Looking for real design inspiration for your renovation? We’ve rounded up six of our favourite case studies, straight from the glossy pages of Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine, with striking blue islands and cabinets…

Blue is equally soothing, sumptuous, and serene, making it one of the most popular hues for injecting colour into a kitchen, whether it’s through a subtle pop on the island or fully drenching your scheme. Its shade variation makes it so versatile that it suits almost every style. For example, a pastel tone feels right at home in a Scandi or coastal design, while navy injects sophistication into a more modern interior.

But don’t take my word for it – these real case studies, which graced the pages of KBB magazine, prove just how stylish yet timeless blue is. Screenshot button ready? Let’s explore these gorgeous projects, the stories behind them, and how they creatively incorporate this sumptuous colour.

1. Charming kitchen-diner

If you are shy in using colour or prefer a bright, neutral scheme, draw inspiration from this beautiful renovation with white cabinetry and a dash of light blue on the island, wall panelling, and the bespoke built-in storage in the dining zone, which instantly catches the eye…

It’s no surprise that when their dream property hit the market, Sarah Jane and James Kelly jumped at the chance of turning it into the perfect family home. “We were working with Delve Architects previously, and knew we wanted to do so again,” says Sarah Jane. “We gave them a thorough brief, requesting more space, a better internal flow, and to retain and enhance as many of the home’s original features as possible.”

So, Delve designed a ground-floor extension, which stretches the full width of the house’s rear, and now, the space is home to a generous kitchen-diner, with a strong connection to the outdoors thanks to four arched brick openings, finished with steel-framed French doors by Fabco Sanctuary.

The couple chose a traditional-style Shaker kitchen, Carrara worktops, a dual Belfast sink, and tumbled marble floor tiles, laid in a checkerboard pattern. To explore more of this home, click here.

2. A warm kitchen design

Just a pebble’s throw from Brighton’s Palace Pier, sits a charming 1930s property – the home of Lisa and her husband (plus their Bengal cat Snoops) where they’ve lived happily for more than 30 years. “We wanted a larger kitchen with more preparation space as we both enjoy cooking, so took the plunge to embark on an extension and a remodel of the back of the house,” says Lisa.

So, they turned an existing double-length garage into a separate utility room and new study. They also extended out into the garden to create a new conservatory and open-plan kitchen-living-diner, which includes a cosy reading nook, too. When it came to the kitchen design, the couple turned to Harvey Jones.

Now, one long run of cabinetry, painted in a soft neutral shade, incorporates a fridge, storage, as well as a large range cooker and butler sink. A beautiful marble splashback in green and grey tones creates another layer of interest. Opposite sits a sociable island, with a contrasting white worktop and bright blue cabinetry. Reeded glazed fronts then face the dining area, creating the appearance of a sideboard from this angle.

Click here to discover all the details of this design.

3. Light-filled extension

A professional couple had been attracted to this property’s location in south London, but two years in, the dark lower floor needed a carefully considered renovation that would improve the access of light to the sunken space without any costly structural work.

So, the couple approached interior designer Lizzie Green to help enhance the property’s period character with an artful mix of bespoke cabinetry, warm, earthy tones and tactile layers, and tasked architects Studio Elephant with maximising the useable space.

They opened up existing internal walls and added a small, one-metre-deep bespoke glazed, oak extension to pull the light and views from the green garden. “The big challenge down here was maximising storage and ensuring the room felt light, spacious and ticked the box of a comfortable dining area,” says Lizzie. “The new extension allowed us to push the dial and make this space feel more contemporary, so we enlisted bespoke cabinet makers WG Studios to create stunning joinery, including a bar area and a central island with enormous drawers.”

The kitchen sink was placed in the bay window to offer views towards the front of the house, while the island was orientated towards the rear elevation with clear sightlines through to the garden. See more of this light-filled blue and wood kitchen by clicking here.

4. Modern blue kitchen

For this kitchen extension in north London, the homeowners – a wildlife documentary producer and a film director with different design preferences – called in Curtaz Studio’s lead architect Marco Curtaz to come up with something the couple both agreed on. “They wanted a kitchen with a sense of openness,” Marco explains. “Nature is central to their lives, so they required a space that felt connected to the garden, with the possibility of bringing greenery inside.”

Marco designed a rear and side infill extension, adding 16 sq m to the property. The room includes a sliding glass door and an oversized single casement window, to create that indoor-outdoor connection and draw ample light in.

“We settled on a palette of polished concrete, silvered rough sawn timber, off-grey painted blockwork and two tones of blue,” says Marco. “We considered how each would work to ensure a seamless finish.” Floor-to-ceiling storage units hide away essentials, while the worktops mirror the floor’s tone and texture. Click here to take a closer look at this striking blue kitchen.

5. Contemporary space with elegant details

Following a large rear extension and kitchen renovation project by Krantz Designs, this 1930s property in Buckinghamshire boasts an open-plan space where a family with two children can cook, enjoy dinner and entertain. From a corner pantry cupboard, clever drawer solutions, to a characterful breakfast bar, the pretty and practical features of this kitchen have turned it into the heart of the home.

“The homeowners asked for a design that would suit their busy family life – so, we introduced separate zones including a sink area, preparation and cooking island, a live-edge breakfast bar (where the edge of the woodwork appears unfinished), and a breakfast pantry,” says Krantz Designs’ design manager Jess Sroga.

“The latter is definitely our most requested feature, especially within a family home; pocket doors are always great for accessing the area whilst in use, and then closing away any mess. The owners have a huge spice collection, too, so they wanted specially designed drawers placed directly below the hob to house this.”

Click here for the full story of how the space has changed the way the family live.

6. Dark blue kitchen design with marble surfaces

Following a large overhaul of this Victorian property and with handmade cabinetry, a fluted, curved island, timeless appliances, and a better link to the adjoining conservatory, the owners transformed this kitchen into the heart of their family’s life.

“The aim was to create a central hub for the home, which would be sympathetic to the traditional aesthetics of the property, yet also ideal for modern-day life,” says Richard McGarry, head of design at The Wood Works.

“Faced with the long, narrow layout, the curved island design provided the best circulation and integration with the conservatory. A lot of the initial design concepts came from the clients’ interior designer, Lorena Uribe, and working alongside her concept, we combined elements from our Lexington Range and customised the curved units to fit within the space,” says Richard.

“At each end of the island, curved storage cupboards provide useful shelves for everyday items. We then repeated the curved detail on the edge profile of the worktop, the fretwork within the glass dresser and the bespoke Westin curved extractor to tie the whole kitchen together.” For the full tour, click here

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