Colorful Accents

Q.  My husband and I are planning an outdoor kitchen and are looking for some ideas to make it fun.  While we like natural stone and wood, we would prefer NOT to have our decor coordinate with the surroundings.  We want it to stand out!  Any suggestions?  – Marcy

A.  There are many examples of outdoor spaces that beautifully blend in with the warmer wood and cooler gray tones of stone but it’s all been seen before. It sounds like you and your husband are up for some creativity.

Using bright colors will certainly stand out against the muted green foliage and sky blues. A way to achieve this easily is by adding furniture and other accessories. Take a trip to Pier 1 Imports, Cost Plus World Market, or Target to select chairs, an outdoor rug, or pillows and plates with color and pattern.

You could go a step further by painting or tiling a wall. Try a subway tile but don’t settle for white…go turquoise, olive green, or fuchsia. A big step further is investing in appliances that are colorful such as a refrigerator from Big Chill available in 8 colors (and over 200 custom colors) or a Weber Q 1200 grill available now in six colors.

Lastly, make a statement literally (see image at bottom) with some artwork. Have fun! – Danielle