My kitchen renovation, Part 5: where to put the color? : Annie Elliott Design

I’ve spent a lot of time fantasizing about my new kitchen. And when I fantasize, I’m not thinking about where the microwave is going. I’m thinking about how the kitchen will look. What will make it special? What will make it bossy?

Fun blue wallpapered kitchen with green island - inspiration for DC interior designer — Fun wallpapered kitchen by Andrea Schumacher

On one hand, how amazing! I’m the client! I get to do exactly what I want (within physical and financial limitations, of course) and make this kitchen fabulous.

On the other hand, how paralyzing! I’m the client! I’m saying to myself EXACTLY what new clients say to me: there are so many options!

I don’t know what I want to do. I just know I want it to be spectacular.

Which is so not helpful.

Obviously I want color in my kitchen. Obviously. Serene white kitchens are classic, lovely, elegant and tasteful. They’re just not me.

White kitchen with Caesarstone countertops, marble backsplash, hardwood floors, and brass pendant lights over the island — Pretty white kitchen on Homebunch

But where does the color go? On the cabinets? I had a flirtation with green cabinets, thanks to Cameron Diaz and Kelly Wearstler.

Cameron Diaz's glamorous NYC kitchen with green cabinets and a brass backsplash, designed by Kelly Wearstler — Cameron Diaz’s NYC kitchen, designed by Kelly Wearstler

I’ll likely put an Oriental rug in my kitchen, so this picture was especially appealing:

Green kitchen cabinets, marble backsplash, oriental rug, and floating shelves comprise this kitchen — Gorgeous green kitchen cabinetry, blogged about by Studio Thomas. If you know who designed this, please let me know immediately so I can credit him/her!

But because my kitchen is so small, I wonder whether green cabinets would be too…much. I don’t want color for color’s sake; I want color that will make me happy every single day. Not suffocate me.

I also have a thing for blue cabinets. Would that be less risky? Less edgy, for sure, but is blue more livable than green?

Maybe just on the bottom?

Blue base kitchen cabinets with Oriental rug and hardwood floor — Blue base cabinets, looking especially gorgeous with brass hardware (and an Oriental carpet). Again, know who the designer is?

I actually don’t think my kitchen is big enough for two-tone cabinets. That could be crap, but that’s what my gut is telling me.

Instead of putting color on the cabinets, I COULD put color — and pattern, for that matter — on the next logical place: a tile backsplash.

Blue ceramic tile backsplash - kitchen inspiration for DC interior designer — Blue ceramic tile from Walker Zanger

Kitchen with stained wood cabinets and green ceramic backsplash tile — Green ceramic tile, also from Walker Zanger

Kitchen with natural wood cabinets, blue and white patterned tile backsplash, and a floating shelf — Patterned backsplash in Domino

Hmmm. Closer?

I was still mulling all of this over when I had a meeting with Aidan Design. Nadia, Kelly, and Megan walked in, and Megan casually dropped this picture in front of me, fresh from her printer.

Painted Chinoiserie tile with birds and trees — Amazing Chinoiserie tile from a vendor on the West Coast

HELLO!?! What is this?!?!?!?

It’s the ANSWER, that’s what it is! Ho. Lee. Cow. (Well, bird.) Hand-painted Chinoiserie tile from a vendor in California. I have never seen anything like it.

Handpainted red Chinoiserie tile with a bird on a swing, leaves and branches — Handpainted Chinoiserie tile from a West Coast vendor

So, naturally, I must have it. Stay tuned.

Bossy color | Annie Elliott interiors is based in Washington, D.C. We create outrageously beautiful homes, starting with color.