The love for white kitchens stays strong€”but even within this enduring trend, there are plenty of ways to customize. This light and bright room was once a galley kitchen design in a €™50s-era home in Calgary, and designers Aly Velji and Alison Connor from Alykhan Velji Designs were brought on board to create an open-concept layout for the main floor.

Make the Kitchen Island a Great Colour

The homeowner was keen to keep the original oak floors for the living area, so rather than try to colour-match them in the kitchen, the design team had a little fun with a playful black-and-white tile pattern. Consistent black accents throughout€”the pendants, the hardware, the faucets€”bring some grounding to the space, and while the perimeter Shaker cabinets are in classic white, the island has a little fun in a lovely sage green (Benjamin Moore's Cushing Green).

€œFor us, having an island as a feature has always been a big thing when it comes to designing kitchens,€ says Velji. €œSome people are just a bit wary of painting the whole kitchen in colour€”this way it doesn't feel overwhelming.€

Credit: Joel Klassen

Anicka Quin

Anicka Quin

Anicka Quin is the editor-in-chief of Western Living magazine and the VP of Content for Canada Wide Media. If you've got a home design you'd like to share with Western Living, drop her a line at [email protected]