Ready for some turquoise kitchen inspiration??? If you’ve been reading for awhile, you know I never really loved our wood kitchen cabinets in the townhouse. I always wanted to paint the cabinets, but keeping the wood was one of the very few things Hubby felt strongly about, so I stripped the varnish, refinished the wood cabinets, and made peace with a wood kitchen. With the lakehouse kitchen though, he really didn’t care for the wood cabinets. We also knew one day that we would completely renovate the space. But first we wanted to just live in the kitchen, figure out how we use it to determine what changes to make, and, the biggest deciding factor, save up some money for a “real” reno. While we waited, I had fun…
Turquoise Kitchen BEFORE:
The Turquoise Kitchen of My Dreams – 3 Times!!
I ended up painting the kitchen cabinets 3 times in 9 years – 3 different shades of turquoise & teal kitchen cabinetry! Ultimately I couldn’t choose between a bright bold turquoise cabinet color, a soft watery grey blue cabinet color and a deep, inky teal cabinet color. So I tried all three versions of turquoise kitchen cabinets – and loved each one! Here’s a look at how this DIY kitchen evolved over the years…
Bold Bright Turquoise Kitchen Cabinets:
Color matched to my turquoise Pyrex collection, this was the first version of my turquoise kitchen. I was definitely going for a retro kitchen style here and I’ll admit that maybe I got a little carried away with color matching. A painting I had made from a photo I took in Budapest allowed the eye a little turquoise break for a moment.
After some time, I switched up the open shelves a little because my original turquoise kitchen was a LOT of bold color! By incorporating more shades of turquoise kitchen accessories, along with more natural walnut and ceramic pieces, I think the turquoise kitchen theme looked more interesting this way. I loved the bright turquoise cabinet color even more!
Inky Teal Kitchen Cabinets:
Then I decided to repaint the cabinets an inky teal color and replace the open shelving with these cute DIY wall cubbies! I just couldn’t get this idea of DIY kitchen cubbies out of my head and needed to see it happen.
Watery Pale Aqua Kitchen Cabinets:
I started to lean into a softer, coastal decor style so I repainted the cabinets AGAIN and chose a very pale shade of aqua. I think this soft aqua cabinet color was my favorite. I loved the inky teal but it did make the kitchen feel smaller and darker, which wasn’t as fun on long, gloomy winter nights. The bright turquoise cabinets, however, were always cheery. This soft aqua made the small kitchen feel larger and more open. I also had a lot of fun displaying my pretty vintage kitchen ware because this soft color complemented any shade of aqua, teal, or turquoise without competing. I think the kitchen felt the most cohesive with the sofa turquoise kitchen cabinets.
Colorful Mid-Century Inspired Kitchen Renovation
10 years later, we finally renovated the kitchen fully. We made it wider (stealing some room for the dining room) and added a ton of closed storage. I LOVED a decade of open shelving, but it was exciting to have cabinet doors again. Although I chose walnut lower cabinets and white upper cabinets, I did incorporate my love of teal with a gorgeous slab of Portomare Quartzite with teal, green, and blue veining. For the backsplash, I surprisingly did NOT choose turquoise, pulling this gorgeous cool green color from the stone counters. You can see the rest of the mid-century inspired kitchen renovation by clicking the link.
How Do You Add Turquoise to a Kitchen?
I obviously chose the bold route and painted my kitchen cabinets turquoise, but there are many ways to add turquoise to a kitchen. You can add some freestanding kitchen furniture in turquoise, like this soft aqua credenza or bright teal free standing cabinet for a coffee station or just more storage. Turquoise kitchen stools, turquoise dining chairs – or even turquoise seat cushions for neutral chairs – also add a pop of color to add turquoise to a kitchen. If you’re renovating, but don’t want turquoise cabinets, you can choose a turquoise backsplash tile or even a counter with some turquoise. Peel and stick tile (like this stunner) can help you test if you like the look of turquoise tile in the kitchen. You can also incorporate turquoise into a kitchen design through smaller, thoughtful accessories like a turquoise toaster, kettle or even smaller pieces of functional decor, like this turquoise glass soap dispenser set. If you’re really not ready to commit, but want to add turquoise to a kitchen, look to consumable items that eventually wear out (like this classic oven mitt/tea towel set) or items that can be moved from the kitchen to another room (like this retro turquoise clock). Art is always a gorgeous way to add turquoise to a kitchen and the art doesn’t need to be kitchen themed – this minimalist canvas art with a women diving into turquoise waters is subtle but impactful.
Ideas for Adding Turquoise to a Kitchen:
- Turquoise appliances (big or small – even a cute little turquoise toaster oven)
- Turquoise backsplash (even temporary, like this stunning glossy square aqua peel + stick tile)
- Turquoise wallpaper
- Turquoise stone counters
- Turquoise kitchen accessories (like this beautiful turquoise glass soap dispenser set)
- Turquoise coffee bar credenza cabinet
- Turquoise dining chairs
- Turquoise counter stools
- Turquoise free standing pantry (a little extra storage in bold teal)
- Turquoise garbage can storage cabinet (with additional storage for a coffee station/etc.)
- Turquoise washable kitchen rug or runner (like this elegant turquoise and cream striped rug)
- Turquoise art (like this abstract or this aerial beach photo with aqua water)
- Turquoise pots and pans
Find more turquoise kitchen accessories here!
DIY Turquoise Kitchen Stools + MORE Ideas
If you can’t buy what you want to add turquoise to a kitchen – make it! Spray paint old wooden stools, paint an old wooden knife block, make your own DIY turquoise art!
What Style Kitchens Suit Turquoise?
It’s my favorite color so of course I am biased, but I think every kitchen style suits turquoise. Turquoise kitchen cabinets look especially at home in coastal kitchens, cottage kitchens, and modern kitchens. Mid-century modern, retro kitchens also really shine with turquoise kitchen accents because turquoise was a popular color in the 1950s and 1960s for kitchens. However, modern, contemporary, and transitional kitchens also suit turquoise. While rustic farmhouse or modern farmhouse kitchen tend to lean more neutral for a color palette, smaller turquoise accents can complement those kitchen designs as well. Depending on the style of a decor piece or cabinet, turquoise can look modern, mid-century modern, beachy, cottage core, or farmhouse with ease.
Are Turquoise Kitchens Hard to Maintain?
In my experience, turquoise kitchen are NOT hard to maintain. I never had issues with chipping/peeling paint. But also the turquoise paint hid dirt – which probably isn’t a good thing! I would have to remind myself to wipe down the cabinets because no dust was visible. And it was easy to wipe down the painted cabinets with soapy water and a soft cloth.
Is a Teal Kitchen a Good Resale Choice?
Renovating for resale has so many variables: where your home is located, the quality of your renovations, the layout of your home/kitchen, the current, whether your city/town is ahead or behind trends, the style/aesthetic of your home, and how competitively it is priced. Teal can be a very versatile color, a lot of people can make it work. However, if you are choosing a color JUST for resale, I wouldn’t suggest a teal kitchen. But if you have a teal kitchen and your home is cleaned thoroughly, in excellent condition, and styled minimally, a teal kitchen should not negatively affect resale. Remember that people tear out perfectly good white, wood, and neutral kitchens every day. Someone may just want a different layout or style completely, so please remember to just enjoy your home and if you want a teal kitchen – DO IT!! Don’t stress too much if a teal kitchen is a good resale choice.
Is Teal a Timeless Kitchen Color?
I don’t think anything can be truly timeless, but I do think that when a certain design or color keeping coming back around into style that’s as close as we can get! Teal and turquoise were popular in the 1950s and 1960s, and then we saw a resurgence again of teal home decor in the 1980s and 1990s. Pantone’s color of the year was a shade of turquoise in 2003, 2005, and 2010, so the color came back around again. What tends to “date” a color is how its used. Teal and purple? Very 1990s. Teal and coral? 1950s. Teal with a neutral, like cream, has a better chance of looking timeless. But teal consistently comes back into style, so I think you could call teal a timeless kitchen color but its trendiness will depend on the styles/colors around it – as well as the style. When it comes to beachy, cottage style kitchens teal will always be a welcome color!
Ooooo yay! When I saw the picture of your kitchen I though 'If this was my place, those uppers must come down'. And turquoise is my favourite colour, I would be painting ours a deap teal if we weren't renting. A cute minty coloured kitchen island is my goal project for now so I'm looking forward to vicariously living through your kitchen. 🙂
The uppers are so weird, right? Odd door shape, weird arrangement, and they are all different. They date the space.A minty kitchen island sounds fun!!
I love the look of open shelving, but the idea of all those dishes getting covered in "dust grease" (because no matter how careful you are, and how good a range hood you have it always gets greasy) and all the work involved in keeping everything relatively clean… it just exhausts me.I'd need a maid to go with the open shelving
I have often thought that too, but anyone I know with open shelving SWEARS it isn't bad! I will definitely provide an honest review once we've lived with it for a few months. I'm hoping to pare back out plates and stuff so they get used and cleaned a lot, and don't linger much on the shelves, but we'll see!!
Do you think it's possible to paint the fridge turquoise? I feel like u can get away with a lot more things in a cottage-house 😉
I think it's possible! I might leave it white with the turquoise cabinets, but maybe painting it the same colour would be fun. I've seen a lot of chalkboard painted fridges, so it's do-able. Great idea!
These are such great ideas, Tanya! I can't wait to see you start working on the house 🙂
I know, I keep teasing with plans!! It's because I'm dying to see me start work too 🙂
I love that first kitchen from h&h too. We have a turquoise backsplash in our kitchen (I still have to blog about it though).. So, needless to say, l'm a fan of turquoise in the kitchen. Can't wait to see how your kitchen turns out!
Ooo, a turquoise backsplash sounds so fun!! I can't wait to read more about it.
I love the color in the Shelterness photo. It's going to be so much fun redoing the kitchen. I know hubby isn't a big fan of painted wood. Are the open shelves going to be natural? I think open shelves would be a greasy mess if you were just using them for display and never moved anything, but if you use them for pieces that are used often and regularly go through the dishwasher, it probably wouldn't be an issue.
I am thinking of white shelves, on white walls with white dishes (and my turquoise Pyrex) for a really clean look. I hope things stay clean up there!
I have been sloooowly taking our kitchen cabinets from a rusty brick to a creamy yellow, inside and out. (Remove doors and hardware. Wash. Scuff with wet sanding sponge, while wearing respirator, in case that's lead paint. Two coats Glidden Gripper primer. Two coats paint. Looks lovely, but OMG, I am never doing this again.) Putting the doors back on is the most difficult part for me, so we've unintentionally lived with the open look. It's not for us; what with Fiesta dinnerware and mismatched glasses and battered serving bowls, the kitchen feels…noisy. But you have beautifully edited collections as well as an eye for calm. Looking forward to your transformation (and to watching someone else do the work!). Meanwhile, hope your dissertation is going well.
Oh my, that sounds like a lot of work!! But it sounds like it will be beautiful. There are not many kitchen cupboards once the uppers are removed, so I'm hoping the painting will go quickly for me. But thanks for these great tips. I will look into that primer and try two coats as well.P.S. Fiesta dinnerware! I'm so jealous 🙂
I love turquoise (it's definitely one in my home's colour palette) but I have a hard time pairing other colours with it. Thanks for the inspiration! I love love love some of those kitchens.lamourcheznous.com
I have had the same trouble! For the new house, I'm pairing it with white, grey, and tiny pops of yellow and orange. I've also broadened my turquoise palette to include really rich teal shades. It pairs so nicely with similar hues, but deeper or lighter. I always tried to make red and turquoise work, because I love the combo, but it just wasn't "me". Good luck mixing and matching your turquoise!
Hi! Try looking up the designer Tracey Rapisardi. She is based in Florida. See how she pairs turquoise and aqua blues with pale greens, flamingo pinks, peaches, citrus colors like orange and yellow and other ocean blues.
We are on the edge of painting our cabinets. Literally, I should be starting now and yet, I'm on the computer instead. You have some incredible sources of inspiration and although we are doing plain white, I would LOVE the turquoise! So excited that your someday kitchen is almost right around the corner.
White is LOVELY and such a good choice for the long term. I think I want white in the long run, but turquoise will be fun for right now. Good luck with your painting!! I hope the kitchen turns out beautifully for you.
It's so exciting… but frustrating that you have to wait. My husband is waiting to hear from an interview and has another on thurs. But we've been looking at house in the area online and the plans and renos are buzzing around in my brain with nowhere to go- I haven't even stepped into any of these houses. I can just imagine how it must feel for you. Thanks for all the inspiration photos- I had a look in mind and will have a hard time implementing it in some of the kitchens we've seen. So I appreciate a few other options that I love that can be used in many spaces.Looking forward to seeing what you do. btw- don't know if I mentioned it before but I have open shelves and love it- the less oft used items do get dusty but I find easily remedied with a run through the dishwasher. However I really prefer the daily dishes on the open shelves since it never becomes a problem.
Ooo, sounds stressful!! I hope the interviews go well for him! I wish you'd start a blog, because I'm so curious what style of kitchen you're dreaming of. Hey – are you on Pinterest???Happy to hear the open shelving is good for oft-used pieces. I'm excited to give it a try!
Shoot! I hate when this happens. I had commented but then had to sign back in to google and don't know if my original comment posted. I apologize in advance if I'm repeating my comment. Yep, I'm on pinterest. I'm addicted and the inspiration just adds to my to-do list. I already follow you on pinterest, back when you first mentioned it in a post.The idea I have for my kitchen is similar to what I have now but with fewer limitations (namely size and a back door- it's too small for an entry). But I love having a chalkboard wall, open shelf and large restaurant-style rack. So, I'd repeat some of that but love so many other styles and ideas out there. The problem becomes keeping it pared down and cohesive. But I do 'love' kitchens- it may be my favourite room to style.
I do the same thing!Can I be a snoop and follow you? What's your Pinterest name?Your kitchen preferences sound so drool-worthy (love the chalkboard wall idea!).
Love the inspiration! Gives me hope for my small, cathedral-front cabinet kitchen too! What would be your dream lighting for the room?
I am thinking of some George Nelson pendants (maybe the cigar>?) in lieu of the pot lighting, but I haven't found a great ceiling fixture yet! Hopefully soon!