2026 Kitchen Design Tip #2: Sing the Blues Through a Traditional-Meets-Contemporary Design

The beautiful blue island (Sherwin-Williams Labradorite) in the heart of this kitchen wasn’t a one-and-done decision. “When we were designing it, we tried the island in three different finishes,” says Kelly Deck, principal of Kelly Deck Design, whose team worked on the renovation with architect Eric Stine. In the end, the client’s heart was set on blue—a true match to the elegant La Cornue stove that they’d also fallen in love with. “It is the anchoring design element for the overall elegance of the kitchen.”

It’s one of many shades of blue throughout the home, which was inspired by the concept of a classic American yacht club as its jumping-off point. The nearby butler’s pantry features a deeper, richer blue (Sherwin-Williams Distance), along with its own nautical-inspired references in the fish prints on the wall. “There’s high art in this house, and there are pieces chosen simply because they have soul,” says Deck. “When something is framed beautifully and loved, that’s enough.”

There’s another kind of playfulness throughout the space—the elegant tension between clean and restrained with the more traditional designs. Striking lantern-like pendant lights, handmade in New Orleans, and beadboard detailing on the range hood cover bring a sense of history to the space, then are paired with more modern, Scandinavian-inspired chairs that line the custom German white oak dining table in the banquette. “I can be irreverent when it comes to furniture,” says Deck. “It should all be good quality, but it doesn’t all need to be bespoke—if it works beautifully together, that’s enough.” 

Let’s Dish

The vintage plates that line the wall  were collected by Deck’s team at  various vintage and antique stores around Vancouver. “It took us quite a while to find enough,” she says.

Sitting Pretty

The banquette is outfitted with sturdy outdoor fabric on the cushion and leather on the seat, perfect for a family with young kids.

Show Stopper

The antique sideboard at the far end of the kitchen was formerly a draper’s table, once used by cloth merchants for measuring and cutting fabric. The design team brought this one in from the U.K. and added a marble slab on the lower layer. “We knew the client would use this table constantly,” says Deck. “It’s right in the sight line from the entry, so it naturally becomes a place to express beauty. At Christmas, our team decorates the home and creates a stunning seasonal tablescape here.”