Christine Brockelman, a writer for HomeStyle, asked if I would contribute to an article she was writing on colour in kitchens and most specifically in how it’s showing up in sinks and appliances. I wrote about these exact Jonathan Adler sinks for Kohler (below) in June.
Here’s what I said (below), to read the entire article above click here, it was also picked up by a San Diego Newspaper.
“Choose which surface you want to highlight as the most important and build everything else round it” says design blogger, decorator, stylist and color expert Maria Killam, who is based in British Columbia. “You don’t want every surface in your kitchen screaming ‘Look at me, look at me!'”.
“I always ask my clients “How long do you plan to live in this house?” Killam says. “If this is your forever house and you are in love with a bright blue stove, you should get it. If you really love it, you’ll be happy long after the current trend has come and gone.”
I’m speaking again today at the Vancouver Home + Design Show at BC Place at 2:00 pm and my presentations kicks off with this exact conversation:
Deciding whether this is your forever home or not will guide the choices you make going forward.
If you are selling, keep your hard finishes simple, timeless and neutral.
If this is your forever house, your color choices for items that will stay in your house for potentially 20 years or more like bathroom tile or a sink in your kitchen can be more personal.
One more thing, here’s my short and sweet interview with Johannah Ward, lifestyle host of go! Vancouver from Thursday.
Which colour would you install in your kitchen?
Related posts:
 Maria Killam on the Express in Vancouver
Interview with Apartment Therapy
Advice from a Celebrity Decorator
If you would like your home to fill you with happiness every time you walk in, contact me.
Download my eBook, How to Choose Paint Colours: It’s All in the Undertones to learn how to get colour to do what you want.
To make sure the undertones in your home are right, get some large samples!
If you would like to learn to how choose the right colours for your home or for your clients, become a True Colour Expert.
Great advice! I might like colour a little too much, but I’ve never had a forever home so I’ve had to limit it to walls and things that will move with me.
Know what, though? I’d rather move into a house with a 50’s pink bathroom or 70’s copper kitchen than live with 90’s almond. I am so tired of almond baths and kitchens.
Fun to look at, but there is a reason that those colored sinks went out of style about 40 years ago. Every single speck of soap shows up. They are terribly hard to keep looking clean. I know this because I have a turquoise blue porcelain sink in my summer cottage. Maria, who else would tell you this!!!? Best, Ellen
Does this mean we are seeing the end of the stainless steel appliance trend?
No,coloured appliances are a very personal choice, stainless is still the most neutral choice. Maria
I hope this is the end of the stainless trend, because I aways liked white better anyway. 🙂
I’m building a tiny beach house next year and picking out the appliances. I decided to go retro with an old vintage sink, and a candy-colored refrigerator. It’s going to be the happiest house on the block. And I don’t think that it will be hard to sell a house like that — all white, bright colored focal points.
I am so tired of living in a beige world, it’s awesome that now we have options like this.
I’m with those who hope the stainless steel appliance trend is headed out the door – too cold and industrial for me and everyone I know complains about keeping the surfaces “clean”. Really prefer white appliances because I like white kitchens anyway. Not sure I could ever see doing any bold color in ALL the appliances. However, if you’re a 5-star chef (at least in your own mind), I could certainly see a fantastic “focal point” stove in your kitchen ((like either one in your post or even more dramatic) as long as the rest of your appliances and accessories were well behaved and content to sit in the background.
Fun post, Maria, and it sounds as though you’re making color fun for everyone at the show.
Looks like I am in the minority here, but I still love the stainless appliances I installed in my kitchen renovation four years ago. And I would much prefer to keep the color to walls, artwork and other elements that are easy to change.
I’m agree with Fran for my house personally. I love tecnology so the stainless appliances feel like that to me as well. As for my clients I’m with ya Maria I advise the same thing. Great post!
I did my kitchen last spring – white cabinets, dishwasher and fridge covered w/panels matching cabinets, stainless sink, faucet, stove and hood, caesarstone countertops (linen) and tile floor in same tone. LOVE!
Personally, I would get tired of colored appliances (especially in my small kitchen). Chose to introduce color w/accessories and rug.
Love the interview! Your pants and the table made the segment POP. 🙂 I’d love a beautiful cobalt blue colored range… but this is not my forever home, sigh!
Great information, I look from many time. Thanks .I would like to go with white for kitchen and stainless is my choice for appliances .