No longer are white kitchens considered cold and sterile. In fact they have made a major comeback: you just have to pick up any shelter magazine and my guess is you’ll find more than one white (or off-white) kitchen featured. I for one, am a big fan of this classic look. In fact I have had two white kitchens over the years. They had very different looks and were in different homes, in different parts of the country. I like them because the look is pure classic and that look can easily be changed with just a new wall paint color and accessories.
You can use white appliances in a white kitchen (about the only place that I think they work well) but the trend clearly continues towards stainless steel. Despite that, I almost always prefer the look of wood panels on a dishwasher anyway no matter what the finish. It is hard to find stylish white cooking appliances although some manufacturers are producing white glass fronts on cooktops,ovens and refrigerators.
Still, a white kitchen can be a bit bland so here are some ways to enrich a white kitchen:
Warm up a white kitchen with wood. It can be wood floors, countertops, an island in a contrasting wood tone finish or even a ceiling. Wood has the ability to ground an all-white (or nearly so) kitchen and is a perfect contrast for the smooth look of the painted finish.
This kitchen has it all: a contrasting wood island, floor and ceiling, texture in the light fixtures, accessories and window treatments and great color in the backsplash tile.
Texture can add a new dimension to the smooth finish of painted cabinets. An interesting backsplash (something beyond the standard white 3” x 6” white subway tile) is one way to add texture. Consider interesting wall treatments, light fixtures and flooring. As long as it is easy to clean and adds the element of texture, the kitchen will be more dynamic for the effort.
Colorful plates and accessories warm up this pretty white kitchen.
Add some color. It could be on the walls or in accessories. Personally, I like mid to darker tones on the walls for a significant contrast. You do have to have enough natural and artificial lighting to pull this off, but the look is one of my favorites. It’s what I have in my current white kitchen!
