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.
You hit a home run with that kitchen! Beautiful!
Ann,
Your kitchen is lovely. I am especially fond of blue and white also. I am so glad you had a place for your plate rack. It looks great in your new kitchen. Thank you for sharing your pretty house with us
Wow that looks beautiful! Your flowers always add the perfect touch!
I love your kitchen! It’s beautiful! I would leave the wood cabinet shelves by the microwave unpainted, just as they are. I see a lot of other wood elements in your kitchen that bring out the shelf colors. It’s a nice contrast. I did notice that another reader commented that the shelves should be painted. Good news: the shelves look pretty now, and if you decide to paint them, they will look great then, too! :)
So happy for you! This lovely kitchen has been made beautiful by your touch. The plate rack was just a grand finishing touch. I love the blue you brought to your new kitchen. It blends perfectly. Enjoy every minute of time you spend in this welcoming space!
Your kitchen is absolutely wonderful, and I LOVE that backsplash. The navy blue island and all your beautiful blue and white dishes and accents are perfect!
Ann, your new kitchen in lovely! All your personal touches are so nice, too. So happy that your plate shelf could be used in your new kitchen as it looks like it was meant to be there! Plus, it looks so pretty with all your blue and white dishes — and your breadboards! Such a great decision to go with glass on some of your cabinets. Thanks for sharing your beautiful kitchen with us!
Beautiful kitchen and Thank You for the recipes 😋
I love your new kitchen with the industrial chic vibe! It’s always good when you can bring something that you love like your dish rack and it fits perfectly. The blue accents throughout make everything cohesive. I had our house built about 3 1/2 years ago and I got a couple scratches in my stainless sink. My husband, who had a detail shop, is a genius with scratches and stains! Get your sink wet and sprinkle it with powdered Barkeeper’s Friend and polish the sink in the direction of the grain with superfine steel wool grade #0000 from Menards in the paint department. It says, “Use for polishing” on the package. You can also just get the sink wet and use the superfine steel wool. Then clean it with Dawn and get the residue out and polish it with stainless steel wipes. I’ve seen him do it many times. Just try it on one scratch and you will be amazed.
Thank you so much for this tip…I am for sure going to try it!
This is my dream kitchen! I love the island color and the backsplash is a beautiful neutral. The personal touches you added just enhance the kitchen. Beautiful!