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10 Favorite Colorful Kitchens

In these kitchens, color makes a tastefully cheerful statement

Miranda Crowell
1 /10 John Ellis

Take chances

Green and red isn’t the most expected color combination in a kitchen, but it works in this Washington lake house. That’s because designer Michelle Burgess combined a more mellow tone of green—in the glass tile that runs all the way up the wall—with hot tomato red, on the recycled metal chairs. White cabinetry, concrete countertops, and a wood wall provide visual balance.

More: See the rest of this summer camp-inspired home

2 /10 Thomas J. Story

Less is more

In typical Scandinavian style, this kitchen is dominated by warm wood and white—a perfect blank canvas for showcasing small shots of color. The cobalt blue legs and green dishes on the open shelving pop against the backdrop and add personality.

More: See the rest of this family-made vacation home

3 /10 Thomas J. Story

Don’t fear commitment

This kitchen started with one dramatic color choice—a custom sapphire blue concrete tile from Kismet—which designer Brian Paquette used for the island. From there, he applied what he calls the rule of threes—using the same color in three different ways for visual interest. Here, the hue is repeated on the walls and window seat fabric, with orange serving as an accent color.

More: See the rest of this dramatic home design

4 /10

Get creative with cabinetry

With playful blue and green cabinet faces below and sophisticated walnut ones above, this inventive modern kitchen shows you can have the best of both style worlds.

5 /10 Thomas J. Story

Highlight a showstopper

Upon entering this Bay Area kitchen, all eyes go immediately to the hand-tooled yellow Heath tiles on the wall. That’s by design: Flush-mounted lights on the soffit and under the cabinets act as a subtle spotlight on the tiles, while the soft gray walls and mushroom-colored concrete counters recede into the background.

More: 18 ways to decorate with yellow

6 /10 Thomas J. Story

Consider darker tones

Color in the kitchen doesn’t always need to be on the bright and cheery side of the spectrum. Here, a brick-red paint on the island looks sophisticated, especially paired with dark wood surfaces. It’s also in keeping with the rest of the home’s neutral color palette.

More: 10 ways to redecorate with paint

7 /10 Thomas J. Story

Play it safe—then take chances

This kitchen was designed to be adaptable: The blonde wood cabinetry, white countertops pair well with any color. Even the deep blue tile of the backsplash almost functions as a neutral. Against that simple backdrop, the tomato-red stools and yellow clock bring instant cheer.

More: See the rest of this stunning prefab home

8 /10 John Clark

Set the mood

The owner of this kitchen in Vashon Island, Washington, wanted to use color as a cheerful counterpoint to the often-gray Northwest skies. She found inspiration for her red-orange, olive green, and sky blue palette in a favorite dishtowel—and then splashed it on open shelving and appliances.

More: See the rest of this chef's kitchen

9 /10 Richard Leo Johnson

Take cues from the coast

There may be no palette more soothing—or timeless—than blue and white. This kitchen features a seaglass-inspired shade in multiple spots—backsplash, appliances, dishes, and lighting. Balanced out by plenty of white, the effect is airy, not overwhelming.

More: How to decorate with sea-glass colors

10 /10 Lisa Romerein

Update with color

The owner of this Los Angeles kitchen loved the vintage look of the black and yellow tiles, but wanted to bring down the cutesy factor. He achieved that by adding a modern island topped with stainless steel and painted bright orange for contrast.

More: See the rest of this kitchen remodel