Purple in the Kitchen: A Smoky Lilac Palette Sunset

We've shown you purple hues in the kitchen before, but it's not a color I usually associate with the kitchen. And yet lately I've been drawn instinctively to cool lavender shades — so clean, yet interesting. Take this kitchen from Sunset, for instance.

There's something about the way the "smoky lilac" (their term, not mine!) cabinets catch the light, and the way they look with those beautiful countertops. The clean lines and stainless steel components keep it from looking (to me, anyway) ultra-feminine or Barbie-house. There's something very appealing about this kitchen!

This kitchen was part of a really smart renovation in California. Two tiny bungalows next door to each other were combined and expanded into one 1200 square foot home. The original driveway is now the dining room! To see more of this kitchen and the very interesting story of its renovation, click on over to Sunset.

• Read more: Amazing cottage makeover at Sunset

This pale lavender color is really inspiring, in an unexpected way. I never thought it was to my taste, but lately I've been drawn to it. In fact, I just painted my own kitchen, and after trying literally a dozen swatches of paint in many different intensities and hues, I went with a pale lavender grey — which hadn't even been in my mind initially! It looks clean and cool, but more interesting (and forgiving) than stark white.

What do you think of purple kitchens and smoky lilac cabinets?

(Images: Thomas J. Story/Sunset)

Comments (11)

That is a gorgeous & peaceful kitchen. I love what they have done with what they had. The two tiny cottages have become one beautiful home.

I was just going to mention the LeCreuset post when I saw your link above!

I love my kitchen, but I'm not crazy about the 'smoky lilac' counters the prev. owners put in. They actually seem to go well with my stuff, I'm just not a lilac-lover.

This post makes me feel a LOT better about them. While I don't think mine look bad (although I'd change them if I could), it's so nice to see the color executed brilliantly in another kitchen!!

I had a kitchen just that color once. At first it was a little overwhelming, especially pared with the bright red couch that came with the place (in a three hundred square ft apartment no less!) but after a while I went with it and ended up really enjoying it.

I REALLY love this post! That kitchen and its surroundings would calm me RIGHT down!

Yes yes yes! We have a lilac wall in our kitchen, and we love it!

The colour is so beautifully done in this kitchen - it looks incredible with the blue dishes.

I was having trouble choosing a color to go iwth my birch cabinets, stainless appliances, white backsplash, and blue and green dishes. I used a similar heather grey, and I really like it. The kitchen shown here is really nicely done.

Wow, I never would have thought of this color before. I love it! And it really does something to that stainless steel that makes it seem more friendly and soft.

Just gorgeous! What an amazing space.