It's OK if you LOVE the colors and always will, even if you change the dishes. My taste in dishes has changed over the years, so that would be risky for me. But only you know if those colors are ones you'll always love anyway. I worry about blue and pink...I, personally, would easily tire of it and people might be reminded of a baby shower or nursery? I really tried to think of a way to say that so it didn't sound like a big insult, so hope it didn't offend you...just wanted to point out possible negatives. Of course, I'm also not seeing the shades of blue and pink you're talking about, so how I'm imagining it could be way off base. I only want you to be thrilled with your kitchen for years to come! :-)

Best wishes.

When people can't decide on a color for something, they're often advised to go into their closet and find something they love. I haven't done it, but it seems like the safest way to plan a color scheme. I think you should go for it!

A couple things to consider...

-Have you had the dishes long enough to know for sure you won't be getting tired of them?

-If you might be relocating in the near future, are these colors appealing to others or are they sort of obnoxious like I would pick? :)

-Do they match themselves? Sounds silly, but I have some china that clashes internally. That pink, red, and aqua look awful. Pink, blue, and white ought to go pretty well, though.

Thanks for the replies!

Yes, these dishes will be around a while... family heirlooms, kinda. Also the blue is not baby blue, it's more of a sky blue... less pastel and more vivid. The pink, I might skip on, because I really don't like pink, but the white would work. I love bright, open, 'airy' and 'cool' spaces, so I think with the right color choosing and being picky about shades, it might work. Will have to pitch it to DH...

Just have some display areas for a few of the serving pieces you rarely use (teapot?) and there's your pink! There are some blue and white kitchens here (Erikanh's comes to mind) if you need inspiration/pictures to convince DH. I'm sure you can visualize them with tiny pink accents.

I did the exact same thing in my last kitchen - I did pink on my walls & green on countertops.

And we're working on the new kitchen, and I'll be buying new dishes (Fiesta from Homer Laughlin), so I'm purposefully going for a neutral background & will let the dishes and the accessories be the 'stars'.

In the end, you only have to please yourself.

Gail

I think you are safer leaving out the pink, and maybe just adding in a couple of accessories if you want, as Fori recommended. Blue and white is pretty classic...and that more vivid blue with white does give the impression of the airy and cool feel you're talking about...at least it does to me! Good compromise.

Blue and white is a very classic look, and can be accessorized with accent colors very easily. One of the prettiest and most pleasing pictures that I recall from one of my decorating magazines was a mostly white, blue-accented kitchen. What made it so memorable was on the island (I think) was a shining silver bowl with pink roses! It warmed the kitchen so beautifully.

Like some earlier posters, I would stick with the white/blue, and then throw in pink accents if you like (or yellow...so sunny and pretty).

Good luck!

I love the take-something-you-love idea, and I've used it a lot just to get going. But I worry that using dishes for that something could end up with a color scheme that was too cutesy. So, that's the worry, I guess! I picture light blue, pink, and white looking like a doll house. Which might be ok! But I don't know... it might be a worry.

I think I'd have the kitchen use the colors of a nicely contrasting tablecloth instead of the dishes themselves. You want to see the pink, white and blue dishes and accessories - not have them evaporate in a sea of pink, white and blue tones.

I don't know if you saw gracesantacruz's finished kitchen (linked below). It's a very pretty white and blue kicthen that doesn't read "kiddy" or cute. Might give you some ideas.

Eliz

Here is a link that might be useful: White and blue kitchen

Yes, why not? GW folks tend to want the trendy color palettes, but if you don't care about that (can't abide the current colors myself), go for it. It's your house. I'd love a pink and blue and white kitchen. Just be aware that accessorizing is always hard if you're bucking the color trends.

Great idea to use those dishes as inspiration. Whatever it takes...and if you love them and they make you happy, go for it.

I agree that the pink seems a little off kilter for a kitchen. Blue and white is lovely in a kitchen. Ever think about adding yellow? I am generally not a yellow fan myself, but my kitchen has lovely yellow (not buttercup, not sunshine, actual yellow) walls above a chair rail and beadboard below (so it's not overwhealming) and yellow and blue "stuff" - curtains, plates on walls, lamp shades on chandeliers, etc. Then my adjoining family room is painted blue. It's a great combo and easy to do in any style.
Then add some of your bigger accent dishes (big platter, teapot, etc) and you bring in the pink. VOILA.

OH...I just remembered that I saw something EXACTLY like your idea in a magazine sitting on my kitchen table. Bought the magazine at Target a few weeks ago (probably have it at home depot too) called Dream Kitchens. Spring/Summer 2009 edition. On page 134 starts an article (with lots of pictures) entitled Made For A Cook. The main idea is that this family has a huge collection of blue and white Spode dishware that they built the kitchen around. Built this big island to display these dishes. Check it out.

I'm doing a white and blue kitchen. The walls aren't painted yet, but the blue backsplash is in (minus the mosaic behind the cooktop.

I love blue and white, I will have touches of red and yellow in my kitchen, but you could easily do pink.

Here's a far away photo that shows the wall color I'm considering.

Here's a photo with the blue backsplash

Ooh, pretty, becktheeng!

That IS looking gorgeous, Becktheeng! It's funny how my own home keeps somehow pulling blue in. I intended it as just a minor note this time around, but the house has different ideas.

Your notion of basing your design on dishes you love sounds fantastic, Riaketty. How nice that you know what you want, which makes the real issue is the same here as it is for all the looks we're going for--not whether to do it, but how to do it well. Although adding scheme-defining pink in with accessories is a sensible idea, it really seems like your pleasure with these colors makes a stronger and more confident approach every bit as sensible, and right, for you if your creativity calls you that way. Becktheeng's wonderful kitchen in progress should spark a thought or two. I looking forward to seeing your project too, please. :)