes for textile grounds may not provide heavy-duty protection and can dull design details. He recommended a glass or Perspex barrier for added protection.
Is a backsplash mural becoming a widespread trend?
Livingetc describes designers as increasingly using murals in kitchens and gives several project examples. The report provides no market figures or survey data, so the scale of adoption is not established.
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