Be Our Guest: Adding Color to Kitchen Designs

Hello, all! Mari here from Design Shuffle, a fantastic online community for interior designers, other design professionals and design lovers from around the world. I am so happy to be here visiting J&K Homestead as a guest blogger. Today, we're talking color and kitchens. Whether you want to enjoy a little color during dinner prep or an intense color experience while entertaining, here are eight beautiful decorating ideas for adding color to kitchen designs. Please enjoy!



Beautiful blue glass tiles and blue accessories and textiles give this country kitchen an inviting coastal feel.




In this all white kitchen, lovely little pops of color come from decorative objects, serving pieces and a single glossy red hanging pendant.




An easy, but effective way to add color to a white or black and white kitchen is with fresh fruit, vegetables and flower. Talk about quick changes, this one is simple, but creative.




Colorful kitchen design ideas are sometimes bold like this brilliant red apron sink. Not for everyone, but surely a source of joy for the family who eats and cooks in this wide open space. I love the addition of magenta skirting.




Modern and very stylish, this kitchen is also feels comfortable and inviting with soft color on the cabinets. Wouldn't it be marvelous to sit for a while and visit over coffee or tea and pastries? I love those brightly colored cups and saucers.




A color-splashed wall sets the tone for this stunning Danish kitchen. What is your favorite element in this modern space?




Filled with gorgeous interior design ideas, this soft green kitchen is one of my favorites. Enveloping a room in color does not have to be risky. By choosing a pale version of your favorite hue, you can use it with abandon and never tire of the look.




Then again, if you're fearless about color in your interior spaces, rather than pale shades, choose the happiest, most brilliant hues you can find. Here, the homeowners seem to adhere to the adage "Go bold or go home." Only they went a step further and took bold home to their kitchen.

Images 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Which kitchen is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below! Also, be sure to head on over to Design Shuffle and check out fantastic designs from top Chicago interior designers, Boston interior designers and many others!

Yellow Splash

Back in February 2011, I wrote this little post about adding yellow to our newly gray 1/2 bath. Well, guess what? I'm just now getting around to following through on that thought. I know, I know. I'm on the slow train when it comes to the finishing details of decorating. But at least this is a start.


I actually added the picture frame (from Pier 1) a while back. It has a picture of my cousin, Caroline, in it. She has on yellow accessories that match beautifully. Every time I use the restroom and see the picture, I think to pray for Caroline. I guess you could call them potty prayers. Is that creepy? Put family photos in your bathroom. It's good prayer time.


P.S. The picture was taken by my brother who is a professional photographer (clearly I need to get some tips from him).

The frame hung by itself until a couple weeks ago when I bought 2 yellow plates at Crate & Barrel for just a few bucks each. Yes, yes, I have a thing for dishes and I can't stop buying them and I'm seeking counseling on it already... blah, blah, blah...


I actually like the irregular shape of them. It's a little different than most of the other plates I own. Makes them unique.

And I like the round plates next to the square frame. Variety of shapes is a good thing!


Now I have to decorate the wall space on the opposite side of the room. I already have a floating shelf bought for it and a few accessories. I just need to get 'er done. And I need my husband to hang the shelf for me (he's good like that). And I plan to add a touch of yellow in whatever window treatments I purchase/make.

But what do you think of the gray and yellow theme? It's a year later and I'm still digging it!

Busy, Busy

This week has been CRAZY busy. We've had stuff going on every single night, including tonight. And Easter weekend is coming up and it's going to be even busier.

So, super sorry, but not much to post on this week. I've been working on 2 non-home-related projects during the few minutes of spare time this week...

1. Puppy Training - Rose is getting bigger and has more energy then she knows what to do with. She's learning fast, but we're still working on the potty training!


2. Picture Sorting/Scanning/Filing - Yes, I've taken on the ginormous task of scanning my pre-digital-times childhood photos onto our laptop and then sorting them into files by date. This is going to take FOREVER! And I have loads of pics to get from parents in a couple weeks.

So, here is the state of our dining room currently with my pictures in piles and a scanning station set up on a folding table...


Wish me luck over the next few days/weeks/months (however long this takes)!

I'll be back next week with something on the home front. I promise!