Eye-Catching Islands: 8 Gorgeous Greens
From crisp leafy tones to deeper vegetal hues, get inspired to go green
Jennifer Ott
October 2, 2016
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's work has been featured in many print and online publications. Her recently-published book, "1000 Ideas for Color Schemes," is a beautifully illustrated and easy-to-navigate guide that takes the guesswork out of selecting the perfect color palette for your home or special event. For more information on Jennifer Ott Design, visit http://jenottdesign.com/.
San Francisco-based architectural color specialist and design writer. Jennifer's... More
Adding a cool hue to a kitchen island is a hot trend right now. One way to figure out the right color for your own island is to take inspiration from your favorite foods. Fans of fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables might find they lean toward green. Here, we’ve gathered eight fresh kitchens with gorgeous green-clad islands, and provide tips on the best ways to make this a featured color in your kitchen.
Rustic, industrial kitchens are extremely popular right now. I love the creative use — and often reuse — of materials, fixtures and furnishings that bring tons of character with this style. A dash of crisp green can provide a welcome contrast to the darker hues and hard and heavy elements. The lettuce-green color used here highlights the charming island, making it the centerpiece of the kitchen.
Bold, citrusy hues are a personal favorite of mine. I like how they bring a fun jolt of color to a room. They can be quite intense, though, so pairing them with plenty of white and other light neutrals is key. Here the green is grounded nicely by the warm gray door and drawer fronts on the perimeter cabinets.
See more of this kitchen
Cabinets, island: custom, Downsview Kitchens; wall and ceiling paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams; flooring: limestone tile, Exquisite Surfaces
See more of this kitchen
Cabinets, island: custom, Downsview Kitchens; wall and ceiling paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams; flooring: limestone tile, Exquisite Surfaces
If bold lime isn’t your thing, you can still get a snappy splash of color with a soft or neutral green. This happy little kitchen features an island clad in a more toned-down hue. It’s part of a nice palette created with the sunny yellow accents that are dappled throughout the room. Look for light to medium greens that have a touch of gray in them, as dark greens with gray undertones can be a tad too murky.
Another way to get a softer hit of color is to go with wood stain. This application gives a more traditional look to a kitchen. If your kitchen is heavy on wood elements, staining the island an interesting color is a great way to mix things up. And by going with a custom-mixed stain, as was done here, you ensure that yours is no cookie-cutter piece of cabinetry.
Cabinet paint: matched to Whisper DEW340, Dunn-Edwards
Cabinet paint: matched to Whisper DEW340, Dunn-Edwards
This deep, intense green demands to be the star of the show, so use it where you want to draw the eye. It’s the perfect way to highlight those stylish stools.
Introduce a soothing, tropical vibe to your kitchen with a watery blue-green hue. This color in particular has a great retro feel, perfect for this beautiful kitchen that expertly combines vintage and modern elements.
A large kitchen island in a bright hue can easily overwhelm a space. But there’s no rule saying the entire island has to be all one color, so perhaps use the bold color for just the door and drawer fronts and keep the remaining cabinet box in a neutral tone. Or keep the door and drawer fronts neutral and go wild with color for the surrounding cover panels, as was done here in one of my own projects.
Island color: Larchmere, Sherwin-Williams; cabinet fronts: pecan
Island color: Larchmere, Sherwin-Williams; cabinet fronts: pecan
Another option for the color-shy is to incorporate a small bit of color on just the back panel of the island, then go for a waterfall edge for the countertop — extending it down the side or sides of the island. The green used here is bold, but it has a nice peek-a-boo effect because it’s recessed under the surrounding countertop.
Your turn: What’s your favorite accent color for a kitchen island?
More
Eye-Catching Islands: 10 Beauties in Blue
How Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
Photo Flip: Let’s Go Island Hopping
Your turn: What’s your favorite accent color for a kitchen island?
More
Eye-Catching Islands: 10 Beauties in Blue
How Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
Photo Flip: Let’s Go Island Hopping
We at Frasure Home Improvements feel like everyone deserves our best. We constantly push for excellence. We truly... Read More
What are you working on?
Related Products
Related Stories
Kitchen Design
25 Kitchen Islands That Think Outside the Box
For these asymmetrical, rounded, split-level, wedge-like and otherwise unconventional islands, it’s hip not to be cuboid
Full Story
Pendant Lighting
Choose the Right Pendant Lights for Your Kitchen Island
By tidgboutique
Get your island lighting scheme on track with tips on function, style, height and more
Full Story
Kitchen Makeovers
Before and After: 5 Kitchens With Contrasting Wood Islands
Pros, including one found on Houzz, pair wood-finished islands with painted cabinets for a pleasing look
Full Story
New This Week
5 New Kitchens With Clever Island Designs
Consider these unusual shapes, functional features and stylish looks from photos recently uploaded by pros on Houzz
Full Story
Kitchen Design
15 Ways to Kick Your Kitchen Island Up a Notch
Make your kitchen island work harder — and smarter — with these fun and functional features
Full Story
Kitchen Design
10 Kitchen Island Features Pros Always Recommend
Design and remodeling professionals say these are the elements every homeowner should consider when planning an island
Full Story
Houzz TV
5 Kitchen Island Features Worth Considering
In this video and article, get details on clever island designs that add seating, style, countertop surface and more
Full Story
New This Week
9 New Kitchen Island Designs
Get the lowdown on down-low dining spots, raised-up workstations and other island features shared by pros on Houzz
Full Story
Before and Afters
Before and After: 4 White Kitchens With Contrasting Islands
See how a splash of gray, blue or green makes a kitchen island stand out in a sea of white cabinets
Full Story
Most Popular
How Much Room Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
By lwkkitchens
Installing an island can enhance your kitchen in many ways, and with good planning, even smaller kitchens can benefit
Full Story
Seems like a green or grey island is really popular right now. I constructed an easy island for my in-law suite to serve as a prep/work area. Gave it a cedar top and painted it a sort of green shade, too. Instructions can be found here (if anyone wants/needs one).
http://www.queenbeeofhoneydos.com/diy-island-build/
Here's a green/gray island we did last year. We usually paint our islands different than the cabinet color!
http://www.houzz.com/photos/38884111/Kitchen-Island-with-Storage-transitional-kitchen-oklahoma-city
Seeing how green is on Pantone's new color of the year, there's always a chance to see more of it! But one of our strongest philosophies here at Savvy is do what you love!
This contemporary kitchen has a hint of bright green: