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tanna_m

Another white kitchen :D

7 years ago
Always loved a while kitchen and finally got the chance to put one in. I am now rethinking the amount of white. My original plan was all white cabinets, marble look quartz in brittanica- the one with the big veins, and maybe grey marble herringbone backsplash.
What do you think about butcher block counters if we kept the quartz on the island and put butcher block on the perimeters? I feel like I might regret not having all white/grey on all counters but I also feel like the times are changing and I need something to break up all the white.
Behind the island on the left is a microwave/oven combo, then fridge. All stainless. Sink is a white farmhouse.
Range is stainless and on the other side of the kitchen.
The room you see in front of the kitchen is the dining room. This room will be white with white wainscoting and the ceiling will be painted or wallpapered undecided color yet.
Our floors are a medium brown wood.
Have not purchased island pendants yet or a chandelier but pendants will either be light blue or clear.
I will post my inspiration pics in the comments.
The cabinets will remain white, if you tell me to ditch my white cabinets or paint them I will disregard any other comment you make!!

Comments (41)

  • 7 years ago
    Brittanica quartz
  • 7 years ago
    Marble herringbone backsplash, clear pendants
  • 7 years ago
    Another photo of brittanica quartz
  • 7 years ago
    My neighbor has a white kitchen with butcher block on her island. I think it looks great!
  • 7 years ago
    Butcher block perimeter
  • 7 years ago
    Either way, I think it would look great!
  • 7 years ago
    Living room inspo (we are going for a coastal- not be achy, California Santa Barbara vibe). Lots of whites and airy with some woods
  • 7 years ago
    And of course possible white subway tile instead of grey marble herringbone. Would use this with brittanica quartz or a more swirly marble counter just like in the photo.
  • 7 years ago
    I won't tell you to change the cabinets :) but that's a lot of white. I'd consider a colored backsplash to give the space a less institutional vibe. And colored pendants as well.
  • 7 years ago

    i love all white kitchens, congratulations. i like all the different combos you have posted. sorry i'm no help, lol. looking forward to watching your progress

  • 7 years ago

    here is a kitchen i fell in love with. actually like the entire house

    Svedala · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    Having lived with butcher block around the sink area, I definitely agree to use the wood on the island instead.

  • 7 years ago

    I think it's a mistake to make design changes at this stage of your reno. Ignore your doubt and stick to your original vision. You thought carefully about your dream kitchen and put research and time into all your decisions. You won't be happy with reactionary decisions you make now. Perhaps you can make changes to some of the minor elements of your kitchen as your reno approaches completion, like lighting, backsplash and bar stools. These items have a lot of design impact and can change the look of your kitchen.

  • 7 years ago

    Another vote for "no butcher block around sink." Wood does not like water. Only if it's coated rather thickly in epoxy will that not cause you problems down the road. And epoxy tends to negate the warm, earthy feel of the wood.

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    It's definitely not too late to change your mind on the counter tops and backsplash!

    White is classic for your cabinets and a great neutral backdrop for any color or style. I'd go with the wood on the island and a non-white counter top on the perimeter--soapstone or honed Virginia Mist granite. Then some sort of textured tile backsplash, something handmade, with a crackle finish, in a color.

    Here are some white kitchens with colored backsplashes for inspiration:


    2009 Southern Accents Showhome · More Info



    Chestnut Street · More Info


    William Hefner Architecture Interiors & Landscape · More Info


    San Jose Res 2 · More Info


    eco+historical Downey · More Info


    East Harriet Colonial · More Info


    Nantucket Sophisticate · More Info


    Cabinets, Kitchens and Bathrooms · More Info


    Kitchen · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    I think you’re letting the renovation get inside your head. None of the butcherblock kitchen pictures look like they’re from the same house as your inspiration living room.

  • 7 years ago

    Take it from someone who is in the process of building right now. YOU SECOND GUESS EVERY CHOICE! Just don't! It will look more anchored once your floors are in. Force yourself to go with your initial instinct. Things lose flow if you start changing things in mid reno. You can add color with many other things. (Rugs, colored jars, plants, bar stools), Just keep with it!

  • 7 years ago

    You have a beautiful foundation! I echo a few others who said don't second guess. You're looking at just the base - the floors, appliances, lighting and then certainly accents will add warmth and color. Good luck to you!!!! Job well done thus far!

  • 7 years ago

    Keep the Brittanica quartz and if you really want some butcher block to cut on, just buy a piece of it, to have laying on the island, for a cutting block. Once it is all done, if you need more color, put it into paint on the walls, which is easily changed whenever you want to change it. Second guessing, usually doesnt work, and then you end up sorry. Keep your original ideas, they are better than your second guesses. Might be time to have a relaxing evening out, with a great meal. :-))

  • 7 years ago

    What is your floor going to be?

  • 7 years ago

    the back wall area is not huge...a straight run and offset from island a bit. I'd take that as an opportunity to do two differing counters. A fine light gray or whitish solid or speckles only for back wall. Then almost anything with more going on for the island. go ahead w movement/pattern/color/ edge detail. that is your SPOT to get focus. I don't think you'd regret it. And yes to pendants...with metal details [you pick the finish] ...and top everything off with statement hardware. Just layer onto your white. Stick with hardwood flooring-you'll love the anchoring of that feature in your space. You have a pretty straightforward configuration...I would do more w counters.

  • 7 years ago

    I have a brother and SIL who have a home that is white on white with some wood furniture. It is beautiful and timeless, but my SIL is and always has been a clean freak and my brother was a laboratory manager and is OCD and immaculate. It is just the two of them and they are retired. No kids, no pets and they hire people to do the outside work, so no dirt is brought in from gardening or after mowing the lawn. Shoes come off when you enter their home. You will be offered a towel to sit on if you have dark stained jeans, as these can transfer dye onto fabric. They do love to cook and do a lot of canning, but they built a second kitchen in their basement so the upstairs kitchen stays clean. They use the upstairs kitchen for non-dirty cooking only.


    It is a beautiful home and fits their lifestyle.


    I couldn't do it. I have a German Shorthaired Pointer who needs to burn a ton of energy so she is in and out all day long. I had horses until my health wouldn't allow it, I love gardening and spend any free time I have outdoors. No one is asked to remove shoes or sit on a towel in my home. I am more likely to appologize and have to move the laundry I am folding off the couch or move my dogs blanket and toys so you have a place to sit down.


    Even my one sister and brother in law who are retired and one was a doctor and the other a pharmacist and are very neat and clean say they couldn't do white on white. They have a 2 year old grandchild and their sons both bring their dogs along when they come to visit.


    Think about how you currently live and if this will really work for you and your family. Do you expect to own a dog or have kids in the future? Is this an ideal match to your lifestyle or is this better left for the designer showrooms?


  • 7 years ago
    Jennifer- we do have a dog, a 95 pound Giant Schnauzer who competes in obedience and nose work as well as backpacking in the Sierras for a week + at a time. We also have a baby- just turned 9 months. But, I still love my whites! I don’t allow the dog on the furniture (unless for a photo heheh!) but I do ask for shoes off in the house and always have. Previously I had white leather couches and they held up really well, still look brand new. My friend has white denim slip covered sofas and allows her Greyhounds on the couch, hers still look brand new as she can pull the covers off and stick them in the wash. I’ll probably get those for this house. I love bright and airy and I love decorating with pops of color. I love to cook and I love to garden and I love to take photos of my food against white counters heheh.
  • 7 years ago

    Love your kitchen already, you know that old saying "stick with your first choice" maybe applies here, don't second guess yourself.

  • 7 years ago

    Lovely kitchen. Personally I like stone/quartz perimeters and butcher block on the island, particularly if there is no sink there - but do what you love!

  • 7 years ago

    Tanna, That is the beauty of this world. Every home should reflect the personality and bring joy to those who live in the home.

    Wasn't telling you not to do white on white - just asking if you thought about it and were sure it fit with your lifestyle.

    Since you are sure it works, I say design your home in the style and with the colors that make your heart sing!


  • 7 years ago

    I really like the idea of a butcherblock island with marble countertops on the perimeter. It adds something interesting to the look of the kitchen- plus it's very functional.

    Butcher Block Countertop · More Info


    eco+historical Sanchez 1 · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    Count me as another who would choose no butcher block abutting your sink, but thinks butcher block on your island would be striking.

    I know others are saying never to second guess, and I'm not suggesting you second-guess your color choice, but speaking from experience, doing both - sticking with your primary 'dream' and altering things here and there if it makes an improvement for you would be my suggestion. Like you, I had a 'dream' color, which for whatever reasons most likely is not popular, and I almost didn't do, came that close! Changed it to my 'dream' - so happy now! But, we've made many other changes that improved on our vision. I know it's hard, but really, try to visualize it, and then go with your gut, because it is your kitchen : )

  • 7 years ago
    We plan to use the island a whole lot for rolling cookies and this kind of thing so I must have quartz on the island. We will get rid of the wood perimeter idea and go back to all quartz. We did make a final decision today to use all brittanica on the island and perimeter. We will wait til the kitchen is complete to choose a backsplash.
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Your kitchen’s going to be a knockout...and you’re so lucky to have all that amazing natural light! In the event you change your mind about the wood countertops, check out Brooks Custom; their work is beautiful.

    P.S. That’s the slimmest garbage disposer I’ve ever seen!

  • 7 years ago
    Here is a kitchen I really like and then a collage of their top, our brittannica sample photo, and then their bottom... the only thing I am second guessing right now is the white farmhouse sink. I may change it to stainless if I can find one the same dimensions.
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I think your kitchen looks lovely! We just purchased white cabinets for our new kitchen, and had a similar struggle with the "too white" look. We decided to go with honed Virginia Mist granite, as our kitchen designer felt it looked more "home-y" and less "antiseptic" than all white. But I think the all white looks beautiful too. You really can't go wrong here, it's a matter of personal taste.

  • 7 years ago

    Serioulsy, unless you see something now that really knocks your socks off, go with what made you pick it to begin with. There was a reason for it.


    I chose a white kitchen. Then saw all of the nay sayers (you know..."ugh..not another white kitchen!"), and did my second guessing. Now it's done and I couldn't be happier. I think there's a difference between being "classic" and being "trendy". You know if it's something you'll be happy with - that's all that matters.

  • 7 years ago

    Looks great! I agree with adding color in the back splash and it will be the easiest to complete after everything is done. Good luck!

  • 7 years ago
    Bring in wood and warmth in your accent pieces - a large wooden cutting board on the island, smaller ones leaning against your backsplash, woven or wooden counter stools or chairs, etc. Beautiful!
  • 7 years ago
    @ponymama that’s exactly what we intend to do... I plan on putting woven blinds in the window, using wood or woven barstools, and yes wood cutting boards leaned against the perimeter counter and pretty wood flower pots with colorful orchids, that kind of thing.
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I confess, I didn't read all the comments but I assume by now someone has pointed out the sanitation shortcomings with butcherblock counters. Here's an age-old solution: a big piece of butcherblock made to cover a key counter area -- say 22 inches wide and counter depth, with a wood lip at the front. It will sit on your counter where-ever you choose to place it for function, add it's wood loveliness to dilute the white, and allow you to put it in the sink to properly sanitize it when you need to do that.

    You mentioned blue pendant lights & ceiling undetermined.... why not paint the ceiling blue? That's a nifty way to add color to a white kitchen. (In some parts of the US there is a tradition for light blue ceilings in outdoor spaces! )









    Semi-translucent glass tiles can work really well for a backsplash if you want to introduce a little color and some textural interest to a white kitchen.




  • 7 years ago
    @karenmo thank you for the inspiration photos I actually love the light blue kitchen ceiling! And we had planned on possibly getting pendants in a light blue color too. I don’t know how it would look with our ceilings blue since our ceilings are only 8‘3“ tall and in all the pictures you posted the ceilings look a lot taller.
    I haven't shown anyone the range side it's pretty much just a 36" Thermador with white cabinets on top and bottom. It will have a beautiful piece of wood cutting board that covers the grill in the middle.
    Our house is actually a Spanish colonial revival, pure white stucco on the outside with the orange roof tiles. So we had planned on incorporating patterned tile somewhere and probably will use it with the range backsplash. But not sure we want to put in the rest of the kitchen.
    I will post a photo of the range side next time I am at the house.
  • 7 years ago

    Ah, the opportunity to use the Talavera tile in the kitchen is fanastic! No better way to warm up a kitchen. What fun you will have scouting around for the right ones!


    Sounds like your ceilings are the typical height -- these pics look less vaulted than the others....





  • 3 years ago

    I'd love to see an update of your final kitchen.