Do you have any inspo pics at all? It sounds like a bit much. If you think you're selling in 2-3 years, that's a really close turnaround. I'd keep it as simple/neutral as possible and add color with towels, curtains, fruit bowl, plants, etc.

My feeling is that three is too much tbh. 3 colours might work in a really large kitchen but you are describing a small house so I assume a smaller sized kitchen.

I'd stick with a maximum of 2 colours.

I like all 3 of the colours you are showing and the wood tone is very close to the colour of the flooring shown. I'd be tempted to do the off white on the perimeter and either the blue or woodtone on the island.

All three colours appear to play well with the counter you are showing.

Then if you still want to bring in an accent colour, that can be done with accessories.

Is there a model home that you were able to visit to see some of the choices in person? I know I would find it very difficult to make all my choices from small sample pieces.

Not a pro, just my first impression. Your choices are all very nice, however I say no to 3 different cabinet colors. It’s just too busy and especially if your home is smaller. Sounds like your home is in a beautiful setting. If I was buying your home, I would want just 1 cabinet color with, perhaps, a different island. It’s hard to tell without seeing your space. Can you post some pix of your kitchen? I’m sure you’ll get some better advice here.

Given that this is a small, cottage-like home, I do think three cabinet colors is too much. Honestly, I think three colors is too much for most larger homes. I think M V's suggestion of 1 color for perimeter cabs and a contrasing island is a good one.

I'll admit that I'm flat out against this trend of having different colored cabinets. I just don't see the point. But, in your case, I think I'd especially stay away from it:

1.) Your place sounds cozy and lovely and it will look choppy with 3 colors,

2.) This trend may fade by the time you go to sell your home so you might already be dating the kitchen,

3.) Why not just have the cabinets all be one color? Remember that counters, floors, and accessories all have color, as do the views out the window and into other rooms. It is a lot to coordinate. Focus on nailing all those elements with one great cabinet color and you'll have a really nice space.

We are doing something similar and i think it looks great - it’s against the traditional grain but certainly gaining popularity for sure.

I appreciate all the comments. To answer your questions, I do not have any pictures at all since the house isn't started yet. It‘s a custom design so there are also no models to view. Footings are scheduled to start in a couple of weeks. When I picked those 3 colors, the design consultant and my builder started talking to each other about how they’ve both had more clients asking for 3 colors. (Maybe Jersey & I are trend setters, LOL!) I may just set up another appointment to go over my choices again. I just broke my ankle last week and am in a boot up to my knee. I was having a bit of pain & throbbing at the time and know I was rushing through the appt so a 2nd look can’t hurt.

If it is just for resale I would do all white. I think it is more universally liked. I personally would not buy a home with three different cabinet colors, unless my budget included a full Reno. I expect you don’t want to have to discount your home at resale to allow for buyers to redo cabinets.

Is the calacatta the countertop? I like the fantasy brown with the wood or cream in your first pic personally.

Small houses need less colors in the kitchen. Do an all white kitchen and a blue island that can be repainted by the next owner.

No one said buyers are good designers. Who cares what others are doing? You have resale in mind so you cannot indulge in anything trendy. Three colors are trendy.

White is classic and will probably make your house easier to sell.

I am on the opposite side of this. You said it is a cottage style house, in the woods on a pond. I think this combo would be wonderful. Just about every kitchen I am selling these days is 2 colors at least. We have been for the past 5 or 6 years, so I am not sure that will go "out of fashion" . Just make sure that the plan and colors "fit " the design of the house.

If the house is beautifully designed and priced right , it will sell - everything will be new ( I feel like up to 5 years old is still new ) .

Good luck!

All one color best for resale, two at the most.

Yes, too many colors IMO.

If you have a cottage in the woods, I'd stick with the wood cabs you picked out. IMO all white doesn't fit the setting as well.

How large of a kitchen are we talking about? a lot of uppers?

what about the island? how big?

I notice you have two countertops. is one for island and one for perimeter?

that's 5 diff design options, plus you'll be picking a backsplash tile?

I would do all white perimeter, blue island and keep the wood floors. (I don't like that wood sample you have w/the stone or your flooring choice)

nix the 3rd wood look color on the cab.

the bluegray w/the white would be similar to this one. (but w/FB countertops) I like this lighter shade of blue/gray instead of your darker blue.

and a less dingy white

I love the look of three colors and did it in my own kitchen. I think your color choices are beautiful and might well appeal to a buyer with a good sense of design. But you might be narrowing your universe. That said, life sometimes gets in the way and plans change. I would do what makes you happy now. If you do sell, changing the island color should be pretty easy.

I did a simlar palette for this kitchen. The uppers are white, the base and tall cabinets are gray and the island is White Oak.

For resale, you are definitely doing something risky. But more generally, I think whether this can work at all is a question of overall design. Kristin Petro's picture is lovely. What jumps out at me in that is that the dark color dominates. The white and oak are small accents. Similarly, Beth H has a picture with white perimeter, dark wood island, and a gray-blue pantry door. It's basically a white kitchen with 2 accent colors. I think your plan will work best if your layout allows for one dominant color, with much smaller doses of the other two players.

Three colors in a space is fine it adds interest and the unexpected

I love ambassador and snowbound paint

I am loving your choices and it's a dreamy home setting what you are describing ;) I found this kitchen that has white, wood, and blue, with outdoor connection:

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And this one: <PS Edited to attach the Houzz photo>

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I would eliminate blue. Too many colors, too busy. I love white top and base cabinets or just top cabinets and middle brown island.

Some kind of `````````````

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If you want neutral ”for resale” then pick one of those colors. Not blue.

Realtor speak: skip the blue unless you want it for yourself. It’s trending out, and if you’re wanting to sell in 2 years don’t do it. This is coming from someone who had beautiful blue cabinets in my last house, so I like it.

cottage kitchen? do a pale yellow paint on all the cabinets..the counter and floor are fine.Nice white backsplash..pretty hardware and light fixtures. Wooded setting? you want it light and refreshing. there's a lot of white and yellow painted kitchen...some pine, where we vacation. Your colors are too dark. You want

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things like glass doors and details..pale yellow can be really nice...white's okay but yellow has that charm..or a creamy warm white [your neutral] I suppose.

ben moore ivory white below.... then another light beautiful shade for a cottage. welcoming /fresh / you'll never tire of.

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Blue is charming & warms the kitchen.

I like the colors that you are considering. Sounds like your home will be sold for where it is...by a pond. I would buy an interesting, "took some risks" kitchen over all-white any day.

If well designed, you can certainly do three colors. If resale is your real driving force, ask some realtors in the area of the house what people react to positively or negatively. Not specific things like which color, but broad impressions that make or break a sale or impact the price. It's probably not the color of the island so do what you want and enjoy!

I like the wood and white for the kitchen, but I would consider the blue for a door in that space.

Hmm, I had written an update yesterday (I thought) but now I don’t see it. Will recap & add here.

To clear up the countertop comments, I only have 1. It is the quartz Calacatta. The other one you see is the counter on one of the showroom tables. Thank you to those who posted pix. Those always help.

My initial instict for the island was a sage-ish color which complemented the many green views here. I went with the blue for my husband. (He has to live here too. LOL!) I agree with whoever said the color for the uppers is a bit muddy. I’ll likely go lighter with those. I am a real estate broker and I can’t tell you how many times when showing buyers, I hear ”Ugh! Not another white kitchen!” I recently asked a couple if they were ready to go see the next house and they said, ”You mean ready to go see the next white kitchen?” White can be classic but unfortunately, here it is becoming a bit of a joke…right along with shiplap. Once I get this broken ankle a bit more functional, I’ll set up another appointment at the design center and have another look. Lots of recent articles everywhere about 2023 design trends. Color is definitely IN so it should be a fun year for designing! Thanks for all the input and ideas!

For resale, stick with two colors. You can bring in the 3rd color through accent pieces when you stage the house to sell :)

If your kitchen will be small and you love the idea of three different colours order extra doors in white to swap out for resale or offer to the potential buyer. It won’t add much to the cost. You will love your kitchen and new owners have choice

Following

2023, one trend that reflects where you are headed.

Love your color combination and if unsure about the blue island, use the wood and add blue in the backsplash and accessories. (Actually a blue island might tie in better with the blue tile.) Brass lighting and hardware would be a great choice also for added warmth.

Moroccan tiles would feel more earthy

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Maureen, I looked at those Moroccan tiles (and about a gazillion others.) I didn't choose any yet but have definitely been leaning towards those. I've slowly evolved to the mindset that, resale or not, 2 to 3 years is a long time when you're living with something that you're just not connecting to. I've always loved those earthy vibes - textures, colors, natural materials, etc. During this process of trying to appeal to a larger buyer pool, I've begun to lose all interest in this house. I've been putting together something that I don't even like. I'm going back to what feels right for us and fits with the nature that surrounds this spot. See there, I feel better already! LOL!

So glad! I painted my kitchen cupboards black on the lowers and a very soft blue on the uppers. Never looked back! Good luck and I bet it will be lovely.

Yes! Thanks rebunky. Those are good examples of our style - light up top for airiness, wood to bring in a natural element, and some color to give life & character. If I need to repaint the island in order to sell, it’s easily doable. In the meantime, we’ll still enjoy living in it.

One color for resale.

And a plain countertop. 'Artsy' can turn off buyers.

Boring now is timeless later.

One color for resale.

And a plain countertop. 'Artsy' can turn off buyers.

Boring now is timeless later

Well, by all means, lets just live in a house and decorate it solely for some future buyer.

that's ridiculous. Life throws curveballs. what if you have to stay longer?

Personally I couldn't give a rats arse if a buyer likes my decor. If you are building or flipping a house, that's different. But If I have to live in it for 3-5 years, I'm making the house the way I want it to be.

Buyers buy homes w/way worse than two tone cabinets and countertops. (have you seen what sells??) I'm sure a bit of 'artsy' won't hurt. it's not like she's doing pink and purple.

and boring now is still 'boring' later.

We’ll only be in this house a couple years before retiring out of state so, trying to keep resale in mind.

Last I checked a couple years is less than 3-5 years.

Having different color kitchen cabinets or kitchen cabinet color I didn't like wouldn't dissuade me from buying a house if I liked the house overall -- it's a fixable problem. But if I knew I were remodeling to sell within just a couple-few years, I'd stick to plain Jane and jazz up the space with using non-fixed elements.

If you have your head set on a colored island, IMO green is a much better choice than blue in a cottage in the woods, it fits the setting better -- wood and green mimic the surroundings.

I would be happy as a buyer to find something well done and attractive. Bonus to me personally if not bland white/gray. A future buyer who is that picky I imagine will do a tear out to customize no matter what you put in. Do what makes you happy.

Mary Iverson, LOL. Our very 1st goal would have been 2 yrs ago but life happens. Turns out wrapping up a 40 yr old business isn’t as easy as we had hoped. Our latest goal is in another 2 yrs but I’m now starting to see signs of velcro around the edges of that goal also. That’s been a big influence on our gradual lean toward making this a bit homier home. The opinions, conversations, and pictures in this discussion have ALL been extremely helpful. What a great tool this is for helping solidify thoughts & ideas.

Our preliminary tri-color design for a small kitchen - just missing the blacksplash tile for now (yes I recognize the rangehood is a different color - it will match the other appliances so no need to point it out lol). and yes we debated the whole corner vs no corner pantry thing but decided for one in the end.

You go with what you feel comfortable with and will enjoy. Someone will buy your house regardless if it’s one colour, two colours, or three.. (as long as it isn't pink or purple like one person said before lol).

take the above SMALL kitchen and change to all one color cabinets and interesting to see that final product as an alternative....... A general rule of thumb for your Small kitchen would be avoid 3 finishes.....your image demonstrates why that advice is wise. You could have the option of a different counter for the island as a nice feature. Also you could show: an "L " shape kitchen with continuous counter you could have achieved instead of the interruption w a diagonal pantry and awkward placed door in a small kitchen. I dont see what you are advocating.

Smallish kitchens kept simple w finishes and configuration :

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Oh, but that would be boring...

😂 😂 😂

I'm not a fan of your quartz with the colors you've chosen. I think you need a quartz that mimics Calacatta Oro, not the gray veining. Like this:

Or just do solidi white counters. As for three colors, you could do it if you have a stand-alone set of tall cabinets. I'd do the darkest color for the base cabinets and island, do the lightest color for the uppers, and the third color for either a coffee station or a stand-alone pantry. Here they did the fridge/freezer in the wood veneer:

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