When looking to remodel your kitchen, or even just give it a DIY makeover, there are so many design selections to sort through.  From paint to backsplash tile to hardware, the whole process can be very overwhelming when you are not sure of what style you are trying to go for.  In our previous kitchen design guide, we highlighted a Classic White Kitchen and how to add a Farmhouse touch.

In this design guide, I wanted to showcase some of my no fail selections for a two tone kitchen design!  I love spicing up a kitchen design by using one color for the cabinets and adding a bold pop of color for the island.  I will take you through some simple items you can swap out in your kitchen from paint colors all the way to cabinet hardware, or if you are looking for more of a change you can use the full guide featuring all the selections I talked about, which will work for any style home!

P.S: You can pin the following design selections or full design guide to Pinterest; toggle your mouse over the top left corner of the image to see the red and white ‘P’ pop up and then simply click on it!

NO FAIL PAINT SELECTIONS:
The best way to dive into a kitchen design is to think about what possible cabinet color you would want.  You can never go wrong with a white cabinet color, such as Pure White by Sherwin Williams, which pairs beautifully with any color you put next to it.  Classic white kitchen cabinets is a great choice because you can add more color and texture around it.

Some of my favorite no fail wall paint colors are Pale Oak and Nimbus by Benjamin Moore.  They are the quintessential greiges, one being a little darker than the other, which helps maintain a neutral color palette. Going neutral with the walls ensures you can really amp up the colors on the island and/or the backsplash.

My favorite paint selection of all is for the kitchen island!  You can do so many different colors, but the shades I gravitate toward tend to be a dark gray or blue paint color.  Roycroft Pewter by Sherwin Williams is perfect if you want to continue to keep your kitchen design within the white and greige vibes.  If you are feeling a little more bold, In The Navy by Sherwin Williams is a stunning blue paint that pops against the bright white cabinets.  Either of these kitchen island colors, or lower cabinet colors if you don’t have an island, will give your friends kitchen envy!

NO FAIL COUNTERTOP SELECTIONS:
Countertops can be hard for a client to visualize, especially because every slab is different.  There are also so many styles to choose from, some have large veining, some look speckled, and you can also get some with colors other than the standard looking marble like white and gray.  Two of my go-to selections are Calacatta Venice and Cashmere Carrara, which are both Quartz countertops.  Some people are turned off by the large veins that run through the Calacatta Venice and other people don’t like how the Cashmere Carrara can look busy. I think both of these can go in any style home, it typically just depends on your personal taste.

NO FAIL BACKSPLASH TILE AND GROUT SELECTIONS:
Anyone who knows me personally knows I LOVE tile!  There are endless selections and walking into a tile store for me is like being a kid in a candy store.  A lot of our kitchen designs tend to feature a classic white backsplash tile because it can go with any style for years to come.  A way to modernize the look without changing the tile color is to pick a tile with some texture, like a wavy subway tile,  or even switch up the direction of the subway tile to create a herringbone pattern.  If you are looking to add some dimension to your backsplash, try using grey grout or another contrasting color, that helps define the tile shape and really makes it pop!

NO FAIL HARDWARE SELECTIONS:
Satin Nickel is a great option if you want to continue with a classic overall look.  Matte black hardware is the perfect selection for a modern farmhouse kitchen design or even just to add some contrast throughout your space.  What’s great about hardware is you can always match your kitchen lighting to the same finish, like matte black, or change it up entirely using a different color like brass or oil rubbed bronze.

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