Sarah Paulson’s Small Kitchen Is a Masterclass in Making White Feel More Interesting – All It Takes Is One Extra Color
The American Horror Story actress shows how thoughtful design choices can give even a small white kitchen plenty of personality
An all-white kitchen is timeless, but without enough warmth and variation, it can easily feel flat. In Sarah Paulson’s small kitchen, designer Amy Kehoe takes a more considered approach, using green in a variety of shades, materials and decorative details to give the crisp white scheme depth and personality.
Rather than relying on one statement feature, Kehoe layers green throughout the room – from the soft veining of the marble countertop to botanical artwork, colorful ceramics and even fresh produce. The effect is subtle but transformative, proving that you don’t need to sacrifice a light, airy palette to create a kitchen with character.
‘I'm a huge fan of a white kitchen, but it can sometimes feel a little too stark if there isn't enough warmth or personality layered in,’ says Homes & Gardens Color Editor Eleanor Richardson. ‘What I love about Sarah Paulson's kitchen is the way green appears throughout the space in such a natural, effortless way – from the marble and artwork to the smaller decorative touches. Rather than overwhelming the white, these different shades of green give the kitchen depth, character and that all-important sense of life.’
Here are four ways Sarah uses green to give her white kitchen more personality.
A Seafoam Marble Countertop Adds Subtle Color
Rather than pairing the white cabinetry with another neutral surface, Kehoe chose a light green, heavily veined marble for the kitchen countertop and breakfast bar.
The soft sage and seafoam tones in the stone bring just enough color to break up the white, while the natural veining adds movement and texture. Because the green is embedded within a natural material rather than introduced as a block color, it feels organic and understated.
It also establishes the foundation for the rest of the kitchen’s green accents. The color doesn’t need to be matched exactly elsewhere; instead, the different shades complement one another, creating a more layered and collected look.
Botanical Artwork Brings the Scheme to Life
Sarah’s white walls provide the perfect backdrop for a large-scale botanical painting above the counter. Filled with leafy greens, chartreuse tones and playful jungle-inspired details, the artwork gives the small kitchen a strong focal point.
The green in the painting echoes the marble below, creating a visual connection between the permanent finishes and the more decorative elements of the room. Against the white backdrop, the artwork also brings an element of personality and pattern that keeps the kitchen from feeling too pristine.
Similar kitchen, designed by Roundhouse, with green accents.
A Turquoise Vase Adds Another Layer of Green
On the countertop, a small turquoise ceramic vase introduces a deeper blue-green to the scheme. Filled with loose white and green flowers, it picks up on the botanical theme without making the kitchen feel overly coordinated.
It’s a small detail, but it demonstrates the power of using several variations of the same color. Rather than matching everything exactly, Sarah Paulson’s kitchen allows the greens to shift from soft sage to brighter turquoise, giving the palette considerably more depth.
This is an especially useful trick for a tiny U-shaped kitchen. Introducing different tones of one color can create visual interest without making the space feel crowded or overly colorful.
Even the Produce Becomes Part of the Color Palette
The green story continues through everyday objects, too. A footed bowl filled with fresh artichokes adds another hit of color while introducing a sculptural, natural texture to the countertop.
It’s a particularly easy idea to recreate at home: fruit, vegetables and flowers can all become part of a kitchen’s color scheme, allowing you to experiment with a shade without committing to painted cabinetry, tiles or other permanent finishes.
Here, the artichokes also reinforce the kitchen’s connection to nature, complementing both the organic veining of the marble and the botanical artwork.
Shop Green Decor
What makes Sarah Paulson’s kitchen so successful is not simply the decision to add green, but the way Amy Kehoe repeats it through different materials, shades and levels of intensity.
The marble provides a subtle, permanent foundation; the artwork adds personality and pattern; the turquoise ceramic brings another tone into the mix; and the fresh produce keeps the scheme feeling natural and lived-in.
It’s a useful lesson for anyone working with an all-white kitchen: you don’t necessarily need to introduce lots of different colors to make the space feel more interesting. Instead, choose one color you love and look for different ways to layer it throughout the room.
The result in Sarah’s kitchen is a space that feels bright and uncluttered, but never sterile – proof that a single, thoughtfully layered color can give even a small white kitchen warmth, character and life.
