White Eames chairs along with a neutral floor and ceiling maintain the color from overpowering the space.

Turquoise: Inspired by the Sea An epoxy floor in a personalized color of turquoise alludes into the ocean not far from the beach house kitchen by DD Allen. (If you like the idea but live inland, how about grass-green epoxy to evoke an open area?) Throw pillows in vivid colors add punch into the space.

Turquoise: Custom Color The Icestone terazzo countertops in this kitchen by Massucco Warner Miller are made from recycled glass bottles that give the surface a sea-glass-like sheen. The cabinets were painted a light turquoise to coincide. When attempting to match kitchen materials, keep in mind that paint can constantly be tinted to coordinate with your countertop, cabinets or cloths, so pick the paint.

Turquoise: Chalkboard Contrast These super-glossy blue wall tiles in the Italian firm Fap Ceramiche add color and sheen into a contemporary kitchen. "A dose of your favorite color can personalize a kitchen and make it a refuge," says architect Susan Doban redline tv box . who regularly recommends vibrant colors in her projects. A strip of chalkboard paint adds comparison -- and a practical way to share info and preferred recipes.

Blue: Fit for Bachelor Designers Tim Scott and Erica Westeroth, CKD, NCIDQ, took their inspiration for the particular Canadian bachelor's kitchen in the colours and contours of Havana, in which he's a holiday location. "The blue mosaic tile reflects the dancing waves of the ocean," says Westeroth. "The convex curved wall has been wrapped in closets of amazing English Sycamore veneer, emulating the lush soil along with the sugary white marble floors shimmer like the sandy shore"

Blue: Inspired by Menswear The traditional menswear combination of navy, white and tobacco inspired the palette to get this kitchen with architect/homeowner John Laren and interior designer Karen Soojian, ASID. "Bold contrast is a major design element for the room, as seen from the mix of both white (not shown) and navy cabinets," states Soojian. "This can be softened by the coming of the warm colour of the bamboo flooring and the walnut-toned center island"

Blue: Modern Two-Tone The first inspiration for this blue and red kitchen came from the crimson of their Icestone countertops, which have been matched to a stock glass color from the cabinetry firm. All told, the designers in Gaia Kitchen & Bath used three different color glass inserts, two distinct colour cabinets and two different countertop materials.

Blue: Organic Color Cues This open-plan kitchen by designer Mark Dutka within his home near the Northern California coast was designed to reflect the colours of the local sky, sand and woods. "The lower cabinets have been painted a deep gray-brown (Benjamin Moore "Midsummer Night" 2134-20) to represent the local woods soil, and the top cabinets are tinted rift oak, as a nod into the surrounding forest. Walls at Benjamin Moore Chicago Blues signify the ubiquitous Pacific Ocean," Dutka explains, "along with the unbelievable blue skies residents are treated to on sunny days."

Green: Calming and Cozy Neither bright nor pastel; not light or neon, the soft blue-green of this backsplash tile in a kitchen by Ryan Christenson of Remodel Works Bath and Kitchen is unusual enough to grab the eye, but subtle enough to live professionally for ages.

Green: Bright Budget-Friendly Shade is a superb way to add life to an inexpensive kitchen. The cabinets in this room by TS Kitchen Projects are from Ikea, and the ceramic tile was below $10 per square foot. As a result of its bright green colors, the backsplash functions as a focal point for the space, making the room memorably playful.

Green: Leafy Hues Garden Views Cool slate grays anchor this kitchen with Susan Diana Harris, ASID, while brighter greens throw the show both indoors and out. The walls are painted Behr's Fresh Grass (color #426), and the ceiling is Benjamin Moore's Pale Vista (2029-60). The windows (not shown) were left unobstructed to permit for views of the leafy garden outside. If your own kitchen is graced with garden views, remember that your choice of plantings will affect the colour experience when you are indoors.

Yellow: Happy Hue In this sunny kitchen by DD Allen, seafoam green cabinets are a soft backdrop to bright yellow stools from Wyeth in new york. "Another way to change up colour in a kitchen," says Allen, "is to use director's seat stools, and easily change the canvas out covers, which you can get in several different colours and patterns."

Yellow: Created by Antique China Designer Elizabeth Swartz, ASID, attracted colour inspiration for her own kitchen (that gorgeous yellow paint is California Paint's CAL #7263M, Sunspot) from Stangl Pottery's Fruit Pattern. "My aunt had this for her regular china when I was a kid," says Swartz, "and that I have good memories of wonderful family dishes with plenty of cousins. I discovered a piece in an antique store, began collecting it built my kitchen colour scheme around it." What favourite family objects make you joyful? Look to them to get a kitchen colour that will keep you grinning.

Yellow: Mexican-Inspired Sarah Leedy-Dooley, ASID, NKBA, used bright yellow walls and an intricate arrangement of hand-painted Mexican Talavera tiles within this kitchen on a large Texas ranch. When choosing strong colors, make sure you check on them in situ before purchasing, so that you can observe how they appear in the room at different times of the day since the light changes.

Orange: Color Pick-Me-Up "I believe colour in a kitchen has a hugely positive, emotional impact and makes people happy," says Designer Robin Siegerman, Writer of Renovation BOOTCAMP: Kitchen -- Design and Remodel Your Kitchen. . .Without Losing Your Wallet Your Mind or Your Spouse. And because of this particular colour? "Orange is shown to excite optimism," she states, "bringing spontaneity and a positive outlook on life. It is a fantastic color to use during tough economic times, keeping us motivated and helping us to look on the bright side of life"

Orange: Bold Banquette Designer DD Allen's client desired a skillet nook and she made it, due to the colorful coral and tile banquette. White Eames chairs along with a neutral floor and ceiling maintain the color from overpowering the space.

Orange: Saturated Shade The cheapest -- and least permanent -- way to color a kitchen up is with paint. Designer Angela Bonfante picked this pumpkin hue for a tight space with an eye on budget. Against a shade this wealthy, the chain-store throw pillows look like high-end custom function.

Orange: Natural Inspiration The metal sculptor who possesses this Oregon kitchen chose a palette of golds, reds and greys as a nod to the local landscape. "The khaki accent walls will be the colour of Sumac leaves -- or perhaps someone's lipstick," says designer Rhonda Knoche, CMKBD, CAPS "The yellows, oranges and reds were grounded with gray and black, so the color scheme didn't summon circus music, which could occur with those bright colors."

Pink: Sunny Salmon Designer Judy O'Neil Labins picked custom-colored milk paint with a flat, chalky surface with this particular vintage-style kitchen. "Salmon is a great color," says Labins, "and most people can wear it in a flattering manner" Trying to decide on a colour for your kitchen? Consider the shades you most like to wear. They're probably the ones you like looking at, and also will help you look your finest when you're working your hardest in your cooker.

Pink: Art Deco Pizzazz In this kitchen, co-designed by Patricia Caulfield and Marc Goodwin, anigre veneer cabinets have been stained using a pink dye. A honed black granite countertop ties in the black appliances as well as the Art Deco-style custom crown molding in black. Grey marble tops part of the center island, together with another altitude topped with Corian in "Strawberry Ice."

Red: Statement Cabinets Jill Green of Sand Castle Designs used a bright, glistening red for the upper cabinets within this open kitchen. The eye-catching color turns the spacious galley to a design element from the flat, though a stainless steel backsplash and black cabinets increase the glamour.

Red: A Timeless Appearance A rug can add great notes of colour to your kitchen either to replicate a shade already set up as with the red china cupboard in this kitchen with Sandra Bird Designs, or to decorate an otherwise neutral area. Because this particular red is matte, instead of glossy, it creates a timeless look.

Red: Bold Lacquer Color Not for the faint of heart, this crimson, crimson, red kitchen with John Ryba is saturated in a rich, lacquer red. The white ceiling and stainless-steel appliances help reflect light, an important factor when you are working using a darker colour.

Red: All in the Details With a colour as powerful as reddish, sometimes a few strong accents are enough. In this kitchen with Ines Hanl of The Sky is the Limit Design, a reddish pedestal for a counter-height table and a red runner carpet add vibrancy into a subtly colored kitchen. And don't forget art for a source of colour in kitchens; note the way the framed poster on the wall rounds out of the color scheme.

Purple: Sleek Curves Deep Color Purple tones in the 'Red Sunset' granite inside this kitchen with XTC Design inspired the house's overall color scheme, with extreme doses of aubergine on the cabinets (at a satin metallic lacquer finish), also in accent walls, cushions and artwork throughout the home. Designers Tim Scott and Erica Westeroth, CKD, NCIDQ, utilized neutral floors, ceilings and upholstery to balance the rich hue to get a look that is distinctive but not overpowering.

Purple: Naturally Pleasing Palette A slightly paler purple distinguishes this kitchen with Jeff King, made for homeowners who wanted a happy, vibrant space. The kitchen faces south and opens onto a very colorful garden, so the color inside reflects and matches the colors outside. "Don't be concerned about making design choices for resale," says the homeowner. "You'll be living in the home and spending a great deal of time in the kitchen, so do what truly is enjoyable for your eye."

Purple: Inspired by Vino The wine fans who have this home had several pictures of favorite Italian palaces in areas adjacent to the kitchen, therefore designer Connie Rabias-Sbarboro picked a glass/tumbled marble backsplash with a great deal of purple tones, also painted the walls Benjamin Moore's "Tropical Dusk," a vibrant grape colour. The rich wood cabinetry enriches the room's Tuscan feeling.

Brown: Subway Tile Backsplash When utilized in the kind of shiny glass tile, instead of wood or stone, brown becomes a shade, too. Drury Designs utilized the glass tiles here to bring drama into an otherwise all-white kitchen. The tile's sheen helps reflect light to maintain the room looking lively.

Multicolor: Intricate Handmade Tiles Can not choose just one favorite colour? Use ALL of them, as tile designer Vicki Morrow failed in this particular kitchen clad in ceramic bits she layouts and hand-fabricates herself. An accent wall in deep rose picks up a color running throughout the backsplash and provides beautiful contrast to the deep purple counter tiles.

Multicolor: Patterned Pillows for a Pop of Shade Fabric is just another great way to introduce plenty of colours to your kitchen, as designer Jessica R. Caviness of Ross Thiele & Son did here. The soft colors and floral designs are echoed at the decoratve painting on the ceiling beams.

Multicolor: Whimsical Fairy Garden Certified Kitchen Designer Elina Katsioula-Beall's customer requested for a kitchen which resembled a childs fairy garden -- and she made it, says Katsioula-Beale, "with daring green stalks made of high-gloss laminate cupboards, opening into a vibrant fuchsia blossom bed of countertops!" Along with the walls? Marigold orange. If this much hard-to-change color frees you, says Katsioula-Beall, "have glass doors installed on a few of your cupboards and paint their interiors a bright hue. If you hate it," she states, "that's a change that is easy -- and inexpensive -- to make."