Bringing Color to the Kitchen

With splashes of whimsy and loads of charm, this kitchen blends traditional style with an abundance of natural light, a bold and bright palette, and a truly one-of-a-kind feel.

With big life changes comes the opportunity to hit the reset button on a variety of things, including home design. Recent empty nesters Mindy and David decided to revamp their Los Angeles home to give it a fresh look and feel that better represented their style and met their practical needs. They brought on interior designer Alison Kandler to help hone their vision and bring it to life. Formerly an art director, Alison is a self-taught designer with around 25 years of experience. She brings her art background and love of color into every space she works on. “I think of each project as a very large 3D canvas,” she says. “Color makes me happy.”

green touches bring color to the kitchen — Alison used variations of green, yellow and red to inject color and patterns into the kitchen space. “For me, color becomes more exciting when it is mixed with contrasting colors and patterns,” she explains. The checkerboard ceramic tile garnishing the walls perfectly embodies the fun French vibe the homeowners were looking for. “I try and mix checks into every project, and the checked wall tile really livens up the space,” Alison says.

green and white tile and green cabinetry of the island bring color to the kitchen

wide angle view of bright and colorful kitchen with green accents

built-in display cabinets showcase colorful dishes in colorful kitchen

white and green tile along wall and sliding green pantry door bring color to the kitchen

green botanical wallpaper covers fridge exterior bringing color to the kitchen — Wallpaper on the refrigerator prevents the usual visual break in design appliances cause as well as adding a bold and colorful touch to an often-overlooked design opportunity. “I get so tired of looking at panels and stainless refrigerators,” Alison says. “I knew we were heading toward lots of greens and this wallpaper was just perfect for a kitchen; it has leaves and fruit and just looks fresh.”

Let in the Light

Homeowners Mindy and David had two main goals for their kitchen-space renovation: color and whimsy. “My two specialties,” Alison says. With their kids grown and moved out, they saw their opportunity to embrace their new phase of life with a new take on one of the most important rooms in their home. “They wanted the house to be fun and comfortable when their kids come home to visit,” Alison says. This would mean a complete overhaul of their current kitchen, which was dark and dated, with heavy cherry-stained cabinets and granite countertops, and a closed-off breakfast room that was disconnected from the kitchen.

oversized green apple sculpture adds color and whimsy to the kitchen

red range and yellow Dutch oven bring more color to the kitchen

double sink in kitchen with view to lush green backyard — Alison made sure to include functional updates to accommodate the practical needs of the homeowners. The double 24″ sinks provide more efficient clean-up space, while a custom built-in china cabinet next to the island provides ample storage opportunities.

“The only way to show off color is with lots of natural light,” Alison says. They opened up the space between the kitchen and breakfast room, and added larger windows and doors to allow for more light to spill inside. “What a difference!” Alison says.

Mix It Up

The colors and patterns are what truly set this kitchen apart. To create this palette, they focused on the range and built around it. “Mindy knew she wanted to go with Lacanche, and she and David were both instantly drawn to the burgundy red,” Alison says. The next big addition was the green fruit-tree wallpaper, which served as the point piece for pulling all the various shades of green. “The breakfast room had a lot of large walls, so the floral wallpaper was selected to bring the outdoors in and warm up the space,” she explains. “It also introduces yellow to the palette.”

dining room with bright floral wallpaper and tulips and fruit on the table

Alison used a variety of modalities to bring the space together, including the checkered ceramic-tile backsplash, whimsical wallpapers, textured elements like woven chairs and window treatments, and perfectly placed pops of color. Every element blends together to create a bold, fun and personalized kitchen and dining space that is sure to be the perfect backdrop for many hours of family gatherings.

dining room with French bistro chairs and bright floral wallpaper — To capture the homeowners’ love of French style, Alison made sure to include French-inspired design elements throughout the kitchen and breakfast dining space. “The kitchen has a bistro bar stool and checkered tile, the dining area has a French-style cast iron table and French bistro chairs,” she says. The pop of elegant pattern on the fl oor is not a rug but is, in fact, painted wood planks. “Rugs aren’t practical under dining tables,” Alison says.

To learn more about Alison’s work, visit her website at alisonkandler.com.

Cue Color

While a more traditional kitchen style can evoke images of a black-and-white or subdued palette, it doesn’t have to be that way. Designer Alison Kandler offers the following tips for bringing color to the kitchen while keeping an overall timeless look and feel.

green and white tile and dish collection bring color to the kitchen

Island Fever. One of the easiest ways to incorporate color is to paint your island. “It adds instant pop to your kitchen,” Alison says. You can play it safe with a more classic color like a deep blue or gray, or pump up the volume with a bright green or red.
Defining Details. Make your kitchen space your own by getting down in the details and selecting elements that bring in a punch of color, like a bold tile backsplash or wallpaper. “It is easy to change out over the years,” Alison says.
Statement Piece. “If you are going to splurge on something, make it the range,” Alison advises. Often the focal point in any kitchen, a colorful range is a great way to customize your space.

Looking for more ideas for bringing color to the kitchen? Check out this Kentucky kitchen and this bright and bold California kitchen. And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube for more Atomic Ranch articles, house tours, and ideas!