Western Living Magazine
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Move over, white kitchens! There’s a new colour we’re coveting.
We’ve already made the case for colourful kitchens, but just in case you need a little more convincing (or were particularly intrigued by the blue examples)…
Here are five designer kitchens from the WL archives that show how you can use the hue on cabinets, banquette seating, appliances and more.
This space by Jennifer Heffel of HB Design gives off quintessential beach-house vibes—and it’s mostly thanks to the cabinetry. The beadboard doors, finished in a pale blue (Parma Gray by Farrow and Ball), evoke the surrounding sea and sky. Take a closer look at this Mayne Island kitchen.
Turns out cherry and teal are a match made in cabinetry heaven. When reimagining this space, architect Ian McLean and designer Andrea Ewanchyna decided to bring in gorgeous blue-green cabinets with cherry wood inset pulls. “The clients were not afraid of colour, hallelujah!” says Ewanchyna with a laugh. See more of this inspiring kitchen.
A blue this bright is typically used in small doses, but Julie Lanctot and Paul Lavoie weren’t afraid to embrace it in this Calgary residence. The floor-to-ceiling banquettes and high-gloss cabinets are both drenched in the striking colour. Tour the rest of this Alice in Wonderland-themed home.
Inspired by old filing cabinets and finished in a deep shade of navy, we think this kitchen island would look right at home in an apothecary, in an architect’s office or even on a ship. It’s functional enough to suit all three (and also this Vancouver home): “Those little skinny drawers open to be super big, deep drawers,” says designer Kelly O’Quinn. Check out the before and after renovation photos.
When the stove is this elegant, you might as well design the rest of the kitchen to match! From the island and the banquette cushion fabric to the vintage plates that hang on the wall, there are touches of blue throughout this Kelly Deck-designed space. (There’s even a deeper, richer shade of blue in the nearby butler’s pantry!) Get more tips from this traditional-meets-contemporary kitchen.
Kaitlyn is a design-obsessed writer, editor and content manager based in Vancouver. When she's not busy swooning over gorgeous homes, you can find her reading, hiking and befriending as many dogs as possible.
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