Whether it's a cabinet door or a chunk of blue-gray granite, you can use one element to launch a palette. "If you're absolutely in love with it, sure, why not?" says Lois Kennedy, certified kitchen designer (CKD) and member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA).
But hold off buying that element if you can. "I try to get people to keep their options open until all the major components are put together -- flooring, cabinets, countertop -- then make the purchase," Kennedy says. "Don't jump the gun and buy something, and then discover you don't like the options it presents."
For that reason, it makes sense to start with the least-flexible color element and match others to it. For example, that blue-gray granite you love could be too contemporary for your traditional maple cabinetry. Because granite doesn't come in a full spectrum of colors, it's easier to adjust the wood finish to go with the countertop choice. "I can pretty much find a wood finish that will go with just about any granite, but I can't find a granite that will go with just about any wood finish," Kennedy says.
In another case, it might make more sense to choose the wood tone first. "If you're putting ceramic tile on your floor, you can choose a wood finish, and you know you can go out and find 150 floor tiles that will look great with it," Kennedy says. "That's easy."
Tip: Use accents with any style.
If you prefer the beauty of natural wood or the contemporary shine of stainless steel, you can still inject color with curtains and dish towels, or even with a collection of dishes displayed within glass-front cabinets.
