These Kitchens Do Blue Cabinetry Just Right
Tired of all white? Consider a contrast with cobalt, navy, indigo or midnight hues — exact paint colors included
The white kitchen has reigned for the past couple of years and gray has been having a moment, but they’d better look out because beautiful deep shades of blue are making a splash. Whether you just want to dip your toe in with a painted island or go all-out, here are some great ways to introduce blue to your cabinetry and some designer-favorite paint colors to consider.
Balance Pops of Blue
Designer Heather Alton carefully edited the blue details in this New Hampshire kitchen. An indigo barn door leads to the basement, and a large navy-and-white botanical leaf wallpaper and navy-framed glass cabinets draw the eye across the room.
Barn door paint: Indigo Batik, Sherwin-Williams; island paint: Frost, Cuisine Idéale; china cabinet paint: custom to match wallpaper; wallpaper: Leaf, Harlequin; find blue botanical wallpapers
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Designer Heather Alton carefully edited the blue details in this New Hampshire kitchen. An indigo barn door leads to the basement, and a large navy-and-white botanical leaf wallpaper and navy-framed glass cabinets draw the eye across the room.
Barn door paint: Indigo Batik, Sherwin-Williams; island paint: Frost, Cuisine Idéale; china cabinet paint: custom to match wallpaper; wallpaper: Leaf, Harlequin; find blue botanical wallpapers
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Go Two-Tone on Cabinetry
If you fear that having all blue cabinets will make your kitchen too dark, go for a two-tone cabinet scheme and paint only the lower cabinets blue. After this Los Angeles couple fell hard for a lively encaustic cement tile pattern, designer Kelly Martin helped them find a matching blue paint for the cabinets.
Cabinet paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball; browse cement tile
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If you fear that having all blue cabinets will make your kitchen too dark, go for a two-tone cabinet scheme and paint only the lower cabinets blue. After this Los Angeles couple fell hard for a lively encaustic cement tile pattern, designer Kelly Martin helped them find a matching blue paint for the cabinets.
Cabinet paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball; browse cement tile
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For this coastal Massachusetts kitchen, designer Debra Toney used this two-toned strategy with blue lower cabinets and white uppers. A patterned tile accent along the range wall combines both colors.
Cabinet paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore; backsplash tile: Cementine Black and White 1, Arizona Tile
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Cabinet paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore; backsplash tile: Cementine Black and White 1, Arizona Tile
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Balance Blue With Open Wall Space
In this Los Angeles kitchen, designer Jeff Troyer created a similar effect by wrapping two of the walls in white tile from counter to ceiling. The pleasing balance of a strong blue and white complements the view out to the yard.
Cabinet paint: Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball
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In this Los Angeles kitchen, designer Jeff Troyer created a similar effect by wrapping two of the walls in white tile from counter to ceiling. The pleasing balance of a strong blue and white complements the view out to the yard.
Cabinet paint: Stiffkey Blue, Farrow & Ball
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This Portland, Oregon, kitchen’s wall of wonderful windows balances an almost-black midnight blue on the cabinetry. Designer Alissa Pulcrano concentrated the storage and appliances on one big, deep blue storage wall.
Paint: Black Blue (cabinets) and Pitch Black (trim), Farrow & Ball
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Paint: Black Blue (cabinets) and Pitch Black (trim), Farrow & Ball
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Create Big Blocks of Blue
Two-toning does not have to be divided along upper and lower cabinet lines. In this seaside Massachusetts kitchen, designer Kathy Marshall created a blue back wall using a hand-blocked Galbraith & Paul wallpaper and Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue paint on the beverage station’s cabinetry. The color repeats on the island.
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Two-toning does not have to be divided along upper and lower cabinet lines. In this seaside Massachusetts kitchen, designer Kathy Marshall created a blue back wall using a hand-blocked Galbraith & Paul wallpaper and Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue paint on the beverage station’s cabinetry. The color repeats on the island.
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Designer Kirsten Kaplan used a similar color-blocking plan for this Maryland kitchen. The blue cabinetry on the right creates a baking station. Antiqued glass accents bring a welcome shot of warm metal into the design and keep the work area bright.
Cabinet paint: Polo Blue with Dusk glaze, Elmwood Cabinets
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Cabinet paint: Polo Blue with Dusk glaze, Elmwood Cabinets
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Mix in Glass Cabinet Doors
Using all blue in this compact kitchen probably would have felt heavy. So designer Charmean Neithart flanked the range with glass cabinet doors that allow for transparency and reflect the light.
Cabinet paint: Spellbound, Benjamin Moore
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Using all blue in this compact kitchen probably would have felt heavy. So designer Charmean Neithart flanked the range with glass cabinet doors that allow for transparency and reflect the light.
Cabinet paint: Spellbound, Benjamin Moore
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Go All-Out
In this chef’s kitchen, designer Rebekah Zaveloff’s clients wanted a look that fit into their 1920s Chicago-area home. An inky black-navy paint created a strong contrast to the white countertops and backsplash. Zaveloff used a mix of antique brass with polished nickel hardware and faucets for a more collected, timeless feel.
Cabinet paint: Inkwell, Sherwin-Williams
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In this chef’s kitchen, designer Rebekah Zaveloff’s clients wanted a look that fit into their 1920s Chicago-area home. An inky black-navy paint created a strong contrast to the white countertops and backsplash. Zaveloff used a mix of antique brass with polished nickel hardware and faucets for a more collected, timeless feel.
Cabinet paint: Inkwell, Sherwin-Williams
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Tell us: Have you gone for blue cabinets in the kitchen? If you’re still considering it, share your questions and concerns so the Houzz community can pitch in with ideas and opinions for you.
Cabinet paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore
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Cabinet paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore
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More
See a designer’s blue paint picks for kitchens
Find a kitchen designer
Find a kitchen remodeler
See more blue-and-white kitchens
If you love blue but are hesitant about going big with it, try just a splash. An island base is a good place for it. In this Los Angeles kitchen, designer Sheryl Schey chose a crisp deep blue to contrast with the rustic reclaimed-wood ceiling.
Island paint: Deep Space, Dunn-Edwards
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