Decorating and Design - Kitchen color scheme dilemma
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breathelectric
10-11-04, 05:28 PM
Hi there,
I'm looking for advice on planning the color scheme for my kitchen. I will be moving into a new 3-story townhouse in a few weeks and I am really stuck with deciding what to do with the kitchen.
First off, the 2nd floor is a giant rectangle with living room on entry, then dining room, then kitchen... it really all is pretty much one large rectangular space. The kitchen cabinets are all white with dark grey/black flecked countertops. There is also an island.
I have a few ideas, but I'm concerned about flowing with the rest of the 2nd floor. The living room decor will be kind of a comfortable pottery barn, fall colors feel with "toast" colored slipcovers for the couches, and darkish accents in dark greens, dark reds, browns, etc. The dining room is going to have kind of a trendy cafe feel with the same color scheme, adding black and mostly browns and reds... deep and rich colors. The wall art will be cafe signs and espresso/ coffee art type stuff.
Now, the kitchen. I would love to see a clean "all-white" kind of feel with a few cobalt blue accents like glass bottles, etc. and a hint of yellow, like sunflowers. Is this going to stand out like a sore thumb when the rest of the floor is all warm colors, cozy decor?
Another idea is all black and white, strictly, but it seems so boring, and I like a bit of personality in my decorating. I have a lot of lavender and spring-ish accesories from my past decorating kicks and could easily go this route, but I think that too would not go well with the warm colors, plus I don't think the dark countertops would compliment this well. Would it be too boring to continue the cafe/ coffeehouse sort of theme in the kitchen?
I need ideas!!
Thanks!
~Cara
I'm looking for advice on planning the color scheme for my kitchen. I will be moving into a new 3-story townhouse in a few weeks and I am really stuck with deciding what to do with the kitchen.
First off, the 2nd floor is a giant rectangle with living room on entry, then dining room, then kitchen... it really all is pretty much one large rectangular space. The kitchen cabinets are all white with dark grey/black flecked countertops. There is also an island.
I have a few ideas, but I'm concerned about flowing with the rest of the 2nd floor. The living room decor will be kind of a comfortable pottery barn, fall colors feel with "toast" colored slipcovers for the couches, and darkish accents in dark greens, dark reds, browns, etc. The dining room is going to have kind of a trendy cafe feel with the same color scheme, adding black and mostly browns and reds... deep and rich colors. The wall art will be cafe signs and espresso/ coffee art type stuff.
Now, the kitchen. I would love to see a clean "all-white" kind of feel with a few cobalt blue accents like glass bottles, etc. and a hint of yellow, like sunflowers. Is this going to stand out like a sore thumb when the rest of the floor is all warm colors, cozy decor?
Another idea is all black and white, strictly, but it seems so boring, and I like a bit of personality in my decorating. I have a lot of lavender and spring-ish accesories from my past decorating kicks and could easily go this route, but I think that too would not go well with the warm colors, plus I don't think the dark countertops would compliment this well. Would it be too boring to continue the cafe/ coffeehouse sort of theme in the kitchen?
I need ideas!!
Thanks!
~Cara
Annette
10-12-04, 11:40 AM
wow - it sounds great! but it all really needs to flow together. the fact that you've even asked this question:
Is this going to stand out like a sore thumb when the rest of the floor is all warm colors, cozy decor?
...tells me that you know the answer already! adding cheery blue & yellow sunflowers only to the kitchen area, when it's in full view of the LR area that's in fall colors, won't make sense. i'd opt for a different accent color, like a pumpkin or more of a gold or some other color pulled from the rest of the space (or put INTO the rest of the space).
and, as warm as the rest of the space sounds, i'm not sure a cool, all-white kitchen is what you want anyway. i think i'd try to warm up the kitchen with some color. maybe you could paint an accent wall in the kitchen a bold color that will contrast with the other color you're using for the rest of the space (if it's a neutral-ish color) and also help to set off the white cabinets. you don't want them to just fade into a white wall.
it really sounds like it's going to be a great space with really nice colors - don't drop the ball on the kitchen side! keep it going....
maybe you could save your blue & yellow theme for a bathroom on a different floor.
Is this going to stand out like a sore thumb when the rest of the floor is all warm colors, cozy decor?
...tells me that you know the answer already! adding cheery blue & yellow sunflowers only to the kitchen area, when it's in full view of the LR area that's in fall colors, won't make sense. i'd opt for a different accent color, like a pumpkin or more of a gold or some other color pulled from the rest of the space (or put INTO the rest of the space).
and, as warm as the rest of the space sounds, i'm not sure a cool, all-white kitchen is what you want anyway. i think i'd try to warm up the kitchen with some color. maybe you could paint an accent wall in the kitchen a bold color that will contrast with the other color you're using for the rest of the space (if it's a neutral-ish color) and also help to set off the white cabinets. you don't want them to just fade into a white wall.
it really sounds like it's going to be a great space with really nice colors - don't drop the ball on the kitchen side! keep it going....
maybe you could save your blue & yellow theme for a bathroom on a different floor.