kitchen 2-toned tips!

last month

Hi everyone, I could really use some advice from those who’ve done kitchen selections before. I’ve listed an image of my selections as well as my kitchen floor plan.

My current picks are:
• Flooring: Alicia (a darker medium-brown tone)
• Upper cabinets: Stark white, flat/no shaker
• Base cabinets: Aspen beige, shaker style
• Island: Also Aspen beige
• Countertop: (granite, Bianco)

The issue:
I never wanted an all-white kitchen because of how easily it gets dirty and I didn’t want that clinic like feel. But, I do like the modern look of the white uppers and flat style. I also like the contrast of having the lower cabinets in shaker.

But now I’m wondering…
Would it have been better to make just the island Aspen beige and keep the lower cabinets white? Especially since my Alicia flooring is darker, and I’m not sure if having both the island and all the lower cabinets in beige is too much beige together.

If anyone has experience with two-tone kitchens (white + beige) or with darker flooring + lighter cabinets, I’d love to hear if my current combo makes sense or if I should switch to beige island only.

Featured Answer

PRO

Patricia Colwell Consulting

last month

I rarely like mixing styles of cabinets any space and for sure not a different style and color IMO looks like you could not make up your mind or you just added a different syle to save money. So pick one style for all and then if you want the lowers can be a differnt color or at the very least all one color if mixing styles My advice about getting dirty they all get dirty just white tells you when. Why not do the aAspen for the lowers and the island but just flat if you want a bit of color . IMO leave it all the same and then you can change lots of other stuff to give the space some personality I would start with some nice colorful stools and some accent colors

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Comments (10)

Lyn Nielson
last month
white uppers are great they will bounce light around the room for a fresher feel.

the lowers, a mid tone, great. different than the floor, but not as light as uppers.

I would paint the island base a color you love for something interesting.

I am not a granite fan, but whatever countertop that catches your interest is great.

An interesting light fixture, like jewelry for the wow.

colored stools, upholstered in a pattern or even leather for a different texture.

... All Beige is better than gray, any day.
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Sarah H
Original Author
last month
Hey Patricia! Thanks so much for your input! I totally get what you mean about keeping cabinet styles consistent. In my case, I was actually intentionally considering the mix because I really like the contrast between the stark white uppers in flat fronts with the warmer Aspen beige lowers in shaker.

The builder does offer the base cabinets in both flat and shaker, and I was leaning towards shaker because I preferred the added detail on the lowers while still keeping the uppers clean and minimal.

Your point about mixing styles is definitely something to think about though. I appreciate the perspective!
Kendrah
last month
Size and layout is really a determining factor in how many finishes and door styles you can use. I have always had smaller kitchens and learned that in a space like yours, with so few cabinets, multiple doors styles and colors ends up looking hodgepodge, as though you threw in whatever you could find that was on sale - four of these, three of those, one of this. There are other ways to get wow in a small space.

BUT, you seem very drawn to the idea of differentiation. (Do you know why? Maybe your itch for it can be scratched in some other way?) So select one door style for the entire kitchen. Select one perimeter color and a different island color if you must.

I'm not wowed by the selections. The granite looks like a bargain bin special left over from the early 90s, but if you LOVE it, go for it. The wood cabinet isn't my first choice in combination with your floors and a bright white. I wouldn't mind it with your floors if your other cabinet color were not bright white.

Cabinets get dirty. White shows you where the dirt is so you know where to wipe.

Most obvious though is that this kitchen is in a corner of an open space. So I'd think of all of your finishes the way you would think of furnishing this corner were you purchasing case goods and tables for this area. What case goods, tables, and upholstery do you intend to have in the adjoining space? How modern or traditional are your furnishings and artwork? Do you like patterns, solids, what colors are you drawn to?
PRO
Debbi Washburn
last month
Oh I love a 2 color kitchen. We do a lot of them these days. Here are some pictures that may help:

Once you are working with a designer, they can put the colors into their design program so you can see what it will look like and change the colors around to see what you like best.

Good luck!
la_la Girl
last month
I like the white cabinets and would chose a softer/less busy stone but that's totally a personal choice. With more permanent materials I always push myself to go simpler wherever I can - a high drama light fixture or fabulous stools are a breeze to change out. Cabs and counters, not as simple.
WestCoast Hopeful
last month
We have a two tone kitchen but cabinet style is consistent. It is in the pics people have posted too. I would want all one style even if you go with two colours.
arcy_gw
last month
Your standard suburban kitchen is not a place for two tone or two different cabinet fronts. Those look ok in huge kitchens but still always look like the owner is in the middle of a renovation and all will ask which is changing to which.
Sarah H
Original Author
last month
Thank you everyone for all your valuable input! I really appreciate the different perspectives. I honestly never thought about some of the points you all mentioned especially how the size of the kitchen and the overall layout can impact whether two-toned cabinets look balanced.
PRO
Debbi Washburn
last month
I disagree about the size of the space. Some of the pictures I posted were of small kitchens and some were larger. It is your space, do what makes you happy.

Our customer base is mostly raised ranches and capes, so 10 x 12 kitchens with maybe some expansion and we do 2 color kitchens probably 5 to 1! Especially when the space is an open floor plan. Folks don't want an all white kitchen backdrop to their living room or dining room space.

Everyone is different, every designer is different. You have to explore your options, see it in the design program and make the best decision for you, your space and your budget.