7 White Kitchens That Make the Case for Painting the Island
See how designers inject color into otherwise white kitchens by painting this middle-of-the-room feature
You’ve found the right white paint for the kitchen walls. The white cabinetry looks stunning, and the white countertops gleam. But maybe you feel like something is missing. It could be a little color. And if you’re wondering where to put it, look no farther than the island.
Approach the kitchen island as a piece of furniture, Abigail Powell of Ellsworth-Hallett Home Professionals says. “Much like you would choose a piece of furniture that reflects your taste and personality, an island can be tailored with color, material and detail treatments,” the designer says. Powell has helped clients find the color that showcases their personality, whether it’s a deep red wine or a subtle blue-tinted gray.
Check out these seven kitchens that illustrate this colorful advice.
Approach the kitchen island as a piece of furniture, Abigail Powell of Ellsworth-Hallett Home Professionals says. “Much like you would choose a piece of furniture that reflects your taste and personality, an island can be tailored with color, material and detail treatments,” the designer says. Powell has helped clients find the color that showcases their personality, whether it’s a deep red wine or a subtle blue-tinted gray.
Check out these seven kitchens that illustrate this colorful advice.
2. Crimson Focal Point
Soft, calming colors flow throughout the rest of this English kitchen, from the exposed beams to the white Shaker-style cabinets. But James Mundy, director and lead designer at JM Interiors, threw in a bright crimson to give the peaceful place a wow factor.
He then added other bits of red in the space to tie the room together. The curtains have stripes of red; the bookcase has a red back; and a shiny, red KitchenAid mixer sits on the counter.
Island color: Incarnadine, Farrow & Ball
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Soft, calming colors flow throughout the rest of this English kitchen, from the exposed beams to the white Shaker-style cabinets. But James Mundy, director and lead designer at JM Interiors, threw in a bright crimson to give the peaceful place a wow factor.
He then added other bits of red in the space to tie the room together. The curtains have stripes of red; the bookcase has a red back; and a shiny, red KitchenAid mixer sits on the counter.
Island color: Incarnadine, Farrow & Ball
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3. Soft Blue Makes the Cut
This couple sifted through tons of photos looking for just the right color for their island. They knew they wanted to stay with a green, blue or gray to match the rest of the home’s decor, but even with those limitations, the options seemed endless.
Eventually, the couple landed on a soft blue. Their choice wasn’t a specific paint color, so designer Christine Sheldon had to find a similar paint and then tint it until she had just the right shade.
Island color: custom from Benjamin Moore
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This couple sifted through tons of photos looking for just the right color for their island. They knew they wanted to stay with a green, blue or gray to match the rest of the home’s decor, but even with those limitations, the options seemed endless.
Eventually, the couple landed on a soft blue. Their choice wasn’t a specific paint color, so designer Christine Sheldon had to find a similar paint and then tint it until she had just the right shade.
Island color: custom from Benjamin Moore
See more of this kitchen
4. Classy Blue Teams Up With Metal
This family wanted something different in its kitchen, and interior designer Jacqueline Fortier made that happen, especially on the island. The custom 72-by-46-inch piece is topped with lead-free pewter and framed in handmade iron. It provides the family with additional seating and a farmhouse sink for meal prep and cleanup.
Besides its functional uses, the island helps blend the farmhouse and industrial styles of the room. For example, Fortier opted to leave the iron framework raw to give the space a bit of industrial style. The apron sink and touches of soft, deep blue provide a more farmhouse feel.
Island color: Temptation, Benjamin Moore
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This family wanted something different in its kitchen, and interior designer Jacqueline Fortier made that happen, especially on the island. The custom 72-by-46-inch piece is topped with lead-free pewter and framed in handmade iron. It provides the family with additional seating and a farmhouse sink for meal prep and cleanup.
Besides its functional uses, the island helps blend the farmhouse and industrial styles of the room. For example, Fortier opted to leave the iron framework raw to give the space a bit of industrial style. The apron sink and touches of soft, deep blue provide a more farmhouse feel.
Island color: Temptation, Benjamin Moore
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5. Bright Yellow Stands Out
It’s hard to make a statement in a color-happy home, but this bright kitchen island does the trick. The yellow lets the island stand on its own against the swath of white walls and cabinets.
It’s not alone in the room, though. Interior designer Alison Kandler, who loves color, mixed in a few more splashes, such as the green table in the breakfast nook in the background and the colorful dishes in the glass-front cabinets.
Island color: Tropical Moss, Dunn-Edwards
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It’s hard to make a statement in a color-happy home, but this bright kitchen island does the trick. The yellow lets the island stand on its own against the swath of white walls and cabinets.
It’s not alone in the room, though. Interior designer Alison Kandler, who loves color, mixed in a few more splashes, such as the green table in the breakfast nook in the background and the colorful dishes in the glass-front cabinets.
Island color: Tropical Moss, Dunn-Edwards
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6. Wine Is Always a Good Idea
Before a major remodel, this kitchen was covered in a deep, red wine color. It was the homeowner’s favorite hue, but it made the kitchen very dark and didn’t match the rest of the home.
So for the kitchen remodel the designers at Ellsworth-Hallett Home Professionals suggested using the color on just the island, which kept the rest of the space light and bright. The homeowner obviously loved that idea, and her favorite color now gets to be the star of the show in her new kitchen.
Island color: custom
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Before a major remodel, this kitchen was covered in a deep, red wine color. It was the homeowner’s favorite hue, but it made the kitchen very dark and didn’t match the rest of the home.
So for the kitchen remodel the designers at Ellsworth-Hallett Home Professionals suggested using the color on just the island, which kept the rest of the space light and bright. The homeowner obviously loved that idea, and her favorite color now gets to be the star of the show in her new kitchen.
Island color: custom
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7. Watery Hue Makes a Splash
The sea just beyond the front door inspired designer Stephen Graver to paint the base of this kitchen island. And even though the island is double-width, the color doesn’t overwhelm the room.
All that extra space gives the family a ton of storage, as well as space for three barstools and a hidden dishwasher.
Island paint: Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball
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Your turn: Do you have a colorful kitchen island? Tell us what color it is and share a photo of it in the Comments.
More on Houzz
9 Tips for Creating an Inviting White Kitchen
Houzz TV: Let’s Go Island Hopping
Find a kitchen designer
Shop for kitchen islands
The sea just beyond the front door inspired designer Stephen Graver to paint the base of this kitchen island. And even though the island is double-width, the color doesn’t overwhelm the room.
All that extra space gives the family a ton of storage, as well as space for three barstools and a hidden dishwasher.
Island paint: Parma Gray, Farrow & Ball
See more of this kitchen
Your turn: Do you have a colorful kitchen island? Tell us what color it is and share a photo of it in the Comments.
More on Houzz
9 Tips for Creating an Inviting White Kitchen
Houzz TV: Let’s Go Island Hopping
Find a kitchen designer
Shop for kitchen islands
This stately blue island adds contrast to the room, standing out against the white cabinets, walls and backsplash tiles. It immediately grabs your attention and begs you to pull up a barstool.
It’s not just a place for sitting, though. The couple who live here with their two children also needed their remodeled kitchen to do a lot of work. That’s why, in addition to seating for three, Gilday Renovations helped the couple design an island with a stainless steel sink, two dishwashers and a polished marble top.
Island color: Web Gray, Sherwin-Williams
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