Blue and Aqua Cabinets Make a Splash in a Colorful Kitchen
A hidden step stool, a pullout pantry and double lazy Susans contribute to a highly functional space
Before: Prior to the renovation, the kitchen counters ended at the dishwasher. There were no upper cabinets on the window wall and the sink wasn’t centered on the window.
The old kitchen palette was too drab for these homeowners, who love bright colors. And the melamine cabinet boxes were held together by staples rather than wood dowels, a higher-quality construction method. Ullman suggested replacing the old cabinet boxes with new ones built from wood.
After: The homeowners asked Ullman to work the teal of their charger plates (seen in the foreground of this photo) into the design, and it became the inspiration for the upper-cabinet color. The homeowners considered painting the lower cabinets orange, their favorite color, but Ullman steered them away from that idea, suggesting it might create too much tension in the room. Instead, they selected a bold Prussian blue. You can see bits of the clients’ treasured orange in accents such as the fruit and florals; the couple regularly accessorize the kitchen with orange items.
The custom cabinets are an inset Shaker style made by Precision Cabinets, which Ullman says were just as reasonably priced as a semicustom option from a big-box store. The bar pulls on the drawers and small knobs on the doors have a brushed nickel finish. In terms of the kitchen’s overall style, Ullman says that “the use of color puts it in the modern category, but the actual styling of the [cabinet] doors is very transitional.”
Ullman kept the counters and the backsplash understated. The backsplash is glass mosaic tile in shades of soft pale green-blue that echo the wall color. “It allows the cabinets themselves to be the centerpiece and have this be the nice kind of complement,” Ullman says.
The pendant above the peninsula matches a larger version that hangs in the adjacent dining area.
Upper cabinet paint: Beach Glass, Kelly-Moore; lower cabinet paint: Prussian Blue, Benjamin Moore; backsplash tile: Jerong Products; cabinet pulls: Thin Square collection in brushed nickel, Atlas Homewares; cabinet knobs: Barrel knob in brushed nickel, Dekkor; pendant: 1 Cheer, Tech Lighting; find more single-bulb pendants
The custom cabinets are an inset Shaker style made by Precision Cabinets, which Ullman says were just as reasonably priced as a semicustom option from a big-box store. The bar pulls on the drawers and small knobs on the doors have a brushed nickel finish. In terms of the kitchen’s overall style, Ullman says that “the use of color puts it in the modern category, but the actual styling of the [cabinet] doors is very transitional.”
Ullman kept the counters and the backsplash understated. The backsplash is glass mosaic tile in shades of soft pale green-blue that echo the wall color. “It allows the cabinets themselves to be the centerpiece and have this be the nice kind of complement,” Ullman says.
The pendant above the peninsula matches a larger version that hangs in the adjacent dining area.
Upper cabinet paint: Beach Glass, Kelly-Moore; lower cabinet paint: Prussian Blue, Benjamin Moore; backsplash tile: Jerong Products; cabinet pulls: Thin Square collection in brushed nickel, Atlas Homewares; cabinet knobs: Barrel knob in brushed nickel, Dekkor; pendant: 1 Cheer, Tech Lighting; find more single-bulb pendants
Ullman worked with the homeowners to carefully plan what would go in each cabinet. To the right of the sink — which is now centered on the window — is a dishwasher and trash pullout. Below the sink are cleaning supplies, and the upper part of the cabinet is a false front that tips forward and holds a sponge and sink stopper. The upper cabinet to the left of the sink contains mugs and glassware that don’t match the everyday sets.
The upper cabinet to the left of the range hood holds oils, vinegars and spices. The cabinet to the right holds dishes for the kids. The base cabinet drawers contain utensils and hot pads, while behind each lower cabinet door are double lazy Susans.
The cabinetry above the refrigerator (on the left in this photo) contains tall items such as stock and lobster pots.
Range hood: Zephyr; floor: engineered wood
The upper cabinet to the left of the range hood holds oils, vinegars and spices. The cabinet to the right holds dishes for the kids. The base cabinet drawers contain utensils and hot pads, while behind each lower cabinet door are double lazy Susans.
The cabinetry above the refrigerator (on the left in this photo) contains tall items such as stock and lobster pots.
Range hood: Zephyr; floor: engineered wood
Here’s a look at one of the double lazy Susans in the left corner cabinet, which contains mixing bowls and pots and pans.
Here’s a look at the upper lazy Susan in the same cabinet. The large panel to the left of the drawers hides the refrigerator and pullout freezer.
The upper cabinetry in this same area houses a microwave (you can just see the top of it in this photo) and coffee-making equipment. Ullman took the opportunity to raise the cabinets here to gain space, since this wall doesn’t have a soffit like the adjacent (back) wall does.
This part of the room also holds a surprise: a stepladder that tucks neatly into the toe kick. A blue panel makes it blend in when it’s put away.
This photo shows the stool in step-ready mode.
Here’s another view of the refrigerator, at the far right, as well as a view beyond it to the dining area, where the homeowners have used their beloved orange for the chairs. To the left of the refrigerator, the designer placed a pullout pantry to hold dry goods. Items such as potatoes and onions go in the storage drawer beneath it.
Because the main refrigerator is 30 inches wide, narrower than many models, Ullman added a beverage refrigerator on the working side of the peninsula. To the left of it is a tall, skinny cabinet that holds trays and platters.
Light fixture above dining table: 7 Cheers, Tech Lighting; find more multibulb light fixtures
Because the main refrigerator is 30 inches wide, narrower than many models, Ullman added a beverage refrigerator on the working side of the peninsula. To the left of it is a tall, skinny cabinet that holds trays and platters.
Light fixture above dining table: 7 Cheers, Tech Lighting; find more multibulb light fixtures
Everyday dishes go in the cabinet with glass doors. The side of the island with the yellow stools has some cabinets that contain less frequently used items such as barbecuing tools and vases.
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple with a daughter in grade school
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 177 square feet (16 square meters)
The owners of this kitchen initially planned to give the space a face-lift by painting the cabinets and replacing the countertops and backsplash. But once their designer, Cillesa Ullman of Cillesa Interior Design & Space Planning, alerted them to the poor construction of their old cabinets, they decided to replace them with higher-quality custom ones, including glass-front uppers that show off their pretty dishes. The homeowners also added a peninsula that doubles as a breakfast bar, as well as smart hidden storage throughout the room.
Wall color: White Rain, Benjamin Moore; counters: engineered quartz in Pure White from Jerong Products