Modern doesn’t have to mean color or austere, as proven by this Lake Toxaway, NC, kitchen, designed by Platt Architecture and designer Cliff Fong. This Industrial-style dine-in kitchen has matte gray walls and ceiling with recessed lights and a skylight over the cooking area at the L-shaped structure of the wall. This structure matches with the wooden kitchen island beside the dining table that matches well with the gray floor tiles. This beautiful Scandinavian-style kitchen has a beauty to its simplicity. It has a charming bare wooden kitchen cabinetry that perfectly matches with the light hardwood flooring.

To keep things interesting in the mostly white house, Flanigan used bold colors and materials like dark beams, shiny metallics, and pops of rich navy in the kitchen. Designer Mary Lauren McBride helped her hometown friends with a thoughtful renovation to a former rental on Mobile Bay in Fairhope, Alabama. The entire home has as a calming, laid-back feel, which carries over to the kitchen. A local craftsperson built and stained them a honey-blond hue that complements the floors. A little white paint and textured elements like shiplap walls and a Dutch door opened this narrow, L-shaped kitchen right up.

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You can introduce it into the space via touches like patinated brass, wood beams with a chipped surface, and lime washed brick backsplash. Adding color to a kitchen can feel a bit intimidating at first, especially if you’re used to working with neutrals. You don’t have to commit to a new cabinet color entirely to add a playful pop to the space. Swapping out the light fixtures in your kitchen is an easy change that makes a big impact. Don’t be afraid to lean into trends a bit here since a pendant light is a more easily reversible design choice than tile or flooring.