Galleries: Trends & Inspirations
Color in the Kitchen
Chicago-based Julia Buckingham
“I love to blend unexpected pairings in kitchen designs. The harmony between modern and vintage antiques, mixed metals and proportion and functionality creates a disparity prompting conversation within the ‘heart of the home.’”
Chicago-based Julia Buckingham
“The blending and chemistry between the rich copper flecks amidst the warm and velvety brown and taupe mixture create an urban and chic haven. I love to blend unexpected pairings, and here we can see just that vibe. The green and turquoise velvety fabrics, the shimmery eco-friendly leather and icy coolness of the Lucite-based breakfast room table all appear to be disparate upon first glance.”
New York, N.Y.-based Courtney Cachet
“White on white is not a trend – it’s a look. To keep this look fresh, modern and updated, homeowners can add current lighting, hardware, plumbing and decorative touches. Texture and varying shades are always what it boils down to when working with one-toned spaces. When designing small spaces, which are so common here in New York City, we are often more inclined to keep them ultra-simple, but that’s all wrong. Small spaces need even more design and décor – don’t wait to make your home fabulous! Insert your own personal style and fashion as much as you can.”
New York, N.Y.-based Courtney Cachet
“Whenever you’re creating single-tone designs, texture and varying shades are always what it boils down to. In this kitchen we did that through the paint, the backsplash, the countertops and the cabinetry. It’s all white, but it feels stylish instead of sterile!”
Sacramento, Calif.-based Kerrie Kelly
“This kitchen is functional for a variety of users and their activities. A couple can enjoy this space, having multiple areas to prep food and successfully entertain their guests for a large dinner party or intimate Sunday brunch. Alternatively this kitchen could easily support a larger family and their day-to-day activities. There are lowered, standard-height and elevated areas where one can find themselves perched helping prepare dinner or simply talking about their day. It’s a very livable space that can really accommodate everyone.”
Sacramento, Calif.-based Kerrie Kelly
“I love to introduce navy as a neutral in my design – its complementary tones can be easy and livable or upscale and formal. The Albedo countertops anchor the kitchen’s design, adding the right amount of movement while balancing the other elements in the kitchen such as the mixed metals throughout the space. To me, a kitchen’s design revolves around functionality for all. A super functional kitchen needs multiple counter heights, forgiving and durable surfaces and finishes and long runs of countertop to allow more people to be involved in food prep, organization and the myriad of functions kitchens require.”
Atlanta-based Mark Williams
“When adding visual interest in a space with a neutral palette, it’s important to break up the space with a lot of texture changes. I think people tend to feel darker colors and strong wood grain are more masculine design elements – we softened that with the subtle curved shape of the backsplash behind the range and the textured subway tile. The kitchen space is as important to men as it is to women, and it should be designed as such – we’re definitely getting a lot more input regarding kitchen design from men than we used to. This smoky style incorporates all of that – it’s even a little sexy. “
Atlanta-based Mark Williams
“In this particular design we broke up the space with a lot of texture changes. The slick Silestone finish on the countertops and backsplash is paired with beautifully textured subway tile across the back wall that is almost the same color as the Nymbus backsplash and the smooth adjacent wall in Benjamin Moore Weimaraner, in eggshell finish. The delicate curve of the Silestone backsplash married with the heavy masculinity of the AGA range is a particular detail I love in the space.”