At a colour consultation a few years ago I walked into a white kitchen with those old cheap IKEA cabinets (their kitchens have come a long way) with a flat profile and simple white plastic knobs.
The linoleum was peach along with the countertop and the backsplash was white 4 x 4 tile with a peach accent tile (itâs why Iâm not a big fan of accent tile, itâs usually the piece that dates a kitchen the fastest).
My client told me that they couldnât afford to renovate the kitchen for a few years; however because she hated the peach so much, she was going to replace the countertop.
My advice was to keep the countertop (because the peach lino was staying) and use that money toward all the other updates they had planned for the rest of the house and paint the kitchen instead. Otherwise just replacing the countertops would still leave the the kitchen with a âNew counter; Old Kitchenâ look.
I chose BM Rusty Nail for the walls. And BM Stonehearth (or formerly Smoky Taupe) for the cabinets.
She was so excited about the colours I chose she ran out that afternoon to buy the paint! Had I been a blogger back then I might have photos but unfortunately I donât have any to show you.
What works about this colour combination is that the rusty nail is (obviously) in the same colour family as the peach. It would make the kitchen feel updated but also pleasing to the eye because the wall colour in fact still relates to the dated peach finishes in the space.
So before you rush out and make the same mistake, read this post âDanger Zone; The first 24 Hours after youâve Taken possession of your new homeâ and hire a colour consultant (if itâs not obvious to you what there is to do).
Photo by Maria Killam
One more thing, I was in a clientâs home the other day (another blogger that lived quite close to me actually) and she had BM Indian Summer painted in her office/craft room! It was so beautiful I had to take a picture (just on the borderline of peach but enough orange so it didnât read that way, not in her space anyway).
Mom donât you love this colour? We can use it in your new house (when you buy it)!
Whatâs in your house that desperately needs to be replaced?
We would love to help you choose colours, select the right combination of hard finishes or create a plan to pull your room together. You can find our fabulous email consultation packages here.
Need help choosing the right neutral or colour? My How to Choose Paint Colours: It’s all in the Undertones ebook takes the hundreds of choices down to 9 neutral undertones along with list of all my other go-to best grays, broken down into 3 undertones, green, blue and purple. The beige undertones of pink, yellow, green, gold, orange and taupe along with the best greens and blues.Â
My bonus book of  colours is worth the price of the ebook alone but you will also get my system of understanding undertones so you can stop making mistakes when sourcing tile, carpet, countertops, etc.
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Related posts:
10 Ways to save money Now by Creating a Focal point
Atmosphere; The one thing you Cannot Buy
The Three most Important words in a Colour Consultation
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Excellent post because honestly, I didn't know there was a such a thing as updating peach (my teenage bedroom would be pleased … and you KNOW it was peach and forest green!)
So, you ask, what desperately needs to be replaced in my house? How about the entire bathroom with it's pickled vanity, pink countertop, polished brass fixtures (including heavily framed shower) and thickly textured plaster walls? It's so bad that updating is not an option … just a hope of new day.
Saying the color 'peach' to someone vs. seeing it in person are two different things. And you've definitely shown how peach can look good. I'm amazing and inspired.
I love the color you recommended and the color you show from the bloggers craft room, Maria! I have a coppery color in my dining room.
A few years ago I would've said my husband. Took care of that; now I'm going to replace my kitchen countertops and flooring next.
What's in my house that desperately needs to be replaced? Me! That's why I'm moving this fall.
Besides me, the house needs new windows. The sticky wood ones drive me crazy. Can't wait to get some vinyl ones I can actually open and shut all the way.
When we moved in ten years ago, there was a peach bathroom (cabinets, walls, flooring, fixtures)that had to go. Peach even seemed dated then! We painted the peach cabinets white and papered over the peach walls. Oh, yeah, they painted the ceiling peach too. Eek!
Christine in Alaska
We shall be renovating and I am so pleased that you spoke about the accent tile, I am going to use clear glass tile which will not date it and no peach – however I do love it when it is done well – it has a warmth and a ruddiness.
pve
Great ideas! I tell people all the time if they are going to just update the counters it is a waste of time and money. And I love the combo of a smoky gray with orange. I know you did it a few years ago but it is quite fresh!
my dining room turned office is a deep rich pumpkin- great for entertaining, but not so much for being studious. i simply must check out that BM Indian Summer color your friend used- it might be the answer to my color dilemma. What deck did you find it in? i can't seem to locate it.
BTW, you look gorgeous in your new head shot
Hi Rachel,
It's a CC colour which is in the CDN deck, if you look up the name though, hopefully it's in the US deck!
Thanks for the compliment on my new photo, anyone looks great with this photographer, http://www.kevinclarkheadshots.com he was amazing, and it truly took 300 shots to get 3-4 good ones. It was supposed to be a 3 hour shoot and he took 4 1/2 and when I saw all my stiff smiles I see why he took that much longer. Sigh. Okay no one probably cares about this story that's just turned into a novel, but there's the scoop on professional photos and the time they take đ
xo
Maria
Mmm I love that blue and orange/peach bookshelf!
What needs updating in my home? Everything! That's why we are gutting it!
Great post Maria, I've missed your blog! Been too busy putting in manual labor hours….
xo
Naomi
@ThirteenAndSouth
I adore peach and this post. The walls for my bedroom are painted in a color very similar to the BM rusty nail you featured! I'm still in the process of decorating, but so far we have ivory distressed furniture and I plan to accent with lots of peach! Thanks for the inspiration!
I like that rust color the best. Earthy colors always look nice in my book.
I had a feeling peach was going to be big this year. It had to with it's side kick blue coming in. Very pretty. One of my favorite colors!
Usually if I heard peach I would think bad 80's decor. Good work!
My floors desperately need updating. I mean desperately. White carpet 2 preschoolers, puppy, cat, and white lino. enough said. Do I win new floors? ; )
I love that deep rust color and I am sure the kitchen is just stunning. What a great idea. Hugs, Marty
When I first saw the word "peach" I was intrigued as I am not a fan of peach. However, seeing it in combination with the colors you choose proves that you are the expert!
Thanks for the link to my site, and I am looking forward to more of the indian summer in my kitchen.
In the first photo, I like how the upper cabinets in the corner are not very noticable. It almost looks like there are no upper cabinets because of the expanse of white tile. Then I looked harder and could see the upper cabinets seem to have less depth than normal. Somehow they make the kitchen seem more spacious even though they are quite tall.
With that wall color (indian summer) what color linens would you use?
There was a famous dog trainer who would say something like "there are no bad dogs" alluding to the fact that it was the owners and lack of training that made the dogs seem "bad". You should adopt the motto "there are no bad colors" (sorry – colours) because, I swear I thought the only way to update peach was to sledge it out, paint it out or throw it out. What a beautiful combination you created.
I don't know how long ago you selected those colors but I think this is a very chic color combo that would work well today. I grew tired of the blue/brown & pink/brown we saw so much of in the last decade and substituted in peach as an accent to the brown and really liked it! I can totally see myself using more peach (though if I mix it with a cool grey, I have to be careful not to re-create my parents 80s master bath!!). Marija
What a great idea on how to update the peach; I wouldn't have thought of that. I'd love to see your client's kitchen after she paints it.
The one thing I'd change in my home is the yellow wall in the powder room that a colour consultant chose. The colour matches the accessories perfectly but boy do we look jaundice when we look in the mirror!
We need to learn how to hire the right colour consultant.
What a great save! Love the colors you chose to update her space.
marcie
Perfect colors for this space. I have a lot to do. New flooring of which I am thinking wood laminate of high quality. bleached oak. Granite or stone counter tops!
Maria I adore your aesthetics and will have another post over the weekend.
Ps I am still not pleased with my profile photo!!
Karena
I am still trying to find a company to strip off the old paint and spray new paint on my kitchen cupboard doors… I have had one company not call me back and one come take a look and not call me with a quote… so we are off to the home show this weekend and look for someone there…
And then theres … and … and …,to many small things that need doing to mention, I see a list posted on the refrigerator coming, or should I say taped to the fridge (its stainless steel)
Did you check out the before and after I posted? I am very proud of that condo I did, the client loves it so much… let know what you think…
I'm always the last one to comment. Can't you come and update my kitchen with a coat of paint . . then we can move to the bathroom and I'll lock you in the basement until all that dark wood and brown carpet is a prettier colour. There's a fridge in there and I'll stock in with white wine so you can have refreshments while you work. xox
I am SO not a fan of pastel-ish colors with peach topping the chart (if it even is a pastel). When I saw the words Best and Peach in your heading, I wasted no time clicking! As always, you've conquered yet another design dilemma!!
As far as what to replace in our house?? Other than it looks like the Brady Bunch never moved out, if I had to choose one thing, I would start with ripping up the 70's kitchen vinyl that thinks it mimics some high-brow mediterranean ceramic.
Maria – I almost think you were in my house with this story. We moved into our 80 year old home with it's early 90's kitchen and I was perplexed about what to do with the salmony coloured cabinets.
We couldn't afford to start over and my husband was against painting them. So in order to play down the peach, I used rust as an accent – and it works. I've learned so much from your blog – keep up the terrific advice.
Oh! i Sooo wish you were a blogger back then…I wanna see pix!
Our foyer is a tropical salmony/coraly color (Porter Paints: Chinese Lantern)But, after 5 years I am ready for a change. Color? not color. color? not color…oy!
I'm totally with you on this. So many want to change up the big things right away. It's usually some of the small things that can be changed (like paint) that can pull the room together and make it look unique. Having a color consultant right away is the best money spent. I love it when my clients get so excited that they reverse out of the driveway as soon as I leave and run directly to the paint store.
Ruthie
"Okay no one probably cares about this story that's just turned into a novel, but there's the scoop on professional photos and the time they take" – er, I do! I'm about to have a shoot this afternoon for a couple of press releases/new website, and so it's comforting to know that I'm not the only one. You're ridiculously pretty and so now, I don't feel so stupid worrying about mine… Thank you!
Onto the subject: using a deep shade of grey/gray with the colour peach is a bit of a revelation – as illustrated in the 'quiet hallway/chair in central focus' image. You're right, it really does give peach a certain amount of esteem. Interesting post. Thanks.
hmmm- my windows, countertops & bathrooms all need replacing. and the carpet in our bedrooms… i think i could go on for a while đ
I love the photo pf your client's indian summer paint- so beautiful
xoxo,
lauren
These are great books. Thanks for putting together a collection for all of us color lovers. Another book to be sure to check out is "Color: A Natural History of the Palette" by Victoria Finlay. It's an amazing read.