Ready to be inspired to makeover your kitchen into an artistic, vibrant space? This week’s featured kitchen is a stunning example of how to liven up your cooking space with pops of color, creative accents, and modern elements. From the pastel blue cabinetry to the fun wallpaper, this kitchen makes a bold statement while remaining highly functional.
Introduction
When the owners of this suburban home were ready to renovate their dated, builder-grade kitchen, they wanted to incorporate more character and their unique sense of style. Their vision was a kitchen that felt bright and cheerful, with a nod to midcentury modern design. By mixing materials, colors, and patterns they have achieved a creative and colorful cooking space that is sure to spark inspiration.
This kitchen makeover integrated powder blue cabinets, gold hardware, patterned tile, and artistic lighting fixtures into a cohesive, contemporary style. Glossy subway tiles on the backsplash provide just enough neutral ground to allow the more vibrant elements to pop. The result is an uplifting, energetic kitchen suited to the owners’ lively family.
Read on for more details on how this imaginative makeover brought new life into a standard kitchen layout. Whether you are planning a full renovation or just looking for ways to introduce color and visual interest into your cooking space, the creative choices showcased here are sure to provide inspiration.
Powder Blue Cabinets Anchor the Color Scheme
One of the most eye-catching elements of this kitchen redesign is the use of muted blue cabinets. The light pastel tone serves as a unique alternative to standard white or wood cabinetry. The color feels brighter and cleaner than a stark white kitchen, lending a subtle retro vibe.
To keep the look cohesive, the lower and upper cabinets are painted to match. Cabinet frames and doors are the same soft blue color. Contrast is provided by the white countertops, backsplash tile, and coffered ceiling. Stainless steel hardware and appliances also pop against the blue.
While bold cabinet colors can overwhelm a small kitchen, the light blue shade used here provides character without going overboard. The cool tone feels soothing and restful, ideal for a space where the family gathers for meals. For a similar look in your home, choose a powder blue, duck egg blue or slightly greenish robin’s egg blue hue for your cabinet makeover.
Creative Patterned Floor Tile Boosts the Retro Vibe
In many contemporary kitchens, flooring tends to be a neutral element, with hardwood or tile acting as a subtle backdrop. Here, the owners decided to make a statement underfoot by installing a vibrant, retro-inspired floor tile.
The showstopping black and white hexagon tile has a three-dimensional quality, with each shape protruding slightly. This allows the geometric pattern to really stand out. The repeating honeycomb shape ties into the midcentury theme, feeling both nostalgic and fresh.
White grout prevents the tile from feeling busy or overwhelming. Keeping the floor design high-contrast was an effective choice for the space – it complements without competing with the pastel cabinets and colorful accents. For a similar look, explore black and white geometric tile or terrazzo flooring options.
Modern Gold and Brass Hardware Punctuates the Design
Pops of gold and brass prevent this kitchen from skewing too retro. Modern gold hardware on the cabinets and fixtures provides contrast and luxurious shine. Black metal stools at the breakfast bar repeat the color pairing.
The choice to finish fixtures and details in a mix of black and gold creates depth and visual interest while remaining cohesive. Matching metal finishes, whether black, gold, silver, bronze or others, is an important strategy for achieving a unified look.
Gold is a classic choice that pairs well with all cabinet colors. In this kitchen, it feels particularly well-suited to the light blue cabinetry. The warm metallic tone enhances the subtly vintage style. Try gold hardware or accents to add a little glamour to your next kitchen refresh.
Wallpaper Adds an Artistic Flair
While many kitchens rely on painted drywall or simple tile backsplashes, this homeowner went in an entirely decorative direction for their back wall. An exotic tropical wallpaper features bright pink flamingos and palm fronds, contrasting beautifully with the cool blue cabinetry.
Wallpaper can feel risky in kitchens, where moisture and grease stains pose concerns. But when installed properly on a wipeable surface, today’s durable wallpaper options hold up to daily wear and tear. This unexpected choice adds a fun, statement-making print that individualizes the space.
Rather than wallpapering all four walls, the focal accent wall behind the stove makes the biggest decorative impact. The owners can easily switch up the look in the future by swapping in a fresh roll of wallpaper. For anyone longing to incorporate more personality and pattern, consider papering one wall or adding removable wallpaper panels.
Unique Lighting Fixtures Take Center Stage
In many renovated kitchens, lighting plays a subtle, supporting role. Here, the hanging pendant lights and sconces are true statement pieces. The unconventional fixtures align with the homeowner’s artistic preference for a visual feast rather than minimalism.
Over the central kitchen island, three bubble-shaped pendants suspended at different heights add sculptural intrigue. The modern chandelier repeats the blue color of the lower cabinets, while introducing a new translucent orb shape. Across from the island, adjustable swing arm sconces provide directed task lighting.
Unexpected light fixtures like these demonstrate how the right decor can transform the look and feel of a kitchen. For a similar aesthetic, explore lighting options beyond simple recessed cans or flush mounts. Seek out imaginative shapes, materials and colors to turn fixtures into art.
Open Shelving Keeps Things Light and Airy
While wall cabinets with doors are ubiquitous in kitchens, this design opts for an airy, architectural alternative. Floating open shelves lined with colorful accents display items in bright view. The visibility keeps the vibe casual and welcoming.
The open shelves align with the light, minimalist quality of midcentury style. Mixing these with the powder blue cabinets and patterned flooring strikes the right balance between classic and playful. When styling open shelving, including a mix of materials, textures and colors prevents the look from feeling too sparse.
In smaller kitchens like this one, limiting upper cabinets also makes the space feel more expansive. For a lighter, cleaner appearance, consider swapping some wall units for open air shelving. Make sure to display your most beautiful, colorful cookware and serveware.
Colorful Accents Enliven Neutral Areas
Even in a colorful kitchen like this, you’ll find neutral elements like the stainless steel appliances, white subway tile backsplash and marble countertops. To prevent these areas from falling flat, thoughtful pops of color were added throughout.
Vibrant turquoise bar stools provide the perfect perch for casual meals and chatting with the cook. Above the environmentally friendly induction stove, the eye-catching green hood makes a bold statement. A blush pink kitchen rug warms up the floor space.
Throughout the kitchen, colorful kitchenware, containers, towels and other accessories inject life. When planning accent colors, reuse hues from the existing palette like the blue and pink. This enhances cohesion while allowing you to vary the tone and saturation.
Key Takeaways
Some key lessons that can be drawn from this imaginative kitchen makeover:
- Powder blue cabinets (or another muted, interesting hue) can anchor a colorful scheme beautifully. They provide more character than standard white or wood cabinetry.
- Creative geometric floor tile in high-contrast black and white adds retro flair. Patterned tile can make more of a statement than simple neutral flooring.
- Mixing metal finishes like black and brass prevents the look from feeling flat. Gold hardware pops against the blue cabinets.
- Don’t be afraid to get creative with wall treatments! Wallpaper or removable panels allow you to personalize.
- Make a statement with the lighting. Seek out sculptural, modern fixtures beyond basic flush mount or recessed lights.
- Open shelving keeps things light and airy, perfect for small kitchens. Use colorful cookware and dishes to decorate.
- Tie everything together with bright, fun accent pieces like barstools, rugs, appliances and accessories in coordinating colors.
The overall effect of this kitchen is stylish, artsy and cheerful. For anyone looking to add more character and color to a dated cooking space, this makeover demonstrates how to do so creatively while maintaining a cohesive look. Which strategies would you like to borrow for your own kitchen revamp?
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions about creating a colorful, creative kitchen design:
What color cabinets are most popular right now?
While white cabinets remain popular, colored cabinets are having a major moment. Shades of blue, green and gray are becoming more common. Distressed, multi-tone finishes are also trending over solid colors for added depth.
What backsplash goes well with blue cabinets?
White subway tile is a classic and versatile pairing with blue cabinets. You could also consider natural stone like marble or travertine. Trying an unexpected bold tile with a pattern or texture can add interest.
What flooring looks best with blue cabinets?
Wood flooring always complements blue cabinets nicely. If you want something more unique, black and white geometric tile or terrazzo would contrast beautifully. Concrete-look tile is on-trend and pairs well too.
Should I choose cool or warm accents for blue cabinets?
It really depends on the exact shade of blue, but generally you’ll want a mix. Warm metallics like brass balance out cool blue tones. You can also introduce warm tones like pink, red or orange with accents.
What color hardware should I use in a colorful kitchen?
Matte black hardware is a safe bet for providing contrast without competing. But don’t be afraid to also incorporate metal finishes like brass, bronze or nickel to tie into other accents. Mixing metals is on-trend.
Conclusion
This newly renovated kitchen stands out from the standard white and wood palette, proving just how livable and lovely a colorful, artistic cooking space can be. Clever choices like powder blue cabinets, geometric floor tile, wild wallpaper and modern lighting all work together to create a memorable, inspiring look.
While the bold wallpaper and cluster of hanging pendants provide wow-factor, the overall effect remains warm, inviting and highly functional. This kitchen makeover focused on introducing colors, patterns and textures in ways that reflect the homeowner’s style without veering into overwhelming or impractical territory.
The result is a one-of-a-kind kitchen suited to entertaining and family life. For a bolder, brighter approach to your next redesign, look to this space for ideas on how to implement creative finishes and conversational accents. With strategic color, lighting and materials you can give a personal, artistic flair to any existing kitchen layout.
