Bold contrast is a major design component for the room, as seen in the combination of the two white (not shown) and navy cabinets," says Soojian.

Turquoise: Created by the Sea An epoxy floor in a custom shade of turquoise alludes to the sea not far from this beach house kitchen with DD Allen. (If you love the idea but live inland, how about grass-green sandpaper to elicit an open field?) Throw pillows in bright shades add punch into the space.

Turquoise: Custom Color The Icestone terazzo countertops within this kitchen with Massucco Warner Miller are made from recycled glass bottles that give the surface a sea-glass-like sheen. The cabinets were painted a pale turquoise to coincide. When trying to match kitchen materials, keep in mind that paint may always be tinted to coordinate with your counter tops, cabinets or fabrics, so pick the paint last.

Turquoise: Chalkboard Contrast All these super-glossy blue wall tiles in the Italian firm Fap Ceramiche add color and sheen to a contemporary kitchen. "A dose of your favourite colour can personalize a kitchen and make it a refuge," says architect Susan Doban residential glass walls . that regularly recommends vivid hues in her endeavors. A strip of chalkboard paint adds contrast -- and a practical method to share information and favorite recipes.

Blue: Match for Assignment Designers Tim Scott and Erica Westeroth, CKD, NCIDQ, took their inspiration for the Canadian bachelor's kitchen in the colours and contours of Havana, where he has a holiday location. "The blue mosaic tile represents the dancing waves of the ocean," says Westeroth. "The convex curved wall has been wrapped in cabinets of beautiful English Sycamore veneer, emulating the lush soil and the sugary white marble floors shimmer like the sandy beach."

Blue: Inspired by Menswear The classic menswear blend of navy, white and tobacco motivated the palette to get this kitchen by architect/homeowner John Laren and interior designer Karen Soojian, ASID. "Bold contrast is a major design component for the room, as seen in the combination of the two white (not shown) and navy cabinets," says Soojian. "This can be softened by the introduction of the warm color of the bamboo flooring and also the walnut-toned center island"

Blue: Modern Two-Tone The first inspiration for this blue and red kitchen came from the crimson of their Icestone countertops, that have been matched to a stock glass shade from the cabinetry firm. All told, the designers in Gaia Toilet & Kitchen utilized three different colour glass inserts, two different colour cabinets and two different countertop materials.

Blue: Natural Color Cues This open-plan kitchen by designer Mark Dutka in his own house near the Northern California coast was created to reflect the colors of the local sky, sand and woods. "The lower cabinets are painted a deep gray-brown (Benjamin Moore "Midsummer Night" 2134-20) to represent the local woods soil, and also the upper cabinets are tinted rift oak, as a nod into the surrounding woods. Walls in Benjamin Moore Chicago Blues signify the ubiquitous Pacific Ocean," Dutka clarifies, "and the unbelievable blue skies residents are treated to on sunny days"

Green: Calming and Cozy Neither bright nor light; not light or neon, the soft blue-green of the backsplash tile in a kitchen by Ryan Christenson of Remodel Works Bath and Kitchen is unusual enough to grab the eye, but subtle enough to live professionally for ages.

Green: Bright Budget-Friendly Color is a superb way to add life to an inexpensive kitchen. The closets in this area by TS Kitchen Jobs are from Ikea, and the ceramic tile was below $10 per square foot. As a result of its bright green hues, the backsplash acts as a focal point for the room, making the space memorably playful.

Green: Leafy Hues Garden Views Cool slate grays anchor this kitchen with Susan Diana Harris, ASID, while brighter greens steal the display both inside and outside. The walls have been painted Behr's Fresh Grass (color #426), and the ceiling is Benjamin Moore's Pale Vista (2029-60). The windows (not shown) were left unobstructed to permit for views of this leafy backyard outside. In case your own kitchen has been graced with garden views, do not forget that your choice of plantings will impact the colour experience when you're inside.

Yellow: Joyful Hue Within this kitchen by DD Allen, seafoam green cabinets are a soft backdrop to bright yellow stools from Wyeth in New York City. "Another way to change up colour in a kitchen," says Allen, "is to use manager's seat stools, and easily change out the canvas covers, which you can get in many different colours and patterns."

Yellow: Inspired by Antique China Designer Elizabeth Swartz, ASID, attracted colour inspiration for her own kitchen (that gorgeous yellow paint is California Paint's CAL #7263M, Sunspot) out of Stangl Pottery's Fruit Pattern. "My aunt had this because of her regular china when I was a child," says Swartz, "and that I have great memories of wonderful family dishes with plenty of cousins. I found a piece in an antique store, began collecting it built my kitchen colour scheme around it." What favorite family objects make you happy? Look to them to get a kitchen color that will keep you smiling.

Yellow: Mexican-Inspired Sarah Leedy-Dooley, ASID, NKBA, used bright yellow walls and an intricate arrangement of hand-painted Mexican Talavera tiles in this kitchen onto a large Texas ranch. When picking strong colours, be sure to check on them in situ prior to purchasing, so you can see how they look in the room at different times of the day since the light shifts.

Orange: Color Pick-Me-Up "I believe color in a kitchen has a hugely positive, psychological effect and makes people happy," says Designer Robin Siegerman, Writer of Renovation BOOTCAMP: Kitchen -- Style and Remodel Your Kitchen. . .Without Losing Your Wallet, Your Head or Your Partner. And as for this specific colour? "Orange is shown to stimulate optimism," she states, "bringing spontaneity and a positive outlook on life. It is a fantastic colour to use during tough financial times, keeping us inspired and allow us to look on the bright side of life."

Orange: Bold Banquette Designer DD Allen's client desired a skillet nook and she got it, due to the vibrant coral and tile banquette. White Eames chairs and a neutral flooring and ceiling maintain the color from overwhelming the space.

Orange: Saturated Shade The least expensive -- and least permanent -- method to color up a kitchen is using paint. Designer Angela Bonfante chose this pumpkin shade to get a tight room with an eye on budget. Against a shade this wealthy, the chain-store throw pillows look like luxury customized work.

Orange: Natural Inspiration The metal sculptor who owns this Oregon kitchen picked a palette of golds, reds and greys as a nod to the neighborhood landscape. "The curved accent walls will be the colour of Sumac leaves -- or maybe a person's lipstick," says designer Rhonda Knoche, CMKBD, CAPS "The yellows, oranges and reds were grounded with black and gray, so the color scheme didn't summon circus songs, which could happen with these vivid colors."

Pink: Sunny Salmon Designer Judy O'Neil Labins picked custom-colored milk paint using a flat, chalky surface with this particular vintage-style kitchen. "Salmon is a great color," says Labins, "and most people can wear it in a flattering manner" Trying to choose a color for your own kitchen? Consider the colors you prefer to wear. They are probably the ones you most like looking at, and also will allow you to look your finest when you're working your hardest in your cooker.

Pink: Art Deco Pizzazz In this kitchen, co-designed by Patricia Caulfield and Marc Goodwin, anigre veneer cabinets have been stained using a pink dye. A honed black granite countertop ties in the black appliances as well as the Art Deco-style custom crown molding. Grey marble tops a part of the middle island, with another altitude topped with Corian in "Strawberry Ice."

Red: Statement Cabinets Jill Green of Sand Castle Designs used a bright, glistening crimson for the top cabinets within this open kitchen. The eye color turns the spacious galley into a design element in the flat, while a stainless steel backsplash and black cabinets add to the glamour.

Red: A Vintage Appearance A rug can add excellent notes of color to your kitchen to replicate a shade already set up as with the red china cabinet inside this kitchen with Sandra Bird Designs, or to decorate an otherwise neutral area. Because this specific crimson is matte, instead of glossy, it produces a timeless look.

Red: Bold Lacquer Color Not for the faint of heart, this crimson, crimson, red kitchen with John Ryba is saturated in a rich, lacquer red. The white ceiling and stainless appliances assist reflect light, an important consideration when you are working with a darker color.

Red: All in the Details With a colour as strong as reddish, occasionally a few powerful accents are sufficient. In this kitchen by Ines Hanl of The Sky is the Limit Design, a red base to get a counter-height table and a red runner rug add vibrancy into a subtly colored kitchen. And don't forget art as a source of colour in kitchens; notice how the framed poster on the far wall rounds out of the colour scheme.

Purple: Sleek Curves Deep Color Purple tones from the 'Red Sunset' granite inside this kitchen with XTC Design inspired the house's overall color scheme, with extreme doses of aubergine on the cabinets (at a lace metallic lacquer finish), and in accent walls, cushions and art throughout the house. Designers Tim Scott and Erica Westeroth, CKD, NCIDQ, used neutral floors, ceilings and upholstery to balance the rich color to get a look that is distinctive but not overpowering.

Purple: Naturally Pleasing Palette A slightly paler purple accomplishes this kitchen with Jeff King, designed for homeowners who wanted a joyful, vibrant space. The kitchen faces south and opens onto a really colorful garden, so the color interior reflects and matches the colours outside. "Don't be concerned about making design decisions for resale," says the homeowner. "You'll be living in the home and spending a great deal of time in the kitchen, so do what truly is enjoyable to your attention."

Purple: Inspired by Vino The wine lovers who have this home had several images of Italian palaces in areas adjacent to the kitchen, therefore designer Connie Rabias-Sbarboro picked a glass/tumbled marble backsplash with lots of purple tones, also painted the walls Benjamin Moore's "Tropical Dusk," a vibrant beige shade. The rich wood cabinetry enhances the area's Tuscan feeling.

Brown: Subway Tile Backsplash When utilized in the kind of glossy glass tile, instead of wood or stone, brown becomes a shade, too. Drury Designs utilized the glass tiles here to bring drama to an otherwise multifunctional kitchen. The tile's sheen aids reflect light to keep the space looking lively.

Multicolor: Intricate Handmade Tiles Can not choose only one favorite color? Use ALL of them, as tile designer Vicki Morrow did within this kitchen, clad in ceramic pieces she layouts and hand-fabricates herself. An accent wall in deep improved picks up a color running through the backsplash also offers stunning contrast to the deep turquoise counter tiles.

Multicolor: Patterned Pillows for a Pop of Shade Fabric is another great way to present plenty of colors to a kitchen, as designer Jessica R. Caviness of Ross Thiele & Son failed here. The soft shades and floral designs are echoed at the decoratve painting on the ceiling beams.

Multicolor: Whimsical Fairy Garden Certified Kitchen Designer Elina Katsioula-Beall's client requested for a kitchen which resembled a childs fairy garden -- and she got it, states Katsioula-Beale, "with daring green stalks made of high-gloss laminate cupboards, opening into a vibrant fuchsia blossom bed of countertops!" And the walls? Marigold orange. If this considerably hard-to-change color frees you, states Katsioula-Beall, "have glass doors installed on some of your cabinets and paint their interiors a bright hue. If you hate it," she says, "that's a change that is easy -- and cheap -- to create."