WRITER | ROGER BRONSINK
PHOTOS | STARLITE KITCHENS
The sky is the limit when adding color to your cabinetry; the question is when and where does adding color work best. Color adds visual interest, makes a statement, or emphasizes your space. I recently walked into one of my favorite kitchens, a two-toned farmhouse kitchen. The base cabinets were a dark, elegant navy blue, and the accented wall cabinets were a sleek, clean white. The flooring and seating mixed umber and sepia finishes to create a warm feel in this elegant kitchen. I felt at home from the minute I walked in, a feeling every homeowner should strive for in a new or remodeled kitchen and that professionals work to replicate with each new kitchen or living space they design.
I imagine all designers have felt the urge to create the ideal space for their clients – a kitchen or living space with meaning. What better way to paint this picture than with colored cabinets? Unique paints and colors provide meaning, purpose, and ambiance that can bring a kitchen to life and set the mood from the moment you walk in.
Designing a kitchen in this way is no simple task. Some methods work better than others, but colored cabinetry is the focus here. With unlimited color options, the customer and designer can go down a variety of avenues, but when all is said and done, finding colors that complement or contrast becomes the icing on the cake.
A two-toned kitchen is a great way to accomplish this harmony; try dark base cabinets and a lighter shade to highlight the wall cabinets. Find a countertop to accent both, and you have a complete kitchen that serves as the focal point of the home.
Based on my experience in the industry, customers are often worried because colors and trends change so frequently. The customer never wants to feel as if their kitchen, the focal point of their home, looks outdated. Colored cabinetry truly gives the homeowner flexibility to change and try something bold. In fact, I’ve seen this done quite frequently with islands and hutches and even vanities in a bathroom. A single-colored cabinet may be subtle and yet make a very bold statement that leaves everyone talking.
Not in the mood for bold or vibrant and don’t want to mess with the original white or antique white paint? Try something delicate like a cabinet in a soft light gray or pale blue or green to avoid the starkness of a white while maintaining a clean palette that gives the space an airy, light feeling.
All of these options are instances where colored cabinetry works. It all comes down to finding the style that fits you best and running with it. Personalizing the space and making it the focal point of the home will leave guests speechless in admiration.
