Steal This Look: Creative Color in a Dutch Kitchen

There’s an elegant insouciance that we admire in this kitchen in the Netherlands by Dutch textile designer Hellen van Berkel, especially in the nonchalant way the colors come together.

After graduating from the Design Academy in Eindhoven with a degree in graphic design, Hellen van Berkel began her career in the fashion industry designing scarves; eventually she launched her own label Studio Hellen van Berkel specializing in the creative use of textiles. Her offbeat color concepts are in high demand, and it’s easy to see why. Here, a look at her kitchen (spotted on Bloesem) and how to source some of its key colors and materials. 

Photography by Marjon Hoogervorst.

Above: Van Berkel uses an array of atypical greens to set a fresh tone in her kitchen.

Above: Red accents, including the Red White Vase by Hella Jongerius (€340 from Droog), complement the mix of greens.

Above: The Cross-Colors porcelain tile collection comes in Primavera and Oceana.

Above: For a similar backsplash, try Mint Green Mosaic Tile from the Daltile Sonterra Collection at Discount Flooring Supply (shown). Another option: 3/4-Inch Brio Color Spearmint Glass Tiles; $4.25 per 1.15 square foot from Mod Walls.

Above: On Our Table’s solid walnut Knife Shelf, a dual-purpose knife rack and wall shelf, is $125 CAD. It measures 24 by 4 by 1.75 inches. For more, see our post A Cut Above: Handmade Knife Storage.

Above: From the Color Cord Company, the Red Pendant Light Cord is $25. See more in our post Design Sleuth: Mix and Match Lighting from Color Cord Company.

Above: The Samuji Cutting Board in ash or rowan wood is $140 from Steven Alan.

Above: Red accents can be worked in with linens like the Red Chef’s Tea Towels, $12.84 each from Amazon.

Above: Van Berkel’s kitchen counters are made of a black hardwearing composite material; for something similar, consider Nocturne from Corian.

Above: A majestic Elk Antler Mount rides high on van Berkel’s kitchen wall; $219 from Roughing It in Style.

Above: Still life paintings like the ones van Berkel hangs on her kitchen walls are available at reasonable prices on Etsy.

A little bit of colored tile can go a long way; seeking more inspiration? See 510 images of Colored Tiles in our Photo Gallery of rooms and spaces.

N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on November 6, 2012.