Are navy kitchens over?

[soupdragon321]

Morning everyone. We have recently moved, we have a large kitchen diner overlooking a lovely garden. We need a new kitchen. My heart is saying go for the character full navy kitchen with pale marble worktops that I’ve always wanted, but my head is saying go for something safe that won’t date, such as pale beige type colour. Argh! I cannot decide - it’s such a lot of money (yes I am aware this is definitely a first world problem - we are very very lucky to be even thinking about this at all!). The dining table area is very light, the kitchen end is darker. Wwyd?

I’d buy the kitchen I liked and not give a stuff about what was in or out.

Anything you do will date to some extent. Unless you're planning to sell in the near future, just get what you love!

@Bluntness100

I’d buy the kitchen I liked and not give a stuff about what was in or out.

Agree. Everything dates eventually. Don't spend all that money on something that you don't love.

If you really want it then absolutely have it. I'd probably spend some time online looking at other options on pinterest and blogs and showroom websites just to be sure it is something you really want and not partially the influence of having seen so many in recent times, if that makes sense.

Just buy what you like, because, erm, it's your house...

We are currently planning a navy IKEA kitchen. Their range is interchangeable so if I change my mind a few years later I can just swap the doors out and trim.

had my dark navy kitchen just over a year.
love it - it will date but we plan to be here quite a bit longer, so don't care!!
kitchen is north facing and approx. 6 x 4 m but with lots of light
have no wall units at all and three tall larder type units in an off white colour on a different wall to the navy base units and navy tall units with fridge, freezer and wall ovens in.

good lighting makes a huge difference - I have spots, wall light and pendants.

neighbour with similar size kitchen and outlook has white kitchen, with pale worktop and flooring which looks equally good - and may not date as much - but it comes down to what you like as its your kitchen

My heart is saying go for the character full navy kitchen with pale marble worktops that I’ve always wanted

I wouldn't say a navy kitchen with pale marble worktops is characterful though. I'd say it's very "now" but if it's what you've always wanted, then go with it.

I love navy kitchens. I really loathe boring beige and most people that buy a house seem to rip the kitchen out anyway. Someone I know went for a really safe kitchen before selling her house, drove past and saw it in a skip. Get what you love.

I love colour in general, I have hated renting as everything is magnolia, which bores me to death.

I have had a navy kitchen for almost 5 years now, before it became ‘popular’. I painted it because I love blue and never imagined it would become a thing, but since it has it is starting to feel dated and I’m considering changing it (solid wood so easy to paint myself).
White units and surface with navy walls?

I say go for what you love, you don't get to do this very often and I think you'd probably regret compromising.

If the kitchen you're buying has wooden doors you can always have it repainted in the future if navy's no longer popular and you're selling or even if you fancy a change. There are companies that specialise in doing this and take the doors away etc.

I didn't know they were in! I've never seen or heard of a navy kitchen.Sounds nice though. If you want one have it.

I am a firm believer in “get what you like and to hell with whether it’s in or out” BUT: I do think it’s worth thinking about WHY you like it. Eg I know there are things I like at the moment where the reason I like them is that they feel fresh / novel to my eyes because they are a breath of fresh air to the dominant picture, or they speak to a particular look that suits a particular time (terrazzo and millennial pink/green for example), and in a few years time they just won’t feel that way - I won’t dislike them but the reasons I like them won’t be ones that endure for me. Whereas there are other things I like because they please me for reasons that are more enduring eg I’ve always liked plants, a mix of colours, animal print, old furniture, pale Roman blinds with a contrast border (can’t explain this one at all, I just like them). And I know I am not comfortable with rooms where everything is matching, or the neutrals-plus-accent look, or rooms that look too “finished” and have no room to evolve.

I'd go for it as you've only just moved in. I'd just make sure you get good quality units as doors/plinths/handles/worktop can all be changed easily at a later date.

I always advise my clients to ultimately go with what they love. The home is a reflection of ourselves, our personalities so there shouldn’t be a need to follow trends but more accent with them. For me navy is a classic colour so I don’t see the colour dating, if that’s what you’re concerned about. Not sure if you want authentic marble or more of a quartz top, but worth considering that Marble is very porous so can be more susceptible to stains, chips etc. Does require some maintenance. Personally I’m not bothered by some wear on marble as I think it adds charm, but not everyone does and can be expensive to then not be happy with the how it does wear Over time.

Don’t forget about installing good lighting as you say it’s darker at that end- research bulbs too as one of the biggest mistakes I come across is the unnatural blue light bulbs that create a sterile dentist feel 😂

Also work with a kitchens designer on a few different designs and see which rendered image you prefer. The only other thing to think of in decision making is how long you intend to be in the house for? If it’s going to be for just a few years then consider what will add value and be easy to sell.

@Secondsop I am the same with roman blinds with contrast border or trims, absolutely love them!

Not beige. It’s so bland and characterless.

Buy the kitchen that cheers you up in the morning when you shuffle in to make a cuppa. Beige on a dark February morning is going to look grim.

@BF888 Yes, they’re just nice aren’t they? Neat and nice and make everything look a little sharper!

Have a look at the Frenchic Forum on Facebook. They have loads of kitchen revamps and lots are navy to give you an idea.

If the kitchen is fine in itself you could also just paint them - again lots of ideas.

I've had a navy kitchen, for almost 15 years and I still love it.

Thing is colour was in years ago, then the beige brigade, now grey, it will swing back to colour soon. Trends come and go, make your kitchen lovely and to your taste. Chances are whoever buys it will disagree regardless and the only guarantee is change

Beige is extremely dated. Navy us over as well. The colour of the moment is a deep Forrest green but that started a couple years ago so I don’t think it can really last that long.

@Loveinatimeofcovid, in your opinion. Personally, I cannot stand green, and some random on the internet telling me it's the "colour of the moment", isn't going to change that.

@ Loveinatimeofcovid is technically right, so if you want to follow trends, there it is. However, as other pps have said, just buy what you like. We put in a new kitchen last year, modern and handleless, and I haven’t regretted it for a second because I love it.

It will definitely date but if it is well designed and functional it will still be a classic.

There is a whole industry generating interior trends and making what was new and cool 10 years ago look dated and tired to our eyes. It's a real waste ripping out expensive kitchens and often the more fashionable they are the worse they date. That's probably why you love navy kitchens because they have been dripfed into magazines and showrooms and look new and interesting.

If you want a future proof kitchen I would make it either neutral (white/off white), or repaintable wood. Also knobs are easier to update than handles. If you look at older kitchens the plain slab or Shaker white doors and timber or granite worktops without too many fussy features have stood up best, especially if they suit the age/style of the rest of the house.