Photography by Donna Griffith

1 Gutsy green This kitchen is the perfect example of how to take your kitchen from blah to bright all on your own. Homeowner Karen Bertelsen chose to paint her cabinets rather than replace them, and opted for a modern green to spruce up her retro kitchen.

 

Photography by Paul Chmielowiec

2 Splash of red Take your standard kitchen to new levels with a bold coloured wallpaper. We love how the bright red damask wallcovering transforms this bachelorette pad's kitchen into a super chic space.

 

Photography by Stacey Brandford

3 Original orange Decorating with orange can be tricky since it commands attention, but we love the way it works with grey tones in this kitchen. With bold hits of orange, the space becomes the perfect pick-me-up on a Monday morning.

 

Photography by Stacey Brandford

4 Bright backsplash When choosing a backsplash, it seems natural to gravitate towards white subway tile or marble. If you have white cabinets, try adding some character to your kitchen with a coloured backsplash like the one above. Not only will it make mornings brighter, but it will set your kitchen apart from all the rest.

 

Photography by Evan Dion

5 Warm wood Some may not consider this colourful, but it's still a welcome change from the abundance of white kitchens we're used to seeing. We love the warm wood tones used throughout, set against stainless steel and brick for a very masculine look.