02/03/2026
I was recently asked for some advice on a kitchen color, the client had a bold idea in mind after seeing a neon colored kitchen at a furniture showroom.
She was already in love with it and I didn’t want to take away from her enthusiasm, but it’s a question I always have to ask: how would that kitchen actually feel in her home, at 9 in the morning on an ordinary day or on a cloudy afternoon?
It reminded me of this beautiful kitchen I saw at Casa Decor a few years back. Casa Decor always pushes color to the limit, and I love that about it. But looking closely, it’s not a pink kitchen, the neon magic is all in the clever lighting hidden inside the glass. It’s the cabinetry plus the pink light plus all the reflective surfaces playing with the color. If we turn the LEDs off, it changes the feel and we’re left with a much more neutral space.
It’s not about painting the furniture bold but about understanding where the bold effect is actually coming from. In this case, a big part of it is the lighting. Turn off the pink glow, and what’s left is a beautiful terracotta kitchen we could live with for years.
There’s a big difference between creating a bold effect with light and committing to it in the cabinetry. Sometimes it makes more sense to keep the base calm and let the lighting create the drama. Because lighting can always be adjusted, but cabinetry can’t.
A bold effect can definitely get attention, and it’s fun to photograph. But in real homes, the real question isn’t whether we go bold or not, it’s where we place that boldness.
When you choose something bold for your home, do you consider how easy (or expensive) it will be to change your mind later?
