Inside a colorful kitchen remodel with an unexpected palette
More neutral, pared-back kitchen schemes were once the most coveted designs, but as we endeavor to fill our spaces with character and personality, color is quickly making its way back into our designs.
And no one has embraced colorful kitchen ideas quite like designer Lizzie Green, who has taken her kitchen from dark, dull, and outdated to a bright, spacious kitchen that is filled with bold color pairings and luxurious features.
From the paint colors to the decor, she’s embraced color in abundance, with not one white surface in sight. And her space is a lesson in decorating with color in the most classic and tasteful way.
(Image credit: Lizzie Green)
The kitchen now might be a bright, spacious scheme that screams dopamine decor, but that hasn’t always been the case. ‘The kitchen before was the awkward middle room, it was small and cramped, but had lovely high ceilings and a large window to the side passage,’ says interior designer Lizzie Green.
It was important to rethink the small footprint during the remodel to take the kitchen from small and cramped to a larger room that serves as the hub of a family home. And removing a wall was the only way to achieve this.
‘We removed the wall between the hallway and the middle reception room, [and] we widened the openings into the back garden room to maximize the light in the kitchen. We also did a side return, where we created a full glass roof again to maximize the light,’ she explains.
(Image credit: Lizzie Green)
‘I found a huge reeded glass window on Retrovius and ordered it, without really knowing where it could work in the house. When the builder removed the wall between the front door and front living room, I saw an opportunity to rebuild it, but incorporating the large window so you didn’t walk straight into the kitchen.’
And the changes have worked beautifully, allowing abundant light to flood the room and create a more spacious kitchen layout. ‘I wanted the kitchen to feel bright and fresh. I love the sky blue cabinets and that, combined with the Arebescato Viola and bronze hardware, creates a timeless look,’ says Lizzie.
Color truly takes center stage in this kitchen design. The sky blue kitchen cabinets have been paired with soft pink on the walls and statement marble countertops and backsplash, instantly creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
(Image credit: Lizzie Green)
‘Color equals comfort for me. The sky blue and greens make me think of a stunning summer day and being in the countryside or on a beach, which is very much my happy place.’
‘I have always loved the energy of heavily veined marble, and the viola worked so beautifully with the blue units, so we had to go for that, despite it costing more than the cabinetry,’ she adds.
Opening up the room also allowed Lizzie to create new zones, including the dining nook, which added a functional and aesthetic addition to the design. ‘It was important that the dining space sat within the kitchen – we host a lot, and having a young child, this felt key,’ she notes.
‘We pulled out colors from the heavily floral curtains and took these colors elsewhere within the room, including recovering the chunky pine dining chairs in a performance material from Perennials.’
(Image credit: Lizzie Green)
But what really stands out is the design and brings abundant personality to the space are the decorative items that adorn the kitchen countertops and shelving above the backsplash, and even the mini kitchen library at one end of the island.
‘We accessorized the kitchen with some bold and chunky pieces from Dinosaur Designs, which I’m obsessed with. They are huge chunks of colorful resin in these quite prehistoric shapes that give some impact to the scheme,’ she explains.
Even throughout the dining nook, which features a vintage wooden sideboard and those pretty patterned curtains, the decorative theme has been continued with a botanical painting hung on the wall and a statement, oversized lamp topped with a striped shade.
(Image credit: Lizzie Green)
And throughout the kitchen, she’s chosen to decorate with mixed metals, a controversial choice, but one that looks utterly striking when done right. The brass kitchen cabinet hardware brings in a warm, classic finish, while a chrome faucet prevents the eye from being drawn away from the colorful decor.
Lizzie’s design proves that a colorful kitchen doesn’t have to be overly vibrant or contrasting; instead, selecting a few colors that pair beautifully and create a bright and inviting scheme is all you really need. It’s a space that exudes character and personality, yet still feels classic and liveable.
Lizzie opted for fluted detail glass pendants above her countertops, which brings in a more feminine, vintage element. You can likely find similar designs in your local antique lighting store, or you can buy contemporary options, like this design from Anthropologie.
Harper T-Bar Furniture Handle
Mixed metals are a fun feature in Lizzie’s kitchen, but the brass knobs she used on her cabinetry were these T-bar handles from Corston in antique brass.
Artfully Walls Still Life no. 43 Wall Art
Artwork features heavily in Lizzie’s kitchen, bringing color and interest to the design. They are all colorful and lean more abstract, like this fruity design by Artfully Walls. It features the pink and blue color combination, and the lemons make it the perfect addition to kitchen decor.
This space is vibrant yet utterly classic – it’s a source of inspiration for how to design a colorful kitchen that’s timeless rather than a colorful room that quickly becomes dated. So, if you’ve been considering adding a touch of color to your neutral kitchen, this is your sign to take the leap. And if you’re not sure what hues to choose, why not try one of these overlooked kitchen colors designers swear by?
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