New This Week: 3 Kitchens With Boldly Colored Cabinets
Ocean blue, timeless green and vibrant yellow hues create standout spaces
Other special features. Graphite-colored limestone floor in herringbone pattern. Black metal pendants. Gray-and-white quartzite countertops. White ceramic tile backsplash. Wood wall surrounding entrance.
Designer secret. “The success of this room stemmed from two simple things: One, the client had an open mind when it came to the concept design,” Mendelson says. The homeowners “were receptive to our ideas and wanted to fully explore how these ideas played out. Two, don’t be afraid of color but always pick one that you look good in. No use picking a color that washes you out or makes you look sickly. You should feel your best in your own home.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “After demolition, we had a mechanical duct in the way of our new opening with no clear solution as to where it should go,” Mendelson says. “After some creative thinking, we were able to change the duct size and locate it in a wall that it was never planned for. Having a contractor that works with you, asks questions and is open-minded is always a plus.”
Cabinets: Amish Custom Kitchens; floor tile: limestone, Graphite collection, Ann Sacks; faucet: Harmony pull-down in polished chrome, Elkay; pendants: Beat Light, Fat shape in black, Tom Dixon; see more black pendants
See more of this home | 7 Sophisticated Blues for Your Kitchen Cabinets
Designer secret. “The success of this room stemmed from two simple things: One, the client had an open mind when it came to the concept design,” Mendelson says. The homeowners “were receptive to our ideas and wanted to fully explore how these ideas played out. Two, don’t be afraid of color but always pick one that you look good in. No use picking a color that washes you out or makes you look sickly. You should feel your best in your own home.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “After demolition, we had a mechanical duct in the way of our new opening with no clear solution as to where it should go,” Mendelson says. “After some creative thinking, we were able to change the duct size and locate it in a wall that it was never planned for. Having a contractor that works with you, asks questions and is open-minded is always a plus.”
Cabinets: Amish Custom Kitchens; floor tile: limestone, Graphite collection, Ann Sacks; faucet: Harmony pull-down in polished chrome, Elkay; pendants: Beat Light, Fat shape in black, Tom Dixon; see more black pendants
See more of this home | 7 Sophisticated Blues for Your Kitchen Cabinets
2. Green Get-Up
Designer: Lindsey Black
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Size: 286 square feet (27 square meters); 22 by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is my personal kitchen, but as many designers and decorators know, sometimes getting to design your own personal space can be the most difficult,” designer Lindsey Black says. “I wanted a kitchen that was unique, impactful and stylish, yet not so trendy or over the top that I would tire of it quickly. I also had a long list of features to incorporate into the cabinetry, as the function of the kitchen was just as important as the beauty.”
Cabinet color. Tarrytown Green by Benjamin Moore. “It is deep and rich but still bright, and I love the way the brass fixtures and hardware stand out against it,” Black says. “The handmade terra-cotta zellige tile backsplash is subtle enough that it doesn’t compete with the cabinet color, yet still interesting with its variation in color and texture.”
The island cabinet color is Intense White by Benjamin Moore. “It was chosen to complement the backsplash and be a contrast to the bold wall cabinets,” Black says.
Designer: Lindsey Black
Location: Memphis, Tennessee
Size: 286 square feet (27 square meters); 22 by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This is my personal kitchen, but as many designers and decorators know, sometimes getting to design your own personal space can be the most difficult,” designer Lindsey Black says. “I wanted a kitchen that was unique, impactful and stylish, yet not so trendy or over the top that I would tire of it quickly. I also had a long list of features to incorporate into the cabinetry, as the function of the kitchen was just as important as the beauty.”
Cabinet color. Tarrytown Green by Benjamin Moore. “It is deep and rich but still bright, and I love the way the brass fixtures and hardware stand out against it,” Black says. “The handmade terra-cotta zellige tile backsplash is subtle enough that it doesn’t compete with the cabinet color, yet still interesting with its variation in color and texture.”
The island cabinet color is Intense White by Benjamin Moore. “It was chosen to complement the backsplash and be a contrast to the bold wall cabinets,” Black says.
Other special features. Walnut bar stools and accents. Coffee station. Built-in wine rack. Quartz countertops.
Designer secret. “Selecting a standout feature that drives the overall design helps keep things cohesive but not boring,” Black says. “In this case, it was the cabinet color. I selected that first and then built all of the other design decisions around it.”
Cabinets 101: How to Work With Cabinet Designers and Cabinetmakers
Designer secret. “Selecting a standout feature that drives the overall design helps keep things cohesive but not boring,” Black says. “In this case, it was the cabinet color. I selected that first and then built all of the other design decisions around it.”
Cabinets 101: How to Work With Cabinet Designers and Cabinetmakers
“Uh-oh” moment. “I wanted all outlets hidden,” Black says. “I find they can be a distraction from the beauty of a backsplash. To accomplish this, I had outlets placed under the upper cabinets and behind flip-down panels on the sides of the island. As there was no cabinetry near the range, I had to find a different solution to hide the outlet we needed placed near it. I was able to find a pop-up countertop outlet that sits flush with the countertops. The stone fabricator installed it, and the depth of the outlet was considered when designing the cabinetry that was underneath it.”
Backsplash tile: zellige in weathered white, clé; pendants: Rejuvenation; bar stools: Rove Concepts; browse walnut bar stools
See more of this kitchen | How to get an outlet right where you want it
Backsplash tile: zellige in weathered white, clé; pendants: Rejuvenation; bar stools: Rove Concepts; browse walnut bar stools
See more of this kitchen | How to get an outlet right where you want it
3. Hello, Yellow!
Designer: John Kelly
Location: Chicago
Size: 160 square feet (15 square meters); 10 by 16 feet
Homeowners’ request. A colorful, light and cheery look.
Cabinet color. It can be described as canary yellow. “The owner was very active in the decision to go with this color, in order to give the room a playful, casual feel,” architect John Kelly says.
Other special features. Six large globe lights. Skylight.
Designer secret. “The combination of the vibrant color and overscaled lighting fixtures helps bring a playful touch to an otherwise sleek, modern space,” Kelly says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The existing space was a small, tight cabin kitchen, so maximizing the square footage and the brightness of the space was key,” Kelly says. “The color, windows, and lighting fixtures were crucial in solving this problem.”
See more of this home
More
Cooking With Color: When to Use Yellow in the Kitchen
Pros and Cons: Painted vs. Stained Cabinets
Crazy for Color? Your Kitchen Cabinets Want In
Other Resources on Houzz
Find a kitchen designer
Get more kitchen ideas
Browse products for kitchens and more
Designer: John Kelly
Location: Chicago
Size: 160 square feet (15 square meters); 10 by 16 feet
Homeowners’ request. A colorful, light and cheery look.
Cabinet color. It can be described as canary yellow. “The owner was very active in the decision to go with this color, in order to give the room a playful, casual feel,” architect John Kelly says.
Other special features. Six large globe lights. Skylight.
Designer secret. “The combination of the vibrant color and overscaled lighting fixtures helps bring a playful touch to an otherwise sleek, modern space,” Kelly says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The existing space was a small, tight cabin kitchen, so maximizing the square footage and the brightness of the space was key,” Kelly says. “The color, windows, and lighting fixtures were crucial in solving this problem.”
See more of this home
More
Cooking With Color: When to Use Yellow in the Kitchen
Pros and Cons: Painted vs. Stained Cabinets
Crazy for Color? Your Kitchen Cabinets Want In
Other Resources on Houzz
Find a kitchen designer
Get more kitchen ideas
Browse products for kitchens and more
Designer: Josh Pincus and Claudia Mendelson of MPink Design
Location: Park Ridge, Illinois
Size: 145 square feet (13 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. An efficient shared cooking space for a family of four.
Cabinet color. Laguna Blue by Benjamin Moore for the main cabinets, and Cool Aqua by Benjamin Moore for a side of the island. “The clients love blue,” designer Claudia Mendelson says. “It makes them and everyone around them happy and energized. They wanted a kitchen with personality and dynamism to match that of their family.”