COLOR FOR KITCHENS - THE 10 BEST

So fortunate to have Jennifer Riner of Zillow as a guest blogger today.  Zillow is a site Mr. B and I find ourselves on often. (Totally unsolicited by the way). We love to check out the real estate in areas we think might be fun places to live... yes we are guilty of the 'lookee loos'.  Mr. B fantasizes about retiring on a beach or a lake someday so he loves to look at the 'possibilities'.  I like to peruse Zillow Digs for design ideas.  So being fans already, we jumped at the chance to have them on a guest post today.    

The 10 Best Paint Colors for Kitchens

By Jennifer Riner of Zillow

Altering kitchen paint colors can be intimidating, especially when homeowners are accustomed to bland, builder-grade palettes. However, incorporating fresh flair in kitchens is easy, especially when applying adventurous palettes in small amounts.

Choose from the following 10 colors to create well-designed, inspiring culinary spaces.

1. Timeless Gray

Source: Michelle Workman

Complement marble countertops with soft gray tones on walls and cabinets. Marble stone grains provide dark contrast against similar, lighter hues. Unlike other pale neutrals, gray color schemes appear clean without feeling cold.

2. Bright White

Source: Lukas Machnik

Nothing says sterile quite like all-white kitchens. While not everyone’s taste, bleached kitchens featuring pops of colors maintain some vibrant interest. Fresh flowers, brightly-colored stand mixers and brass hardware pieces appear more vivid against stark backdrops.

3. Charcoal

Charcoal is a prime accent color for large fixtures in the kitchen, such as lower cabinets and island bases. Incorporating darker hues on lower levels helps disguise drips, dust and grime accumulating from foot traffic and high-use kitchens. Avoid overusing darker hues as they tend to block out natural light, which is a highly-desired feature in kitchens.

4. Deep Black

Source: 24 Design Construction

While not appropriate for every space, black accents are sleek and versatile options for larger spaces. Vast kitchens typically have ample lighting to contrast dark shades, but black paint in smaller spaces tends to absorb the already limited lighting. Limit dark hues to cabinets, accent walls or countertops – but not all at once.

5. Greige

A new spin on classic beige is “greige,” incorporating gray undertones rather than yellow. The latest mixture yields warm, yet contemporary, atmospheres without looking generic.

6. Dark Navy

Source: Zillow

Navy is a go-to color for nautical or Cape Cod style interiors, and the kitchen is not off-limits. Consider navy cabinets with marble or quartz countertops for a sophisticated, Hamptons-style in any home.

7. Kelly Green

Fashionable, primary green looks great when paired with butcher block countertops. Keep in mind that strong colors are best balanced with neutrals. Constrain the number of loud tones on large façades, adhering to one or two options for walls and cabinets.

8. Soft Yellow

For cottage-cozy appeal, incorporate muted yellow tones via kitchen walls and cupboards. The key to finding the perfect yellow for varying spaces is testing shades throughout the day. Sometimes, darker rooms require brighter tones that appear gaudy in sun-filled spaces. Paint small patches and photograph in various weather changes to determine suitability.

9.  Bold Red

Source: Zillow

Some individuals shy away from using red paint and choose to incorporate the color using fabrics and accessories. Many fear the aggressiveness red often denotes if overdone. On the contrary, red accents radiate energy. As some designers proclaim, stimulating surroundings are imperative, especially in the heart of the home.

10. Burnt Orange

Source: Gustave Carlson Design

Contemporary interiors, especially in loft-settings, appear handsome when paired with unique colors. Burnt orange combined with exposed wood beams creates funky, industrial ambiances for kitchens.

Kitchen color schemes largely reflect individual homeowners’ preference.  Provisional to location, sun exposure and size, painting surfaces bright colors instead of neutral palettes can be beneficial even if it’s outside of homeowners’ natural tendencies. Regardless of personal preference, keep buyers searching for homes in mind when updating kitchens for resale.

A THING FOR WICKER...

I have always had a fondness for the warm texture and that rustic touch 

that wicker can bring into a room.  

Lately, I've been thinking that wicker is exactly what I need to warm up my dining room.  

Here's why...

look how just a touch of wicker brings texture and warmth

in this slightly minimal room, wicker warms and invites...

it blends with nearly any style of decorating..

the rest of the room needn't be rustic or country

it even has a certain elegance to it, and is equally friendly with fine furniture 

or rustic antiques

 I'm especially fond of these gray kubu wicker chairs with the skirted legs

 these look a little new, but could easily be taken down a notch with a little gray paint wash

I love the rustic kitchen dining look, but they also look pretty fantastic

in a more formal setting...

 Now picture a hard wooden chair in place of these...

these are better, right?

this is so cute for the bathroom...

and I like wicker storage pieces, too.

but my most favorite still has to be dining room or kitchen chairs...

they just look so right.

Do you like wicker furniture?

QUESTION FROM A READER:

Hi, Please help with a paint color.  I've attached pictures of my Kitchen which opens up into my living and dining area.  The cabinets are creamy white with glaze and very yellow undertone. Uba tuba granite and tumbled marble backsplash (which unfortunatly have a pink undertone! Mistake)  

Right know the rooms are painted BM Wilmington Tan. Im looking to lighten space up with one color for all rooms that are open to each other.  I've tried BM Manchester tan (looks gray next to my cabinets and makes them look dingy). Also tried Monroe Bisque but its too yellow in my sunny room.  Tried Bleeker Bege, Revere Pewter, Edgecomb gray but the all seem to look gray and make cabinets and dining table look dingy.   I'm going craaaazzzy. Please help recommend a neutral color.  I have the BM Fan deck and can't seem to pick the right one.  I've also tried the above mentioned paints on the wall using samples.  The current color Wilmington Tan seems to work with my cabinets, granite and living room furniture but I need a change. Something Lighter.  One last note; The living room and dining room are very sunny.  Thank you in advance.

Audrey

HI Audrey.    I know how hard it is to blend existing colors with a new color.  You have been going in the tan, beige to beige gray family and it isn't working - have you considered a gray green?  Your cream cabinets should love green, the travertine backsplash and the granite should also blend well, and wood tones love it too.

Benjamin Moore GRAY WISP

 Try Benjamin Moore Gray Wisp.  It's a lovely gray green - more on the gray than the green side.  Its not too dark and it is really soothing.

It works nicely with cream tones and wood tones and dark tones like your granite

Here is an example of a kitchen that has much the same color palette as your with the gray green on the walls.

The Endearing Home

Another gray green, with a little more gold in it is Guilford Gray - far left on this photo.

 Another possible is Hancock Green (Benjamin Moore)

or Nantucket Gray - (Benjamin Moore) 

My final suggestion is Benjamin Moore QUIET MOMENTS.  I love the name almost as much as the color.  It is soothing, and has less green -  more gray, and just a touch of blue in certain light. 

All of these colors should appear lighter than the color you now have, if only because they are cooler colors and will recede more than your current color and feel lighter.   As always, never choose a color without trying it out as a sample first.
Good luck!

COLORS GO COASTAL

BLUE UNDERTONES WITHOUT BEING OVERTLY BLUE....

Undertones are tricky beasts.  For example, grays are nothing but undertones - except for the pure concrete colors - it is what makes them beautiful and versatile.  Sometimes the undertone shows up more strongly than we like.  A blue undertone, for example, may be too blue on the walls.  Or is it?  Wall color, especially in an empty room, will look much stronger before furniture and furnishings are added.  Sometime it just pays to wait a little.  The wall color will fade to the background as you add your furniture and decor.

GRAY PALETTE

CREATING COLOR SCHEMES

Choosing a color palette for your home may seem daunting, but doesn't have to be all that difficult to achieve.  Just remember you are creating a backdrop - one that will compliment, but really fade to the background once you have furniture, rugs, draperies, pillows, lamps and accessories in place.  The best wall colors do.  They should sit softly in the background, supporting the overall design, but not trying to grab your attention or upstage your furniture.  Unless that is your design - but that's a whole other story...  Remember the word 'backdrop' and relax....  it's only paint....