Flowing off the fashion runways and into our homes, the move toward joyful, saturated hues lets us experience life in glorious color. For the kitchen, we’re loving blocks of rich blues enlivened with contrasting pops of color or tempered by metallics. The best part? The look works equally well whether your taste is firmly rooted in tradition or runs toward sleekly modern.

Clean and Contemporary Color Block Kitchen

Fans of mid-century modern design are bringing its sleek lines and playful optimism into the kitchen. Sculptural shapes, iconic forms, and bright pops of color against simple backdrops help to expand interior spaces, making them both sleek and chic. Faucets that articulate to reach every nook and cranny and a pair of sinks in a dimensional twist on white add ingenious functionality and streamlined style that transcends time.

Tips for a Clean, Contemporary Color Block Kitchen

• For a sleek look, keep the color palette simple and use accessories to introduce strategic pops of color.
• Add modern panache to a pared-down space with industrial-style faucets that bend into different shapes to suit your needs.
• Introduce iconic furnishings like a George Nelson clock and Eero Saarinen tulip table to perfectly capture mid-century modern style.

Love this look? Explore our Palm Springs Modern Kitchen moodboard.

A Traditional Take on the Color Block Kitchen

The distinctive architecture of the historic South elevates this urban kitchen, saturated with a swath of expressive color offset by brilliant white and subtle grey. Classic elements like crisp marble countertops, paneled walls and peaked ceilings add vintage style. And a trio of sink-and-faucet workspaces, with two flanking the cooktop, make it as perfect for entertaining as it is for preparing intimate family dinners.

Tips for a Traditional Color Block Kitchen

• Choose neutral-hued accessories that let the bright, saturated wall color be the star. Metallics that coordinate with the polished chrome faucet finish work beautifully.
• Consider sinks in a color that blends with the countertop, like the grey ones here, to keep the look consistent and subtle.
• Clear glass is a good choice for stemware, adding just enough sparkle without distracting.

Love this look? Explore our Charleston China Blue Kitchen moodboard.