White kitchen cabinets can be boring if the kitchen lacks wall colour. As you can see in this vibrant kitchen photograph (courtesy of Moen), the vivid blue wall colour really brings life to this room. As I've said before, strong wall colour needs a white contrast in order for the two to work in harmony as they do here.
Notice the lovely golden wall colour in the background hallway. It was no doubt pulled from the golden tones of the backsplash tile. It is a coordinating colour that transitions beautifully into the blue kitchen. Also note that the yellow is a strong wall colour as is the blue kitchen. If you're using a strong colour it's important that the coordinating colours are of the same colour strength. A pale yellow, for example, would be wishy-washy in this space. The rich golden yellow, however, makes a statement. It does not compete with the blue, nor is it overpowered by it. When you're choosing paint colour you want to view the room from every angle so that colours will coordinate from one opening to another. It's different in rooms that have a door. There you can go in a different colour direction if you like.
The cabinets, with their bead board panels are lovely and textural but would be stark if the walls were also painted white. So, if you have white cabinets, consider a bold wall colour choice.
This kitchen has some other interesting touches that I wanted to cover. The custom open shelving unit over the sink is a wonderful focal point in the bank of white cabinetry. This looks like it could be a fairly easy DIY project as well. Note how the shelving comes right down to meet the countertop. This allows for the backsplash tiles to be placed only in the area where they are needed, behind the sink. This is a great money-saver as well as a unique design idea. These homeowners carried the backsplash tiles all the way up the wall but one could just tile the lower area if the budget is tight. The shelving is made from a different coloured material than the rest of the cabinets, which warms up the kitchen tenfold and adds to the cottage/country charm of the room.
Another great facet of the open shelving unit is that it can make up for stock cabinetry that may not otherwise fit. If you're redoing your kitchen and choosing stock cabinetry you'll know the issue with trying to find cabinets to fit your existing space. An inch or two either way can mess up your entire plan. If you can make up the difference by incorporating an open shelf then your troubles are over and you've saved a ton of money on custom cabinetry.
The bronze-coloured Moen faucets along with the cabinet hardware are warm and earthy, versus the traditional shiny steel fixtures. The step up island is a great way to add an eating area to a small kitchen. If you're going to have an island incorporating the second shelf doubles the function. I also like the open shelving on the side of the island, which allows for a colourful display or even items like cookbooks.
The island countertop is made of butcher block, which is a good surface for food prep beside the trough sink. The cabinet countertop is granite. This is another great lesson showing that everything does not have to match in decorating. These two different surfaces work well in the same space while providing additional character to the room by their difference. Choosing this route rather than matching countertops is another budget saver because you might be able to purchase smaller remnant pieces for your project.
The traditional paintings in the kitchen and hallway add a sense of Old World charm. I also love the pops of amber colour in the accent glassware dotted throughout the room. A version of this colour can also be found in the backsplash tiles, which seem to be the jumping off point for the entire colour palette. The use of the backsplash tiles as colour inspiration is another great design lesson. Should these homeowners want a change down the road they can create an entirely new look using the same colour cues. For example, terracotta walls with cobalt blue and orange accents.
This kitchen offered us a lot of good ideas. When you're looking at photos of rooms that appeal to you take note of the smaller details. There's usually a good lesson to be learned.
connieoliver@shaw.ca
