Saturday, July 10, 2021

The Blue and White Kitchen

Gretchen Black

 It's very interesting, but back in the day, interior designers as well as design books and shelter magazines would tell you never to use blue in the kitchen. The rationale was that because there are so few blue foods, blue in a kitchen is subconsciously unappetizing and an appetite suppressant. If true, a great dieting idea - LOL. 

Fast forward to 2021, and blue in the kitchen is a very hot trend. You can't turn on HGTV without seeing a navy blue kitchen.

This shade of blue is wonderful. Note how it is used on all the trim as well as the cabinets. The paint color is Sherwin Williams Sleepy Blue. This is a Swedish blue gray that I really like.

Sherwin Williams Sleepy Blue SW6225

The farmhouse sink is Elkay's Fireclay Farmhouse sink with built in cutting board seen pictured below. She has covered the front of the sink in marble to match the counters. I love the brass faucet. The faucet is by Waterstone Faucets.

The wallpaper is a classic - Schumacher Pyne Hollyhock in Indigo. This paper is most often used in bedrooms and bathrooms and it is wonderful seeing it in a kitchen.

Schumacher Pyne Hollyhock in Indigo

Blue and white Chinese porcelain pieces are nice chinoiserie touches. More chinoiserie in the photos below. The wicker lamps are the Parasol by Celerie Kemble. But why oh why didn't she remove the tags from the cords? The devil is in the details.

Appliances are the GE Cafe Series. These are beautiful high end appliances at a more attractive price point. I am thinking of using them in the matte white like in this kitchen when I replace all my stainless steel appliances. I secretly (not anymore) really do not like stainless steel appliances. I so much prefer matte white, matte black, and colors.

Another view of the kitchen.

Gretchen Black

And another.

Gretchen Black

I think that light blue with white is a wonderful alternative for those tired of all white kitchens, but still wanting "light and bright."


26 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous. I have always loved a white kitchen, but they have been overused. It's nice to see a beautiful alternative.

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  2. Very perceptive and informative comments about that beautiful photo, Beth, and so agree with you about stainless steel. When we bought our Midwest house we paneled the stainless appliances and replaced wall ovens and cook top with white appliances. A genius carpenter bent wood to cover the stainless exhaust fan, and all wood was painted the same color. We are now in a leased Manhattan apartment with the dreaded cold-looking stainless steel appliances that are impossible to keep fingerprint-free.

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    1. I agree and feel like people are bullied into stainless because they think for resale everyone wants it. I'm happy to see alternatives they are coming out with. The fingerprints alone are a deal breaker for me.

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  3. I'm "diggin'" that kitchen wall--love the wall paper!

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  4. This kitchen is divine! And I do love that water faucet!!! Like you, I just could not ever get on the stainless steel bandwagon.....I prefer the matte white for my kitchen, even though I might be over-vigilant about wiping it down all the time. I really dislike fingerprints on my refrigerator and oven handles. That wallpaper is just so pretty!

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    1. I'm happy to see other choices coming out. I think the matte white would be very user friendly.

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  5. I am so happy to hear someone with your great sense of style say they do like stainless steel. I find it to be cold and lifeless and always dirty.

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    1. I agree and am looking forward to replacing mine when appliances are available again - this shortage is nuts!

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  6. I meant to say "do not like stainless steel" in the comment above.

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  7. I could be perfectly happy in this beautiful blue kitchen. Love it!

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  8. This kitchen is just a dream! I wish we could see more of it. It could easily be a lady's bathroom. I love it when designers break free from the expected and are not afraid to go in a different direction. After all, isn't it all about making your environment into the one you love living in?

    I'm not a fan of having huge stainless steel edifices in my kitchen either. They're just so cold.

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    1. I did try to find more shots to no avail. I agree - cold AND dirty.

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  9. Please excuse me while I repeat myself Beth, but I would be a VERY happy cook in this kitchen, and I don't especially like to cook.

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  10. This kitchen would be perfect for me. I always wanted cobalt blue to showcase my mother's Blue Willow children's dishes and my antique Blue Willow pieces.

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  11. Interesting about blue and appetites. I grew up eating off of blue and white dishes as did many people - Blue Willow,etc and "blue plate special" comes from diners serving up the special on blue and white dishes that were used for years. I like the soft blue used here. My kitchen is white but my island is navy and my eating area ceiling is a similar blue to this soft blue and we have great appetites!! Not a diet help around here :)

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    1. That was conventional wisdom about wall color - we have evolved over the years on many topics.

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  12. Oh, my goodness, this is absolutely fabulous! Blue is my favorite color and this shade is perfect!!
    I agree with you about the tags!

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