10 tips for creating a colourful kitchen

Start with love

”Yellow is one of Deb’s favourite colours,” Sarah says of homeowner Deb McCain, her public relations agent for the past 10 years. “I don’t often work with people who love the idea of yellow, so when I hear that I always say, ‘Awesome. Let’s run with it.’ And when I think of Deb, her job is to spread the word, spread sunshine, make things happen for people. So the idea of sunshine was the mandate throughout.” Sarah had the island cabinets custom painted in Deb’s favourite hue.

Tip: Mix two types of flooring to create a custom pattern.

Akurum Cabinets, Applad Door Fronts, Ikea. Solna Faucet, Brizio. Sink, Blanco Canada. Island cabinetry paint, Smooth Semillon, Para Paints.

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

Play with patterns

Tip: Chevron patterns are still going strong.

Perimeter countertops, Caesarstone Quartz in Blizzard; Island countertops, Caesarstone Quartz in Concrete, through Ikea. Pillow fabric, Zia Birch in Charcoal, Tonic Living.

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

Choose the backsplash last

Sarah says leaving your backsplash until the end allows you to stand back and decide how you want to finish your look. “I always think of it as the jewellery of the kitchen. It’s the finishing touch,” she says. “Ask yourself, ‘What am I going to do to take this up another level?’ It’s a good place to splurge.”

Framtid Range, Luftig Range Hood, Ikea. Backsplash, Creekside Tile Company. Pot, Eclectisaurus. Dish towels, Target. Wall paint, Butterfly Jasmine; Trim paint, Whitewash White, Para Paints. 

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

Sneak in storage everywhere

“I always play around with 12- and 15-inch Ikea kitchen cabinets because there’s so much you can do with them,” says Sarah. “I find small cabinets allow you to segment and say, ‘This is for wine, this is for containers, this is for art supplies,’ and then you don’t end up with everything in a total jumble.”

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

Create a multipurpose nook

With not quite enough room for 24-inch-deep lower cabinets, Sarah installed 12-inch “upper” cabinets from floor to ceiling instead, creating a multi-functional spot in the centre that also provides extra counter space. “It’s the morning zone, where the espresso machine is. It can be set up as a bar when you’re entertaining, and it’s kind of mission control for the house. It has the kids’ art, invitations and school notices in one handy space.”

Tip: Cover a plain corkboard with eye-catching fabric for an extra hit of pattern.

Bernhard Stools, Ranarp Pendant Lights, Ikea. Bulletin board fabric, Futura in Dandelion, Tonic Living.

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

Blend separate spaces with storage

Tip: Brass hardware looks modern and fresh.

Stockholm Chair, Ikea. Hardware, Lee Valley. Floor tile in Bluestone and Oriental White, Creekside Tile Company. Flowers, Jong Young.

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

Continue cabinetry into the living space

“The original kitchen was overwhelmed by clutter and chaos,” says Sarah of their decision to extend the Ikea kitchen cabinetry into the sitting area. “We made
it so there’s a mud room zone to store shoes, coats, backpacks — everything.” Sarah even carved out a nook for a television.

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

The client's checklist

Deb and her family hoped for:

• a place for the family to gather and live
• an eat-in kitchen with an island that could seat four
• lots of natural daylight
• a space that could weather the wear and tear of children
• a statement backsplash
• a functional space with lots of storage

Pictured are Sarah Richardson and Deb McCain.

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

Know when to save and splurge

“My approach is you save at every step along the way and then you splurge at the end. We used off-the-shelf doors and windows and Ikea cabinetry, and we kept the structure and finishes simple. By doing that we saved enough to be able to get a stone floor and quartz counters and put in a skylight,” Sarah says.

Stockholm Sofa, coffee table, side table, Silkeborg Rug, Ikea. Bowls, vase, Eclectisaurus. Throw, Target. Drapery fabric, Landsmeer in Citrine; Pillow fabric, Theo in Citrine, Cameron in Storm; Pillow sewing, custom drapery, Tonic Living. Skylight, Velux.

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

Be efficient with the arrangement of elements

“Our former kitchen could best be described as a waste of space,” says Deb. While the square footage was there, the layout was poorly designed (two exterior doors, two interior doors, little counter space and a large makeshift island), so large areas went unused. “It drove me crazy that we had tons of space but couldn’t use it properly.”

Tip: If you’re short on natural light, adding a skylight is a good solution and is often more budget friendly than inserting new doors or windows. 

Get more: Watch a video interview of Deb McCain, talking about her beautiful kitchen renovation.

Photo, Stacey Brandford. Design, Sarah Richardson. Project management, Tommy Smythe and Shannon Morrison.

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Get more: Watch a video interview of Deb McCain, talking about her beautiful kitchen renovation.