2012 Color Trends: Touch of Green for Kitchen and Bath
See how green can serve as both an accent color and new kind of neutral
This 2012 Color Trends series is about five hot color trends projected for the year. In particular I'll be showing you how to incorporate them into your kitchen and bath in a way that makes sense for your taste and your home.
Green will be a strong color for the new year with leaves, moss, earth, forest and seaweed sprouting on Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr and Yolo palettes, among others. Green is a relaxing color — some even consider it a new neutral — making it especially ideal for master bath retreats. It can work well in kitchens and other living spaces, too. (I painted all of the walls in my first condo sage and loved it. The master bedroom of my last home was sage, too.)
Here are some ways to incorporate it into your kitchen and bath, sensibly and stylishly.
Browse bathroom remodeling ideas | Find Kitchen and Bath designers
Green will be a strong color for the new year with leaves, moss, earth, forest and seaweed sprouting on Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr and Yolo palettes, among others. Green is a relaxing color — some even consider it a new neutral — making it especially ideal for master bath retreats. It can work well in kitchens and other living spaces, too. (I painted all of the walls in my first condo sage and loved it. The master bedroom of my last home was sage, too.)
Here are some ways to incorporate it into your kitchen and bath, sensibly and stylishly.
Browse bathroom remodeling ideas | Find Kitchen and Bath designers
A pale green tile also can read neutral, making it an easy color to incorporate into a room for long-term style. Here, it adds a serene note to a contemporary bath.
This master bath redo I designed for a client not only incorporated green porcelain and glass tile, it featured beautiful gray-green Cambria (Hyde Park) quartz countertops that look like beach glass.
Green meshes beautifully with natural wood cabinets, just as leaves enhance trees. My rule of thumb: If colors work together in nature, they'll work well together in your home.
Green meshes beautifully with natural wood cabinets, just as leaves enhance trees. My rule of thumb: If colors work together in nature, they'll work well together in your home.
Everyone expects shower glass to be clear, but you're certainly not limited to that. Green glass is an ideal shade for enclosures — especially the sleek frameless kind — as it adds a level of interest with soft spa style. The tile still gets to star, but you've complemented it with an unexpected touch of color. It might even show fewer water spots!
Pale green is a delightful color for kitchen cabinets, especially when you're opting for wood floors. When done softly, as shown here, it works much like a white or cream wood to brighten up the space. The green tint adds a level of interest that the true neutrals can't, making your kitchen more memorable.
ThinkGlass Glass Countertops
A green tint can be a great kitchen countertop color, working as well as it does with medium and dark woods. There are the usual suspects: granite, quartz, Corian... But how about bringing some beach style home with a high-drama green-tinted glass countertop.
Given their overpowering drama and price tag, you might want to just use them for a focal point spot.
Given their overpowering drama and price tag, you might want to just use them for a focal point spot.
Smith + Noble Custom Window Blinds
Custom window coverings can be a big investment in your home, but that doesn't mean they have to be neutral. Here, decorative tapes add a touch of color to classic white 2-inch faux wood blinds and a black-and-white kitchen.
Green paint works well for kitchens or baths. Here a kicky citrus adds a pop to this otherwise seriously neutral space. The lime walls say, "It's party time!"
Traditional Green Glass Knob
Hardware is a fabulous way to add color to a neutral space. I love the way glass knobs do it richly and subtly. I like these for a small master or powder room, where I don't need a slew of them — just some gentle pops.
Chloe Mirror in Bright Green
If your bathroom just needs a color refresher, a fun mirror can kick it up a notch. This is a great way to add the trendy shade you love in a small way that still speaks large.
Toobi™ single-control lavatory faucet
Kohler knows you like to change your mind. Their fun Toobi faucet comes with three interchangeable spout colors. Green ties into the trend color. White and black let you return to your serious self.
More:
Crisp, Fresh: Go for Green Apples
Favorite Color Combinations: Celery and Chocolate
Mossy Accents for Indoors and Out
More:
Crisp, Fresh: Go for Green Apples
Favorite Color Combinations: Celery and Chocolate
Mossy Accents for Indoors and Out