The four-season typology of color analysis has been prevalent for years in the fashion industry, categorizing individuals into one of four color “seasons” based on skin tone, hair color and eye color with the goal to find our best color palette and match those same color qualities into our clothes and makeup. It has yet to be fully explored in kitchen appliances – that is until now. Cabinetry, wall color and even appliances can now sport one’s seasonal color preference. Numerous appliance brands have introduced new color choices to their product lines and some manufacturers have also created custom colors for luxury appliances that capture the season perfectly.
Appliance brands make it easier than ever to opt for color. Consider a completely custom appliance with brands like BlueStar or Ilve – which offer over 1000+ RAL color and hardware combinations. Other brands like Viking, La Cornue, True and Bertazzoni curate collections of the most sought-after hues. If remodeling on a budget, consider the Samsung Bespoke collection offering refrigerators with modular color panels that can be changed over time.
Below are some examples of pairing paint colors with kitchen appliances.
The paint color Quietude HGSW6212 by HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, chosen for its calming qualities, is a serene soft green hue that pairs well with the Suzanne Kasler La Cornue collection.
The paint color Caramelized by Dunn Edwards, a warm terracotta brown with soft, earthy tones reminiscent of sunbaked clay, offers a neutral hue like the Blush color option on the Viking Tuscany Series range, which blends classic design and professional power in the home kitchen.
The paint Encore 8002-45G by Valspar is a cool bold blue hue which corresponds with a True Residential Cobalt 48-inch refrigerator.
The paint color Rumors by Behr is a berry tone that translates to the AGA 39 Inch Freestanding Electric Range delivering classic English heritage and elegant style.
The paint color Truffle by Stainmaster is a deep bold shade emerging as the right blend of sophistication and coziness. The Miele 7000 Series ArtLine Series couples with this color to deliver beautiful design to any upscale kitchen.
Putting It All Together
With a design scheme in mind, one must first consider the undertones of the space and whether they gravitate towards warm hues or prefer cooler tones. The different tones a kitchen can embody are like the light sources in a landscape, transitioning through spring, summer, autumn and winter.
Spring is fresh, light pastels that can be incorporated to create an airy and vibrant space. Summer brings in gentle, sun-soaked hues that evoke warmth and relaxation. In autumn, earthy, rich shades, such as deep browns and muted greens, add coziness. Winter introduces cooler, icy tones with crisp whites, sleek grays and bold black.
With that in mind, here are some examples of built kitchens that showcase seasonal colors in appliances.
Spring colors are both warm and bright. Consider fresh saturated tones reminiscent of sunshine, lush green leaves, fresh florals and soft neutrals. Kitchen looks that best complement this aesthetic include French country, farmhouse, old-world, traditional or cottage styles. An example of a spring palette of neutral tones and abundant natural light in Brooklyn, New York is the work of The Brownstone Boys.
The Brownstone Boys blend their historic restoration expertise with a passion for innovative design. “The Fort Greene kitchen (above) includes a paneled fridge, a professional-grade range and range hood and three amazing dishwashers; one is a double dish-drawer. As designers, we are constantly challenging ourselves to deliver beautiful, timeless and smart designs,” said Barry Bordelon.
The palette for the summer season is characterized by cool tones and muted hues. Kitchens that best complement a summer color aesthetic have low contrast between finishes and are considered light and whimsical. For example, consider Scandinavian, boho or coastal styles and shades of blue.
New York-based designer Chrystalla Neocleous of the Breakfast Room Ltd. incorporated a bold dark blue cabinetry with black appliances into her kitchen design project (above) in Long Island, New York. She selected Miele, Sub-Zero and Sharp appliances for a modern, sleek look, keeping the space low-contrast and letting the bold blue color and natural light fill the room.
The fall season is characterized by a walk through the forest with warm and earthy colors. Kitchen styles that best reflect an autumnal color aesthetic have muted and rich tones and include rustic, mid-century modern, Craftsman and Mediterranean styles. In Atlanta, Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis looked to natural colors and textures in her elegantly rustic kitchen (below).
“With a large red SMEG range as my centerpiece, I created a kitchen bursting with great design,” said Davis. “From the Deco hardware I included from my own Nest Studio brand to the backsplash tile from Fireclay and the set of dinnerware my friend Jonathan Castro hand-threw for me, my kitchen is a place that energizes and inspires me. Because my kitchen is open to the rest of the home, I wanted it to have an upgraded, less kitchen-like look and feel.”
The winter season is characterized by cool tones and a high level of contrast between design elements. Styles that best convey a winter ambience include contemporary, Art Deco, industrial or modern. An example is this Edgewater, N.J. kitchen (below), which showcases black with copper accents appliances and cabinetry created by designer Vanessa DeLeon.
“With so much chrome and gold hardware everywhere, I decided copper was the right choice for me,” DeLeon says. “AjMadison, helped me build my stunning copper-accented kitchen around two key pieces: a La Cornue range with a copper hood and a built-in True refrigerator in deep black. The result is pure design perfection!”
—By Jessica Petrino, educator & appliance expert at AjMadison, a leading family-owned kitchen appliance retailer
