Phase 2 of The House Behind The Trees ~ The downstairs #TeelsBuildaHouse

So we are starting the downstairs ... I HATE to say basement because we had a basement in our old home, where you opened a door and went down stairs separated from anything else. It was a finished basement complete with a bedroom, craft room, family/game room and we spent a lot of time there ~ our oldest son moved down there in jr high and stayed through high school ... until we finished the master suite in the attic then he moved back up to the bedroom floor with his brother and sister.  So here our downstairs is open to the rest of the house, you can see through to the outside from the top of the stairs going down because we have a wall of windows down there as well.  We really didn't plan to have a kiddo down there but since we are having to do a switch-a-roo with rooms (I'll explain later) he is moving home soon and will be downstairs. Anyhoo, our downstairs will house our main family room, our middle sons room, a full bath and kitchenette.  I thought it would be fun ...

Kitchen Designs~ My Quest to Find Stylish Ideas for Our Kitchen

Seeing Red
Afraid of going too far with colorful cabinetry? Then concentrate it where it will count. In this kitchen, the hutch-inspired unit along one wall was painted an eye-catching red color. The rest of the cabinets were painted white or stained with a dark, rich color. Although the splash of red is anything but subtle, it doesn't overwhelm the kitchen with color.

Teal and Tradition
White is a color, too, and going with more vibrant cabinetry in your kitchen doesn't mean you have to exclude white. Mixing colors lets you enjoy the best of both worlds -- and ensures a visually interesting result. In this kitchen, teal cabinetry along one wall is lightened by a white tiled backsplash and center island.

Barely-There Hues
Not sure you want your cabinets to scream color? Aim for more of a whisper. This pale blue island reflects a pastel approach, which is the result of layering a creamy-white glaze over a bright blue one. The off-white cabinetry throughout the rest of the kitchen exudes a soft and welcoming energy.



Courageous Yellow
Worried that natural wood-tone cabinetry would be too dark for their kitchen -- especially during the minimal daylight of Midwestern winters -- these homeowners chose cherrywood cabinets with a golden-yellow painted and glazed finish. Now, no matter what the time of day or year, stepping into this kitchen is like walking on sunshine.

Beautiful Blues
It's no secret that using your home's location is an easy way to cultivate a color palette. These robin's-egg blue cabinets give a nod to the stunning views of the land and sky just beyond the kitchen windows. The cabinets were also treated with a glaze, which gives the cabinets an aged look and the kitchen a casual, lived-in vibe.

Butter Cupboards
Yellow cabinetry gives even the darkest kitchen a sunnier disposition. But yellow comes in a surprising variety of shades, from pale buttermilk and zesty lemon to subdued gold. This kitchen's cabinetry is a buttery yellow, warming the cottage-style space without overwhelming it. The white ceiling and the hardwood floor tone down the brightness.

Chartreuse Confidence
Looking for a quick and easy way to enliven an all-white kitchen? Take a cue from this one and paint the cabinets with an eye-catching hue. The bold chartreuse color of these cabinets personalizes the standard builder-style cabinetry and complements the whimsical butterfly prints and wall decals sprinkled throughout the kitchen.

Gray Eminence
It's not just the brighter hues that make cabinetry colorful. The subtle sheen of stainless steel inspired this kitchen's calming palette of gray cabinets and blue backsplash tiles. The soft gray hue of the cabinetry modernizes the kitchen but doesn't overwhelm the somewhat small space.

Dropping Anchor
Using painted cabinetry doesn't mean forsaking natural wood finishes elsewhere in your kitchen. In fact, some colors and woods work especially well together, with one surface reinforcing the other. For example, the rich hue of this island adds dramatic contrast to white-painted cabinetry and a thick marble countertop. The dark finish of the island blends in with the flooring, which helps anchor the piece in the center of the kitchen.

Collected Color
Colorful collectibles and traditional styling give this kitchen a welcoming, vintage look. Drawing inspiration from a collection of antique dishware, the milky green color of the island is a fresh accent for the white cabinets. The beaded-board paneling used on the island base adds subtle texture.

Refreshing Mint
Bright colors, featured on cabinetry, mixing bowls, and more, give this kitchen an energetic vibe. The cheerful mint color of the island and the surrounding cabinets looks right on trend and ensures the hardworking space is welcoming for the whole family.

Comments