You don’t need a waterfront house to love a coastal kitchen.

This setup also makes it easy for guests of all ages to access kitchen essentials.

Classic Twist

Take the traditional blue-and-white kitchen scheme to a whole new level.

Welcome Guests

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Add more height to your space by extending cabinetry to the ceiling.

Keep a step stool handy for top shelves.

Industrial Chic Kitchen

Don’t be afraid to embrace your dark side.

Welcome Guests

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Dark countertops and grout betweensubway tilescreate an exciting balance against light cabinetry.

Even the light fixtureslarge, see-through glass pendantswere chosen with the vista in mind.

If you lovecottage style, an easy way to achieve it is with white paint.

Blue and White Kitchen with Hanging Pots

Credit: Tria Giovan

The white wood island and range hood vent blend seamlessly with the area, making it appear larger.

Fun and funky acrylic stools help offset rigid angles and keep the room feeling fresh.

Pastel hues make a statement without overwhelming the space.

Predominately outfitted with light and dark elements, this Long Island kitchen gets an infusion of natural elements from the copper light fixtures and wooden bar stools.

Credit: Photo: David A. Land; Stylist: Elizabeth Beeler

The two-tone cabinetry introduces another style twist.

Highlight the lower cabinet doors and drawers with light blue paint and let everything else be white.

Make the most of Mother Nature.

It’s all about the ocean in this Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, kitchen, and the mostly-white surfaces ensure that water and sky take center stage. Even the light fixtures, large, see-through glass pendants, were chosen with the vista in mind.

Credit: Photo: Annie Schlechter; Stylist: Sasha Emerson

Theblue paintdrenches every inch of this kitchen, including a third shade of blue covering the floors.

The chrome fixtures and an electrified anchor add the right sparkle to the sunny cook space.

For a seamless look, consider integrating your appliances with the cabinets.

Water-hued plates, mugs, and vases match beautifully with mint green pendant lights in this small Tybee Island, Georgia, kitchen.

Credit: Photo: Richard Leo Johnson; Stylist: Elizabeth Beeler

Light and Colorful Kitchen

An emphasis on color and light enhances this kitchen’s coastal feel.

Don’t be afraid to use a bold color in unexpected ways, such as on your kitchen island.

Plenty of sunlight and warm wood floors balance the bold colors.

Light and bright kitchen

Credit: Photo by Brie Williams; Design by Julia Starr Sanford; Styling by Liz Strong

The built-in bench makes this small space seem much larger.

Choose plants with dual purposes: This single palm leafadds life to the spaceand creates a sculptural element.

“We wanted a simple but comfortable house,” says owner and designer Kiki Shilling.

Retro Pink and Blue Kitchen

Credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

The slider doors pictured here collapse into the wall to create an instant alfresco dining space.

Upgrade from subway tile and get creative with the backsplash.

Here, Shilling used naturally variegated Indian slate.

With its new, Shaker-style cabinetry on olive knuckle hinges, open shelving displaying pretty blue-and-white dishware, dazzling glazed terra-cotta backsplash, custom hardware made from a mold of an antique pull, and fanciful range hood, the kitchen is thi

Credit: Photo: Francesco Lagnese; Stylist: Elizabeth Beeler

Add the illusion of more space and light by incorporating cabinets with glass fronts.

The L-shaped counter provides for casual dining or easy conversation.

Beachy Blue Kitchen

In this kitchen, ocean inspiration is everywhere.

Blue Beach Kitchen

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

The polished-nickel light fixtures reflect the sunlight and Blue Celeste marble countertops echo the ocean’s current.

The tile backsplash extends to the top of the wall.

The blue-green iridescent colors draw the eyes upward.

In our Coronado Showhouse kitchen, designer Betsy Burnham bypassed glossy surfaces in for matte gray cabinetry and a glazed brick backsplash, but the chrome fixtures and an electrified anchor add just the right amount of sparkle to the sunny cookspace.

Credit: Photo: Tria Giovan; Stylist: CJ Sandgren

When it comes to adding colorful accents to an otherwise neutral space, don’t overlook appliances.

A cornflower blue refrigerator adds a dose of retro color.

Find ways to infuse your home with meaningful accents.

Cottage Kitchen

The over-the-sink window showcases astunning water view.

Clean Kitchen

Designer Cari Berg swapped the old Formica counters for Carrara marble and installed Shaker-style cabinets.

To make smaller galley kitchens feel bigger, white goes a long way.

Playful Breakfast Nook

Credit: Photo: Laurey W. Glenn, Robbie Caponetto

Bring in color with accessories, like apatterned rugor bright stools.

The red stools and blue mixer add dimension to this overwise neutral space.

Balancing the stark contrast is a neutral kitchen island crafted from light wood and white-grey marble.

Kitchen with a neutral palette

Credit: Photo by Peter Frank Edwards; Styling by Elly Poston

Rustic-Meets-Modern Kitchen

Reclaimed oak cabinets and a farm sink give this kitchen a laidback feel.

The mixed-neutral palette adds a lot of dimension with the various wood shades on the cabinets.

Natural Wonder

Choose neutrals for a palette that never goes out of style.

Kitchen with organic appeal

Credit: Photo by Annie Schlechter; Design by Kiki Shilling; Styling by Karin Lidbeck

Wood tones help balance the industrial appearance of stainless appliances and lend warmth to a room.

Take inspiration from the sandy shores when selecting countertops.

The earthy tones of concrete and limestone make them a perfect backdrop for bolder details.

This Montecito, California, kitchen “has a great sense of symmetry and order, which lends itself well to frequent entertaining," says interior designer Melissa Warner Rothblum. The adjoining outdoor dining and living area, accessible via a pair of French

Credit: Photo: Dominique Vorillon Stylist: Sunday Hendrickson

Or make up a new labeling system and have fun with numbers or beach shapes.

Bring some flash to the kitchen with a stainless steel backsplash.

Available in sheets or as tiles, it perfectly complements commercial-grade appliances.

This Kona, Hawaii, kitchen features honey-hued cabinets and woven barstools for a natural palette that allows the glimmering blue-gray tile backsplash to really shine.

Credit: Photo: Matthew Millman

Colorful Highlights

Maintain a cohesive look by repeating an accent color in varying shades throughout your kitchen.

Striped, polka-dot, or plaid, apainted floorpattern adds spunk to a plain-vanilla kitchen.

If a checkerboard is your favorite design, try extra-large diamonds painted on the diagonal.

In this Delaware kitchen, ocean inspiration is everywhere, from the polished-nickel light fixtures that reflect the sunlight, to the swirls in the Blue Celeste marble countertops that echo the ocean current, and an ethereal, blue-green iridescent backspla

Credit: Photo: Geoffrey Hodgon

Warm Walls

Simple and classic, wood walls and crisp white cabinetry never go out of style.

Are you working with new construction?

Achieve this look by adding reclaimed wood elements to your kitchen.

Walls, cabinets, and floors are painted white to bring in as much light as possible to designer Jenny Wolf’s East Hamptons kitchen.

Credit: Photo: Emily Gilbert

It adds an aged character quality and reduces environmental impact.

For an informal touch, hang cafe skirts in place of lower cabinet doors.

Cafe skirts soften a rustic look.

Nautical elements, such as the handsome rope pulls and the sailcloth shades, give this tiny Cape Cod cottage kitchen plenty of personality.

Credit: Photo: Annie Schlechter; Stylist: Matthew Gleason

Choose a classic coastal pattern or colors for seaside style.

Live Large

Make the most of your kitchen’s square footage.

Replace upper cabinetry with open shelving to keep the look airy, and coat the walls in white.

In her Southern California kitchen, designer Cari Berg swapped the old Formica counters for Carrara marble and installed Shaker-style cabinets.

Credit: Photo: Karyn Millet

(It’s the easiest way to make any room seem bigger.)

Create a multifunctional workspace using a butcher block on your island as a prep area or a buffet table.

Cover walls and lower cabinetry with louvered shutters.

An all-white kitchen plays contrast to this Saugatuck, Michigan, cottage’s surrounding, colorful rooms. Pops of primary colors—red stools and a blue stand mixer—add interest.

Credit: Photo: Ball & Albanese; Stylist: Liz Strong

It adds architectural interest and a strong dose of breezy island style.

Retro Chic

Give your kitchen an extra helping of cottage charm.

Beaded board, marble countertops, andvintage appliancesset the tone for a fresh, inviting space.

Reclaimed oak cabinets and a farm sink give this Long Beach Island, New Jersey, kitchen a laidback feel.

Credit: Photo: Jonny Valiant; Stylist: Erin Swift

Opt for a monochromatic palette paired with glass-front cabinets to make even the smallest kitchen feel more spacious.

Give family and guests (and pups!)

a place to hang out with plenty of bar stools and a cozy built-in daybed.

Bamboo shades, creamy walls, limestone kitchen countertops and sandy wooden cabinets create a soft earthy feel to this beach kitchen.

Credit: Colleen Duffley

This wide window seat also adds smart storage to the space.

Add eye-catching framed art, substantial furniture, and colorful accessories to keep a neutral kitchen from being drab.

Two oversize drum shades in a crewel-like print do wonders to spice up an otherwise neutral kitchen.

Green Kitchen

Credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Get the best of both worlds with frosted-glass cabinet faces.

The polyurethane finish on the cabinets below stands up to wear and tear without chipping.

Watered-down gray paint gives the wide-plank oak floors a worn, weathered finish that’s as beautiful as durable.

Lime Green and Pastel Kitchen

Credit: Tria Giovan

Otherwise, the room is clean and bright, thanks to white cabinets and shiplap walls.

A tangerine door finishes the lovely look.

Small windows above the open shelving add extra light to this airy kitchen.

Wood Cabin Kitchen

Credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Bright Teal Backsplash Kitchen

How do you hold your own against an ocean view this stellar?

This kitchen is perfect with warm, mod cabinets, teal glass subway tile, and all-white everything else.

The open,teal cabinetsmake white dishes pop and easy for guests to find.

large butcher block island in this kitchen doubles as a multifunctional work space as storage is built beneath it

Credit: Jean Allsopp

The extra-long island means this light-filled space is a favorite hangout before and after a day of sandy fun.

Carriage House Kitchen

This galley kitchen in Norfolk, Virginia is the epitome of small but mighty.

Its rich navy cabinets and bright subway tile backsplash are also stunning.

Retro White Kitchen

Credit: Deborah Whitlaw Llewellyn

Plain-Jane cabinetry gets a luxurious look with navy blue paint in this super-functional galley kitchen.

The openness of the shelves offers easy access to everyday items such as dishes and stemware.

The irregular texture of the glazed white bricks on the backsplash is a rustic twist on porcelain subway tile.

Built In Day Bed Kitchen

Credit: Jean Allsopp

Is it cocktail hour yet?

The large island is designed for casual dining but large enough for a family to gather around.

The cabinets are painted a calm shade of blue(Sherwin-Williams Krypton, SW 6247).

Patterned Kitchen Pendant Lighting

Credit: Colleen Duffley

Matte white Cafe appliances finish the kitchen with a custom look.

The neutral, patterned rug adds texture to the easy-going, open space.

The deep farmhouse sink tucked below the windows is both practical and pretty.

White paint and glass doors on the upper cabinets brighten the kitchen in our 2011 Showhouse kitchen in Norfolk, Virginia, while the polyurethane finish on the cabinets below stands up to wear and tear without chipping. The deep blue recycled ceramic-tile

Credit: Photo: Tria Giovan; Stylist: Heather Chadduck

Big Chill appliances in punchy turquoise set the scene for this Caribbean hue-inspired kitchen, where the homeowners selected square glass mosaic tiles in varying sizes and complimentary blues. Select upper cabinets got a rustic touch with wire fronts, wh

Credit: Photo: Richard Leo Johnson

This open, Lowcountry kitchen was almost too classic, with its white cabinetry, vintage-inspired beaded board, and industrial oven, hood, and backsplash, but with its white backdrop and high ceilings, the homeowners knew they could get away with a surpris

Credit: Photo: J. Savage Gibson; Stylist: Heather Chadduck

White Lake House Kitchen

Credit: Laurey W.Glenn

How do you hold your own against an ocean view this stellar? With warm, mod cabinets; bold, teal glass subway tile; and all-white everything else. A trio of punched metal cabinet doors give this kitchen an unexpected ornate touch, and the simple tile floo

Credit: Photo: Lisa Romerein

This Abaco, Bahamas, kitchen feels like a vacation. Starting with the view (white sand, palm trees, and blue sky), the space has “island getaway” written all over it. The open cabinets are painted teal, making white dishes pop (and easy for guests to find

Credit: Photo: Annie Schlechter; Styling: Elizabeth Beeler

This galley kitchen (in the carriage house of our 2011 Showhouse in Norfolk, Virginia) is the epitome of small but mighty. With its rich navy cabinets and bright subway tile backsplash, it’s also one heck of a looker. Plain-Jane cabinetry gets a luxuriou

Credit: Photo: Tria Giovan; Stylist: Heather Chadduck

While this stunner isn’t a full-blown kitchen per se, it is quite an impressive set-up for being out in the elements. With its shimmery tile backsplash, open shelving, mini fridge, wine fridge, and slate floor tiles, it’s a no brainers of a hangout for a

Credit: Photo: Rick Lew

Atlanta-based Designer Carter Kay started with the tile in this DeBordieu, South Carolina, kitchen, and the color inspired the palette for the entire house. A hint of iridescent shimmer sets off the blue cabinetry and sandy trim and ceiling. A light-blue

Credit: Photo: J. Savage Gibson; Stylist: Brice Gaillard

Lake Wylie Kitchen

Credit:Brie Williams  Styling: Jennifer Berno Decleene

Briar Farm Kitchen

Credit:Brie Williams; Styling: Kendra Surface

Allison Allen Atlanta Home Kitchen 1

Credit:Brian Woodcock; Styling: Page Mullins