Weston Kitchens

Color has become a major design tool in the kitchen! No longer is it obligatory to paint walls a neutral color and live with a drab backdrop in the most utilized room in the house. Color is also being incorporated into cabinets, flooring, counter and sink areas, appliances, upholstery, and decorative items. This creates a situation where options to incorporate color abound. However, some color sense must be employed in order to achieve a result that is stunning as opposed to chaotic. Here are a few ideas to discuss with your kitchen designer:

Where do you want to make the most impact? Look at your kitchen and determine the points of interest that exist. Do you have a wonderful alcove for dining? A large wall that is available for a gallery of art or beautiful pots and pans? Are your appliances state-of-the-art? What you are looking for is the aspect of your kitchen that you want to emphasize as a focal point. While you could have more than one focal point in a larger room, generally speaking one will draw the most attention. It is good to identify this area before you begin working with color and specific room features.

Depending on the focal point you and your designer choose, the use of color will then become a personal choice but will also depend on the size of the area you are working with as well as the use of the space. For example, if you choose a dining area color would then be potentially integrated in wall treatment, upholstery, furniture and floor and window treatments. Designers are aware of color integration rules and of course, they are aware of appropriate ways to break these rules! Be sure to obtain samples of all materials to be used in the focal areas and as well, be sure that they coordinate well with other finishes that will be used in the room.

If your focal area will be dramatic in some way, be sure that the rest of the room is more complacent so as to let your focal area essentially take over the impression of the room. Lighting is a wonderful way to assist in this task as dramatic or intense lighting creates a visual “pocket” and draws the eye where more demur or recessed lighting is functional but not overt.

If you are creating a kitchen worthy of a professional chef you may want to let the appliances be the focal point. Color use in this type of approach will be in the actual food preparation area and most likely will consist of cabinetry, counter and wall treatments as well as the appliances themselves.

If your appliances are stainless steel, tile is a good choice for complimenting the clean look of the appliances while offering many color and pattern options. Tile, as well as cabinetry, is available in many styles, from the most modernistic to (literally) antique options. Depending on your design intention selections can be made to add focus and interest to any type of food preparation areas as well as other areas in the room, if so desired.

Do you have a large wall that needs to be blended into the room? To integrate open wall space, consider the use of murals or a gallery wall. Art can be integrated into the kitchen very successfully, especially as many kitchens are increasing in size and functionality. The wall behind your seating or dining area can become the room’s focal point by using exceptional cookware or dishes as a design element or by integrating art works that bring color and context to the area. The wall can be prepared for this type of usage with paint color and application (texture, vivid colors, patterns incorporated into the paint application) or other wall covering options that will support and add a sense of dimension to the wall. Again, lighting is available that will heighten the drama of certain wall elements, if that is your goal.

Believe it or not, your floor can also become the focal point of your room! If you prefer more neutral wall treatment and cabinetry options consider using the floor space as the area where you integrate color. Create a floor mural under your dining table or in an open area as opposed to selecting carpet or more traditional flooring. Tile is an excellent option for this approach as is hardwood (think stripes or squares of color or an asymmetrical pattern) or a “carpet” painted onto the hardwood. Creative approaches draw attention so consider color on every surface of the room – not just the walls.

Every home and every kitchen area has its own potential. These ideas are general in nature and meant to get the creative juices flowing. Work with your designer and your space to create the kitchen of your dreams – and be sure to consider the use of color. Your imagination is the only limiting factor!

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