The Kitchen Island - Do I paint it a different color than my cabinets?

That is the question. We get asked this often, and it’s a good one. “Should I paint my kitchen island a different color than the rest of my kitchen cabinets?” 

There’s definitely no right or wrong answer for everyone. Personally, we love doing a contrast to the island. It can add a bit of color and warmth to your kitchen…and it doesn’t have to be anything drastic! 

Here are some of our recent projects where we have loved how the kitchen island differs from the rest of the cabinets. In these kitchens, the light (or dark!) contrast gives the kitchen some depth and an extra touch of character.

In this lovely kitchen, the medium gray island blends so nicely with the clean, neutral kitchen. The gray compliments the stainless steel appliances as well as the veining in the countertops.  This is a perfect pairing if you’re wanting to add a bit of contrast to the kitchen but you are wanting to keep things neutral. 

Photo by tripp smith

Kitchen Cabinets: Custom Color, NC White

Island: Custom Color, Flint

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Next, we love white cabinets set against a dark gray gothic tile backsplash. We chose a greige for the kitchen island…the almost stone color is a beautiful contrast on the island. It brings some earthy tones to an otherwise neutral kitchen, and we can’t get enough of that greige.

Photo by jess ballard

Kitchen Cabinets - BM Simply White

Island - SW Argos

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This serene coastal kitchen is so dreamy in its completion.

The kitchen cabinets are actually an off-white color. For the island, we chose a natural white oak wood finish to go with the rest of the house. It is such a soft neutral for this kitchen…the natural wood is the star of this kitchen and adds the perfect warmth to the space.

We are so happy with how this kitchen turned out!

photography by jess ballard

Kitchen Cabinets - Custom color, Divinity White

Island - Custom white oak finish

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Lastly, this darker transitional kitchen features pops of black in the windows, the hood, and hardware. The surrounding cabinets compliment those in a lovely earthy stone color. To contrast, the kitchen island shines in a black onyx finish.

It’s a bold choice and works perfectly in this kitchen. 

photo by callie cranford

Kitchen Cabinets - Custom color, Stone

Island - Custom color, Onyx

High Point Market, Fall 2022

Our team recently returned from a few days at High Point Market in North Carolina. It’s an amazing and creative (and a bit exhausting!) chance to meet current and new vendors, watch for trends, get inspired, and come home ready to tackle your client’s projects. There’s endless tours, speakers, treats and snacks, free bags for the loot, and inspiration everywhere you look.

“Market brought excitement about what’s to come which I am looking forward to sharing with our clients!”

— Michelle Beck

We certainly had a few clients and projects in mind as we walked through showrooms and booths of fabrics, finishings, wallpapers, furniture, lighting, etc. Market definitely gets your creative juices flowing! We tried to take note of things we loved like all the different pattern and textures, colors, burlwood, and as well some upholstery do’s and don’ts.

We are excited to share with you our trip to Market and look forward to continuing to design creative and livable spaces for you and your families!

COLOR AND PATTERN

First off, touring showroom after showroom, the most obvious design features that we couldn’t get enough of were COLOR and PATTERN! We aren’t saying that color is a new trend or ever went away, but there are some years that neutral, earth-tones tend to rule the color palettes. We were so excited to see color everywhere! In velvets galore, colored upholstery, contrast trim (love!), paint details on furniture, candy-colored lamps, pillows and more! Mix, don’t match, they say. See our video on Instagram for our favorites!

BURLWOOD

We also admired all of the beautiful burlwood furniture showcased. Sometimes a side table, a dresser, a dining table…burlwood has a beautiful unique quality to it, that invokes character and is highly sought after. Burlwood furniture is a great addition to any space…it doesn’t really fall into a specific “style” or design type. It makes a great accent piece that is a bit of a neutral but definitely brings depth to a space.

Did you know that the burl is actually a grain characteristic in wood? A burl is a large, knobby-looking growth on the base and trunk of the tree. Once burls are cleaned and cut at the processing facility, they are made into slabs for table tops, mantles or other furniture.

It’s hard not to be attracted to the beautiful shiny finish of burlwood. Below are some of our favorite pieces we came across at Market.

Aren’t they lovely?!

UPHOLSTERY DO’S AND DON’TS

We saw a couple pieces that made us scratch our heads a bit (and hey, that’s ok! We don’t have to all like the same things). Based on our past and current projects, we felt like we could offer a little advice to anyone considering custom upholstery for their space.

These two chairs were upholstered with the very trendy boucle fabric on one part of the furniture. While we are all for a comfy, warm snuggle in a boucle chair, we felt like the plain color of the boucle took away from the beautiful plaid and blue cheetah prints. In addition, the boucle fabric on the back on the chair in the first picture does sort of defeat the point of using boucle - it must be touched and snuggled with!

Below are some chairs that had multiple fabrics upholstered together that we loved! How fun are theses? The back of a chair is a great way to add contrast, color and pattern to a room. It can really make a chair stand out and bring something new to a space. Would you try it?

It was so great to be back at High Point after a few years. Though it was a fun, creative, bonding experience together, it was still after all, a business trip. We walked, we looked, we touched! We were there to accomplish goals, connect with vendors and reps we’ve only known online, and to most importantly, look out for our clients and future projects.

We leave you with one of our fierce leaders, Margaret Lee, who may have very well sat in every chair we saw at Market, you know, to really make sure they were suitable for our clients.

“It’s always exciting to be surrounded by people who really love design. It re-energizes you. It’s fun to see all of the latest designs and trends and to get a sense of which way design is headed. While Charleston does have some really great resources and vendors, it is not always possible to see the products we are specing for our clients in person before ordering. Visiting with our vendors and going to the showrooms in person brings another level of knowledge to our designs.”

— Margaret Lee Moniz

If anything catches your eye or would like to learn more about the design services we offer, please reach out to us. We’d love to work with you!

Recent Project...Contemporary Family Retreat

This new construction build on Seabrook Island has been a long time in the making! We are so proud of how this large, multi-purpose house turned out. The client wanted it to be something her large and growing family could all fit in, especially with a space for each grandchild (check out the amazing bunk room!). 

Our goals for this house were to create a cohesive look of neutrals and some color, add in pattern and texture, and blend a mix of contemporary and traditional styles. There is a slight beach feel, as this house is situated near the beach on a golf course, making it the perfect combination of casual and elegant.

Entry 

Our goal was to create a clean neutral look when you walk in the door to highlight the beautiful natural light. We were able to use different textures in this space to add depth to the room. The stair rail is a great way to do this and add contrast. We love how the iron looks. To complement the stairs, the furniture and accessories in the entry are clean and contemporary. The entry flows easily into the living room and kitchen.

Laundry Room

Just off the entry is the laundry room. Though this room is fairly neutral, look up! We picked a bright blue and white floral wallpaper for the ceiling. We love how it draws your eye upward through the room.

Downstairs Bedroom

This bedroom was fun! We added a beautiful blue grasscloth wallpaper as an accent wall behind the bed. It is a great way to add texture and color! (Tip: if you aren’t ready to commit to wallpapering a whole room, try it on one wall.)

The carved wood bed looks perfect against the blue. We kept the rest of the bedroom fairly neutral and finished it with a patterned curtain. And wow, those black windows! What a view.

Inspiration Board -

Downstairs Bedroom After -

Bunk Room

This fun nautical room is a child’s dream space! Our client wanted this to be a spot for all the grandchildren…she even let them each pick out their own bedding! We kept it neutral with white shiplap walls and white bunks. Each bunk has their own reading sconce. The oversized drawer pulls can be used to pull out a trundle. And the stairs also serve as storage for knick knacks…perfect for kids and guests! 

Gathering Spaces

Our client wanted to maximize the amount of seating in the dining spaces. Also, this kitchen! So beautiful and light. We were able to add length onto the island so we could even fit another bar stool. We love the contrast of the brass lanterns to the white, grey, and stainless elements of the kitchen. (Tip: It’s totally fine to mix metals! Don’t be afraid. Pick a “main” metal and use a secondary metal to complement it. For example, in this kitchen, the stainless is the main metal and the brass is the secondary.)

This dining room is ready for a crowd! With up to twelve at the table and four at the counter, we know the client and her large family will be happy at meal times.

This space does have a more contemporary feel to it. We combined neutrals such as tan, grey and white together which work well against the black windows and door. This open airy space has such beautiful natural light, and it didn’t need to be over decorated. We hope lots of new memories are made here!

All photography by SeabrookIsland.com

Psychological Effects of Color in Interior Design

Grey walls evoke feelings of security while the pops of blue add to an overall feeling of calm. Design by Indigo Alley Interiors. Photo by Tripp Smith

When people think of the things in their environment that affect their moods and productivity, they rarely think of colors. It is hard to imagine that something as ubiquitous as colors can affect what people feel or do. This is probably because we relate colors to childhood activities like drawing and painting cartoon figures on cardboard paper.

But color is much more than something we put on walls and paper. We have started to appreciate the true power of color as we begin to uncover it's true nature. What is in color and why does it affect people?

What is in color?

Color is made up of different types of light. Although it doesn’t make sense, this is the most straightforward explanation of color. We think of color as something tangible that we put on our clothes, homes, cars, and art. But color is nothing but different wavelengths of light.

What we call color is how our brain perceives different types of light being reflected from objects. When we see an object as red, it is because the materials in it absorb all the wavelengths of white light, except red.

Light from the sun, or white light, is a perfect blend of different wavelengths of light. These wavelengths are; red, orange, blue, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Sometimes these wavelengths are separated and become visible as a rainbow, but when they are perfectly combined, they appear as white light.

If white light falls on an object, the object interacts with its wavelengths in different ways. It may reflect or absorb all the wavelengths. Or it may absorb all wavelengths, except one. How an object reacts to white light is what creates its color.

Objects that reflect all the wavelengths in white light appear white to us. Objects that absorb all the wavelengths appear black. If an object absorbs all wavelengths but reflects one, its color is determined by the wavelength it reflects.

Red objects absorb all the other wavelengths and reflect red light. Blue objects reflect blue light and absorb all other wavelengths of light. This is the process that creates color.

Effect of room color on people

Once we understand color as light, it is no longer hard to see how color affects people. This is because light affects us. When the sun is shining we are energized and we wake up. When the sun sets, our bodies slow down and we fall asleep. It is to prevent this effect of natural light on our brains that we use artificial lights.

Artificial lights mimic the effect natural light has on our minds. And since white light is a blend of different light wavelengths, the effect of light is the effect of our interaction with the different wavelengths of light.

How do different light wavelengths or colors affect people? And how does the color of a room affect the people in that room? Dawson Management helps us answer these questions.

Red

Red is synonymous with alertness; this is why it is used in warning and danger signs. Red raises people's energy levels and makes them more excited because it raises the heart rate and blood pressure. It also stimulates appetite. Red is good for inspiring conversations in living rooms. It can be used to make a strong impression in entryways. It may be incorporated in the kitchen, but rarely used in the bedroom.

Blue

Blue is calming, it lowers blood pressure and slows the heart rate. Blue encourages people to relax. It is one of the best colors for places where people socialize, such as living rooms, family rooms, and kitchens. But different shades of blue have slightly different effects. Softer shades of blue are more relaxing. Dark blue can even sometimes evoke sadness.

This blue living room designed by Indigo Alley Interiors encourages guests to relax and unwind. Photo by Sam Labrano.

Yellow

Yellow is the color of happiness. It is uplifting and makes people exuberant. People in yellow rooms are apt to show their emotions. Yellow should not be the main color in the room's color scheme because people tend to get angry and babies cry more in yellow rooms. Kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, entryways, and tight spaces can benefit from a touch of yellow.

Purple

Purple is traditionally associated with royalty and that has not changed. It is related to luxury, creativity, and sophistication. In its lighter versions - lilac and lavender - its effect is similar to the effect of blue. Because it sparks creativity, it is ideal for rooms where children play. Using it as an accent color will enrich a color scheme

Green

Green is the color of nature. It is restful and one of the few colors that can be used in almost any room in the home. This is because green combines the positive effects of blue and yellow. It helps people unwind and encourages relaxed conversation. Green is great for bedrooms, family rooms, kitchens, and living rooms.

Green is a great color for just about any room in the house. Kitchen designed by Indigo Alley Interiors. Photo by Callie Cranford.

Other Colors:

• Orange: evokes enthusiasm and is a great color for exercise rooms.

• Black: is best used as an accent color to give depth to a scheme.

• Brown: is earthy and makes people feel relaxed and comfortable.

• Grey: is versatile, influences feelings of security and intelligence.

The color we choose for our surroundings can have a powerful impact on our moods.