13 Fresh Ways With a White Kitchen
White-on-white kitchens have been a classic look for many years. Why does this trend endure? For starters, white connotes cleanliness, makes small spaces appear larger, and brightens rooms that are naturally dark.
Although many all-white kitchens are just lovely, some can appear a bit stark or cold. To help clients warm up their white, I recommend a variety of strategies, such as mixing metals and adding contrasting paint, fabric or wood. Read on for inspiration for personalizing your white kitchen so that it stands out from the crowd.
Although many all-white kitchens are just lovely, some can appear a bit stark or cold. To help clients warm up their white, I recommend a variety of strategies, such as mixing metals and adding contrasting paint, fabric or wood. Read on for inspiration for personalizing your white kitchen so that it stands out from the crowd.
1. Warm metal accents. Copper, bronze, brass and polished nickel are just a few of the metals that can warm up an all-white kitchen. The gold sconces above the window and the white pendant lights, with their subtle hint of gold, add warmth and a touch of luxury to this all-white kitchen.
2. Color and metal. Moving beyond metallics alone, a single contrasting color when combined with metals can create drama in a white kitchen. In this photo, a modern white kitchen intermingles black pendants and countertops with gold seating. This combination contributes to the room’s sleek contemporary look.
Browse black pendant lights
Browse black pendant lights
3. Wallpaper. I love wallpaper, especially in kitchens. Wallpaper can introduce color, movement and dimension to a white kitchen. When applied to a lone wall, wallpaper can create a dynamic focal point, as shown in this photo. The bright white cabinets and crisp white walls are softened by the shades of blue in the fish swimming on the side wall. This kitchen’s under-the-sea motif is enhanced by the blue tile on the back wall and the sea urchin-shaped pendant lights.
Unlike the previous photo, where the wallpaper takes center stage, here a gray-and-white paisley wallpaper provides a muted backdrop that enhances the quiet elegance of this white kitchen.
4. Colorful island. Wood-stained islands often appear in white kitchens because of the richness and contrast they bring. This kitchen shows a creative alternative, pairing a chartreuse island with a chartreuse Roman shade. Together they lend a whimsical, personalized feel. To give your white kitchen a personal touch, consider painting your island your favorite color.
7 White Kitchens That Make the Case for Painting the Island
7 White Kitchens That Make the Case for Painting the Island
This kitchen — with its bright red island, contrasting black countertops and graphic floor — is a bold example of a one-of-a-kind white kitchen.
5. Tile rug. Layering in a rug is a great way to introduce color and texture to an all-white kitchen, but some clients worry that a rug could be an added source of dirt as well as a possible tripping hazard.
This clever kitchen resolves both issues with a tile rug instead of a fabric one.
Browse black and white floor tile
This clever kitchen resolves both issues with a tile rug instead of a fabric one.
Browse black and white floor tile
6. Backsplash. A tile backsplash also can bring color and texture to your white kitchen. But who says a backsplash must be tile? This kitchen has a counter-level window in lieu of a tile splash. The window faces a luscious succulent garden, thus creating a green vista for an otherwise monochromatic kitchen.
7. Painted ceiling. A painted ceiling can bring unexpected color to your white kitchen. Ceilings are often painted a shade of white, regardless of the room’s wall color. Instead, they can be considered the fifth wall and a canvas ready for color — think of yourself as Michelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling for inspiration! The kitchen in this photo has a painted yellow ceiling juxtaposed with a blue-and-white striped runner in the kitchen’s center. These two elements create a vibrant feel for this primarily white kitchen. Dark countertops heighten the room’s drama.
Unlike the energetic yellow ceiling in the previous photo, this light blue ceiling evokes a tranquil feeling for this kitchen.
8. Statement hood. Sometimes a large hood together with dramatic backsplash is all the design statement you need in a white kitchen, as shown in this photo.
9. Art wall. The trend for fewer wall cabinets to create more openness in the kitchen is evidenced in this photo. This kitchen takes advantage of its lack of upper cabinetry by creating an artistic focal point behind the hood with tile.
The Pros and Cons of Upper Kitchen Cabinets and Open Shelves
The Pros and Cons of Upper Kitchen Cabinets and Open Shelves
10. Wood. Real wood can add a warm organic element to your white kitchen. Islands, floating shelves and countertops are great potential kitchen additions in wood. This photo shows a live-edge bar top.
11. In lieu of marble. Traditional white kitchens often are presented with marble countertops and white subway tiles for a classic look. This kitchen also feels classic, but in a new way, thanks to Azul Macaubas counters and a soft white-and-blue mosaic tile backsplash.
12. Beyond stainless. Another way to bring color to your white kitchen is with colorful appliances, as seen in this kitchen. Turquoise appliances and a turquoise-tinged backsplash wall brighten this space.
Which Appliance Finish Should You Choose for Your Kitchen?
Which Appliance Finish Should You Choose for Your Kitchen?
1
13. Colorful fabric. Consider window coverings and pillows for your kitchen. Colorful and patterned fabrics can add visual interest to a white kitchen, as shown in this photo.