Interior designer MA Allen gives her kitchenette a bold color makeover – and we love it

What do you do if you're designing a kitchen, but it's not actually a kitchen but a kitchenette? Some kitchens are really and truly tiny, with 'not enough room to swing a cat in', to quote an evocative British phrase. But does this mean that your kitchen has to look plain, or that you have to paint it white to make it look good?

Not at all. Small kitchen ideas can be bold and attractive, as interior designer MA Allen's collaboration with Big Chill appliances proves. 

This beautifully designed space is truly tiny – definitely not one of those 'small kitchens' that are actually quite big. Where space is really limited, every detail matters, and the color choices can make a huge difference. 

The kitchenette is part of the designer's Raleigh, North Carolina home, and she decorated with a specially curated palette of colors which Allen hand-picked for the brand to help create its Fall Edit. The colors are inspired by Paris in the fall, and we can't get enough of the bold pairing of fire engine red, deep gray, and warm browns. 

'Scheming a fall color palette for Big Chill gave me a reason to escape to one of my favorite cities, Paris,' comments MA Allen. 'Paris in the fall is magical, from fashion to architecture and everything in between. My color collection champions both the modern and the timeless, much like the city itself.'

The leading color is Carmine Red, a primal red that really brings the kitchen to life. It works especially well in a glossy finish, used on the Big Chill fridge and microwave. The gray-blue shade of the cabinets is called Signal Blue, and, according to Big Chill, 'the deep tone complements nearly any existing element like wood floors, detailed tile, or a patterned backsplash.' 

What we really like about the color is that it's not too light and plays well again the boldness of the other kitchen color ideas. 

Finally, our top takeaway from this cleverly decorated tiny kitchen is that two or three bright colors is enough to liven up a space without overpowering it. The worktops have been kept natural, which prevents the overall design from looking to fussy, or too retro. What a fabulous solution for small space living.