When looking to maximize storage in a small kitchen, Dua Lipa's kitchen may seem like an unlikely source of inspiration. While her North London home is certainly not compact, its lessons in optimizing storage translate beautifully to the smallest of spaces – starting on the floor and ending at the ceiling.
Lipa's vertical storage takes the form of tall, cream kitchen cabinets that don't let any 'dead' space go unused. This strategic embrace of height and light-reflective color aligns perfectly with professional space-saving tactics, as top designers explain.
'There are a plethora of ways to make your kitchen feel smart and spacious,' comments Tom Howley, creative design director at the eponymous kitchen company.
'To promote an open feel, choose light paint colors – like cream or sage green – and reflective materials, such as an antiqued mirror splashback, to maximize light flow around the space. For any floor-to-ceiling cabinets, consider fitting these with glass display doors, which, again, will catch light and make your space more airy.'
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Shop the Blue and White Kitchen Edit
Celebrate the balance of modern design and vintage charm with this classic canister. Ideal for storing dried goods (including coffee) or displaying on open shelving, it pairs beautifully with blue accents and other neutral cabinets.
Made from pure cotton, these soft and absorbent napkins are both practical and elegant. Their refined blue hue (inspired by Lipa) adds a touch of charm to the table, making them great for brunches or more formal dinner gatherings.
Bring a touch of understated elegance to the table with these stoneware salad plates. Finished in a soft off-white hue with subtle texture, they add warmth and character to kitchen shelves, dressers, or everyday place settings.
Bring a touch of Gatsby-inspired glamour to cocktail hour with these striking cobalt blue glasses. Delicately etched with vintage-style patterns, they are perfect for serving short cocktails while adding a bit of sophistication to your island.
Minimal yet distinctive, this sculptural ceramic bowl brings a contemporary touch to a classic setting. With its abstract form and artistic presence, it serves as a striking statement piece that is sure to spark conversation.
This versatile pot is a true kitchen essential. Its rich blue hue makes it as decorative as it is practical, bringing a vibrant pop of color and a sense of character to the stovetop. If there's any color Lipa would love, we're almost sure it'd be this one.
While Dua Lipa opts for solid doors rather than glass, her choice of a soft neutral hue is exactly what keeps the extensive cabinetry from feeling imposing. It is safe, but in her space, it doesn't feel vanilla.
Instead, the cream allows her blue accent wall to feel vibrant without being overwhelming, reminding us just how powerful dark blue and cream can feel in a kitchen and proving that a love for moody palettes doesn't mean you have to sacrifice brightness.
'If you’re partial to deep and decadent hues, you needn’t completely shy away from them. We recommend offsetting navy or racing green cabinets with glossy white countertops,' Howley adds.
By flipping this rule and pairing deep blue kitchen walls with expansive cream cabinets, Dua achieves that exact same harmonious balance, offering a clever blueprint for anyone looking to introduce rich color into a compact culinary space.
Lipa proves that soaring, floor-to-ceiling storage doesn't have to feel imposing. Her vertical cream cabinets maximize every inch of upper square footage while bringing a soft, milky warmth to the room – a look you replicate with Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee or Sherwin-Williams’ Alabaster.
To follow her example with the blue accent wall, look towards Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy. Together, you can achieve a similar impact to Dua's space, even without investing in new cabinets. All you need is a paintbrush.
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