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A Dusk Blue Kitchen Makeover With Mel

Explore this dusk blue kitchen makeover with Mel Boyden, an interior blogger and Instagrammer who lives in Shoreham-By-Sea with her family. Originally from Cornwall, she joined the RAF when she was 21, where she met her husband who was serving in the Army. When they both left the military, they decided to settle by the coast with their two small children, where they have been renovating their home to match their personal style. Writing weekly on her blog about interior design, trends, and DIY, Mel recently won the Amara Interior Blog Award for Best Home Styling. See how her kitchen makeover created a colourful, classic-meets-contemporary space with shaker-style cupboards, a two-tone blue scheme, and everything the couple need for entertaining at home.

An unsociable setup

Mel’s house on the coast was a doer-upper when her family moved in, with a cooking area that lacked personality and space for entertaining.

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An unsociable setup

Mel and her husband love to host family and friends, so an extension was essential to increase the footprint of the room. Their trade professional knocked through the second lounge into the old dining area, creating a larger layout that could accommodate an island for entertaining.

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Vibrant shaker style

A two-tone scheme was top of Mel’s list, so she used different hues for the wall units and island centrepiece to bring colour to her classic design.

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Vibrant shaker style

Opting for Chelford cupboards in separate shades, Mel created a coordinated look with a pop of personality that was a vast improvement on their all-white design. With a modern property, the smooth finish and wide border detail of the Chelford fronts offer classic shaker style with a contemporary twist for added character.

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True blue

Mel wanted a playful palette, so she paired dusk blue fronts with navy to craft a colourful and characterful space.

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True blue

To bring subtle contrast to the design, Mel chose two tones of blue – one for the cupboards that span the walls and one for the island. The rich navy shade ensures the island makes an instant impression when guests come to visit, while dusk blue is a softer hue that creates a sense of tranquillity on busy days.

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Marble marvel

With her heart set on a white marble-effect quartz counter, Mel designed the space around this premium feature.

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Marble marvel

The crisp, white shade of the counters adds a bright border to the blue colour scheme, while the marble pattern offers an enduring appeal that elevates the aesthetic. White is also a colour that is always in fashion, so Mel can enjoy this look for many years to come. Meanwhile, quartz is hardwearing and durable, making it a great option for the hub of a busy family home.

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Cook for a crowd

A range was a must-have for Mel thanks to its heritage look and the added room that caters for a crowd with ease.

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Cook for a crowd

The freestanding, traditional design of this stove complements the classic look of the shaker cupboards and is a statement piece that instantly catches the eye. The heritage style will stand the test of time while also giving Mel the space she needs to cook multiple dishes at once - a must when entertaining hungry guests.

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Bold as brass

On-trend brass accessories add warmth to the blue design while introducing texture to the framed fronts.

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Bold as brass

Hand-pulls from our knurled collection have a distinctive ridged pattern and dual-textured finish which makes them eye-catching and easy to grip. This creates an engineered look in Mel's home, which is balanced by the heritage-inspired brass finish. By mixing cup and bar styles, Mel has crafted a bespoke look that adds an eclectic touch.

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Antique accents

Tying the metallic scheme together, Mel chose fixtures in a matching brass finish to enhance a vintage appeal.

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An antique accent

With a classic swan neck and sleek single spout, the Victorian-style tap adds a softer element to the engineered touches in Mel’s layout. Coordinating the colour with the finish of the hand pulls draws on the curated style of boutique interiors and is a simple way to achieve a premium look.

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Retro revival

Mel’s ceramic bowl has an iconic look that ties in with the classic style. The larger size is also handy in a busy space.

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Retro revival

With a durable and hardwearing ceramic construction, this traditional bowl is well-suited to the demands of modern life. The classic style is paired with a deep design that can hold larger pots or delicate crockery that need to be washed by hand. It is also useful for hiding dirty dishes during an evening of entertaining.

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