Colors for the Kitchen

"Wedgwood Gray and Woodlawn Blue have that robin's egg vibe. I always hedge my bets toward grayed-down shades, because bright colors that look so happy in the paint store can look bizarre in real life. If you're nervous, start by painting the back wall inside the cabinets." --Clare Donohue

Color has more impact when it extends to the ceiling. Here it's painted Woodlawn Blue HC-147, a lighter version of the Wedgwood Gray HC-146, on the walls. Cabinets are Opaline OC-33. All by Benjamin Moore.

"Especially in a small kitchen, people don't think of dark colors as an option, but that's exactly where you need the drama. This is a lovely gray-green, not too dark and very soft, kind of like moss. Very elegant with white cabinets." --Mick de Giulio

"Red is energizing and invigorating, and this is the perfect red, not too orange and not too blue. It works equally well in sunny or dark rooms and really sets off the cabinets, which we order primed, and then paint on-site with a nice brushed finish." --Erica Broberg

"Pick one wall. Apply two coats of Rust-Oleum Magnetic primer, paint it this yummy raspberry color, and then put up your children's artwork, school schedules, and birthday invites with magnets." --Philip Gorrivan

"The Home Depot Expo has some great cabinet options. Paint them Cream Stone, a muted off-white, more gray than yellow. Then use rich, taupey Weathered Brown on the walls for contrast. It makes the kitchen a little more masculine, more sophisticated." --Barclay Butera

"I'm so tired of all those off-white cabinets. I'd paint them this dark Swedish gray-blue, and make the whole room very Gustavian, with chalky white walls, Carrara marble countertops, and stainless-steel appliances." --Sandra Nunnerly

"I have one of those little green boxes from Laduree, that Paris pastry shop, on my desk. Turns out my client has one, too, and we re-created that Laduree green on her kitchen island. It's an incredibly complex color, a weird combination of yellow and green with this red undertone. Beautiful." --Mark Cutler

"In an old kitchen where the cabinets, counters, and appliances were all mismatched shades of white, we needed a distraction. So we painted just the doors, not the frames of the cabinets, this teal-green aquamarine and replaced the cheap white plastic knobs with vintage hardware. Last touch, a black-and-white tile floor." --Jason Bell

"Might as well make it cozy. Everybody comes in anyway, you can't beat them out with a spoon. Plates would look great on the wall against this warm cayenne, and I'd do teak countertops and cork on the floor -- very soft and warm to bare feet." --Paula Perlini

"It's the color of golden brown sugar. Very appetizing, with a lot of warmth. I'd use it on the walls with white trim, custard-colored cabinets, and a terra-cotta floor." --Joanne Hudson