Ideas and inspiration for a cozy blue and white kitchen that include a navy blue kitchen island, neutral quartz countertops, and minimal accessories.
When we looked at the Sugar Maple house for the first time in September of 2021, I knew it was right for us because of many things, but at the top of that list was the kitchen. It’s not a big space, but because of the open floor plan, it feels huge! I love the fact that there are no walls, and that I’m no longer closed off from what’s going on in the rest of the house.
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Cosmetic Changes
The kitchen looks very much like it did the day we moved in. The changes I made were purely cosmetic, and they gave me the opportunity to bring in my own personal style….which is slightly different than before. We switched out the sink faucet, and installed new lights. The lights have an industrial/farmhouse vibe, and the bar stools lend a modern feel to the space. We also purchased new appliances. Like in our grey and white master bathroom, I have embraced the brushed nickel metal, and actually love it very much.
A blue and white kitchen is clean and classic…but if you aren’t a lover of blue, all of these ideas can still be used by simply substituting your favorite color. Can you imagine how beautiful our kitchen would be with a dark green island? Or smoky grey?
The Navy Blue Kitchen Island
So let’s discuss the option of choosing a contrasting color for your kitchen island. There are four things to consider:
- First, you have to be sure about adding color! Cabinetry is a huge expense, and the most important element of your kitchen. It’s definitely not a place to experiment. Choosing a neutral color for kitchen cabinetry is always a safe route to go if you have ANY doubts.
- Second, choose an accent color you love. Choose a color you have lived with for many years, and that is used in other rooms of your home. I know there are exceptions to this piece of advice…but on the whole, don’t go with a new and untested color for an element as large as a kitchen island. (Note: I had already chosen navy blue cabinetry for our renovated bathrooms at the Sutton Place house. I knew for sure I loved it, so the navy blue kitchen island was perfect for us.)
- Third, keep the background cabinet color neutral. Not only is that a practical choice, it’s also a good design choice.
- Last, if you love the idea of contrasting cabinet colors, but don’t want to commit to an actual color, consider going with a wood tone. Neutral cabinetry looks beautiful with any natural wood color.
Accent Color Tip
If your kitchen can’t accommodate an island, an accent color can be added by choosing different colors for your upper and lower cabinets. A good rule of thumb is to put the darker color on the lower cabinets to ground the space…but you know how I feel about rules. They are made to be broken!
Accent Pieces
Adding color to a neutral kitchen can easily be accomplished by using well-chosen accessories. In my case, I did that with plates, pitchers, cooking utensils, and linens. Other than the island, these are the ways I brought more blue into the space.
Making A Space Your Own
Moving into a home where none of the design choices are your own is a challenge. Even if you love the choices, there’s still a nagging need to put your own mark on the space. One way I made this kitchen feel like mine was to incorporate items we brought from the Sutton Place house.
Namely, my plate rack. It’s one of my favorite pieces, and there was no way I was leaving it behind! It turns out that the Sugar Maple house has a wall space that was literally made for my rack. It hangs between the pantry door and the laundry room door in our kitchen, and it’s perfectly wonderful.
If you have followed this blog for very long, you know that before we moved, replacing the tile countertops at the Sutton Place house was at the top of my goal list. They were old, and no longer functional. My dream was to have beautiful, neutral quartz counters, so when I saw this kitchen for the first time, my heart skipped a beat. The counters are perfect, and if I could have chosen them myself, I would have picked exactly the same thing.
The Backsplash
Truth be told, and unlike the countertops, the backsplash is not something I would have chosen myself. I briefly thought about replacing it…but I really like it, it’s a classic style, and I consider grey a neutral color. Plus the same tile is used in the fireplace surround. After considering all of these things, replacing the backsplash went out of my head. It would have been a mess, and an unnecessary expense.
There are still a couple of projects I want to tackle in the coming months. Before we moved in, I added glass doors to the cabinets flanking the microwave, and the insides need to be painted to match the cabinets. (Not a job I’m looking forward to!) The sink is very scratched and worn-looking, so I would love to replace it. Other than these two things, there is nothing I want to change. At least not right now!
Update: I got the insides of the glass cabinets painted! See the image below.
Shop + Source
Click the images below to be taken directly to the product listing. Every effort has been made to provide sources for the items found in this post. Where actual items were no longer available, I’ve provided similar options. If an item is out of stock but may be restocked, I left it on the list.
*Affiliate links included. See my disclosure statement. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Additional Sources
- Cabinets: KraftMaid Shaker – Dove White
- Island: KraftMaid Shaker – Midnight
- Countertops: Cambria Quartz – Swanbridge
- Backsplash: I don’t have a specific source. It’s honed grey marble hexagon tile, similar to THIS.
- Wall Paint: Sherwin Williams Snowbound
Thank you so much for your kindness and friendship. From the very first time I shared that we were moving, you have all been supportive and interested. I know some of you miss the Sutton Place house, and honestly, I do too. But there is much to look forward to as we transform this new-to-us house into a home.
I love your new kitchen and design. What is the rule of thumb about leaving small appliances out on the counter such as mixers, coffee pots, toasters instead of keeping storage also a priority?
Hi Mary…in a perfect world, all the kitchen appliances would be behind doors. But you need ample storage space to do that…which most of us don’t have. In our case, we use the toaster and coffee maker every day, so dragging it out of a cupboard just isn’t practical. And I actually love the way a pretty stand mixer looks on a kitchen counter! Personally, I think the rule of thumb should be based on what you use the most. For example, I rarely use a blender, so I wouldn’t take up counter space with that. If you never make toast, definitely find a hiding place for your toaster. I hope this makes sense. Thank you!
Your kitchen is so gorgeous and so you! I love the way the plate rack fits in… :-)
Happy Sunday morning Ann!
Did i somehow miss the explanation of the name “The Sugar Maple House?
Hi Lou! Our old house was on a street called Sutton Place. So when we moved, I needed some way to distinguish between the two houses. Our new street is called Sugar Maple Court, so it made sense to call it the Sugar Maple house. Thank you!
The blue island and the backsplash are beautiful features in your new kitchen! I love how your plate rack fits perfectly into your space. Meant to be there for sure ☺️ I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing more about your new home 🏡
So pretty! I’m so glad you left the backsplash. It is stunning and suits the kitchen style beautifully in my opinion. Waiting patiently to see everything you do with Sugar Maple.
Stunning kitchen design Ann! Love the blue and white. Thank you for the suggestions regarding appliances. We will be doing a kitchen renovation, and the stainless is perfect!
Your kitchen is beautiful. The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the background of the glass cupboards. I’m glad I kept reading, and discovered that you will be painting those! I really like your backsplash, btw! As usual, you have accessorized everything beautifully!
Bringing the plate rack over was brilliant! It makes it home, I am so happy for you and your kitchen is stunning!
Your new home is beautiful!! Do you have any information on the flooring?? Perhaps you have already shared and I missed?
Beautiful–I like the blue and white together.