7 Stylish New Kitchens in White, Wood and Blue
See how pros use this classic palette to add brightness, warmth and personality
Kitchens that combine white, wood and blue strike a balance that feels natural. White keeps things bright and clean, wood layers in warmth and texture, and blue adds just enough color to ground the space — or give it personality — without overwhelming it. It’s a palette that works as well in a family hub as it does in a vacation retreat or entertaining-focused kitchen. Here, design and construction pros share the details in seven kitchens that show just how versatile the color trio can be.
Other special features. “A generous island with seating for the whole family became a focal point for casual meals and busy morning routines, while a tucked-away butler’s pantry provided much-needed storage for small appliances, snacks and entertaining overflow,” Howard says. The countertops and backsplash are stone-look quartz.
Designer tip. “Our biggest focus is always flow and function first,” Howard says. “In this space, we carefully planned walkways and circulation so the room works smoothly for daily life, whether that’s multiple people cooking, kids moving through the space or entertaining without congestion.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The big ‘uh-oh’ came once we opened up the walls and foundation and discovered extensive rot throughout the home,” Howard says. “Originally a 1950s home with a large footprint, the house ultimately required a complete rebuild, from the basement level all the way up to a new cedar shingle roof. Fortunately, we were able to keep the project moving efficiently as each phase was addressed.”
All cabinetry and millwork: JWH Design and Cabinetry
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Designer tip. “Our biggest focus is always flow and function first,” Howard says. “In this space, we carefully planned walkways and circulation so the room works smoothly for daily life, whether that’s multiple people cooking, kids moving through the space or entertaining without congestion.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The big ‘uh-oh’ came once we opened up the walls and foundation and discovered extensive rot throughout the home,” Howard says. “Originally a 1950s home with a large footprint, the house ultimately required a complete rebuild, from the basement level all the way up to a new cedar shingle roof. Fortunately, we were able to keep the project moving efficiently as each phase was addressed.”
All cabinetry and millwork: JWH Design and Cabinetry
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
2. Estuary Echoes
Designer: Elin Walters of Exactly Designs
Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Size: 304 square feet (28 square meters); 16 by 19 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This room was part of a newly constructed home,” says designer Elin Walters. “The owners were lucky enough to build from the ground up and had the opportunity to dream up exactly what they wanted in a home. The kitchen, dining and living are connected by one continuous open space, with full-length windows overlooking a pool and one of the estuaries off the Chesapeake Bay beyond. The idea and desire was to enjoy the view from all the main living spaces.”
White, wood and blue elements. “The color palette of blue and white was chosen to bring in the element of water, seeing that the home sits on the shores of an estuary and has stunning views,” Walters says. “Wood was chosen as a way to bring the outdoors inside, while also creating a feeling of warmth. Wood repeats throughout the home by way of built-in cabinets, vanities, paneled walls and ceiling beams. Sherwin-Williams Storyteller white (now called White Flour) was used on the walls; it’s a warm, inviting white that created a clean backdrop from which to highlight the rest of the design. Blues were used in tiles and light fixtures rather than wall colors.”
Designer: Elin Walters of Exactly Designs
Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Size: 304 square feet (28 square meters); 16 by 19 feet
Homeowners’ request. “This room was part of a newly constructed home,” says designer Elin Walters. “The owners were lucky enough to build from the ground up and had the opportunity to dream up exactly what they wanted in a home. The kitchen, dining and living are connected by one continuous open space, with full-length windows overlooking a pool and one of the estuaries off the Chesapeake Bay beyond. The idea and desire was to enjoy the view from all the main living spaces.”
White, wood and blue elements. “The color palette of blue and white was chosen to bring in the element of water, seeing that the home sits on the shores of an estuary and has stunning views,” Walters says. “Wood was chosen as a way to bring the outdoors inside, while also creating a feeling of warmth. Wood repeats throughout the home by way of built-in cabinets, vanities, paneled walls and ceiling beams. Sherwin-Williams Storyteller white (now called White Flour) was used on the walls; it’s a warm, inviting white that created a clean backdrop from which to highlight the rest of the design. Blues were used in tiles and light fixtures rather than wall colors.”
Other special features. “The star of the show in this kitchen is the blue Via collection tile by Clayhaus Tile,” Walters says. “The Louis Poulsen PH5 pendant lamp [previous photo] from Design Within Reach was chosen to match the same shades of blue in the tile.”
Designer tip. “I chose the tile in this room as the main focus,” Walters says. “From there, the building of layers begins. You will see that the light fixtures pick up the same colors and angles of the tiles. That repetition is easy on the eye. I always choose one item in a room and build the rest of the design around that item — colors, shape, pattern. If you start with one item that you love, you can build on that item and keep selecting colors and textures until the whole picture comes together. By starting with something that you love, you can create a space that feels good to you.”
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Designer tip. “I chose the tile in this room as the main focus,” Walters says. “From there, the building of layers begins. You will see that the light fixtures pick up the same colors and angles of the tiles. That repetition is easy on the eye. I always choose one item in a room and build the rest of the design around that item — colors, shape, pattern. If you start with one item that you love, you can build on that item and keep selecting colors and textures until the whole picture comes together. By starting with something that you love, you can create a space that feels good to you.”
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3. Slim Socializer
Designer: Katelyn Gilmour of KBG Design
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 240 square feet (22 square meters); 12 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “Our client’s biggest complaint was that the kitchen was way too small and crowded for their family,” says designer Katelyn Gilmour. The dark, cramped kitchen lacked counter space, room for entertaining and a connection to the outdoors. By absorbing the undersize dining room, Gilmour doubled the kitchen’s footprint, added a movable slim island, improved indoor-outdoor flow and created a more functional, social hub.
White, wood and blue elements. “Our clients knew from the very beginning that they wanted a brighter, crisp color palette of white, blue and some sort of natural wood elements,” Gilmour says. “We intentionally placed stained rift white oak cabinet accents within the kitchen to echo around the room and incorporated some live-edge shelving above their coffee station (to the right of the fridge). Instead of a standard island, we proposed a slim one-of-a-kind rolling wood island, which provides daily storage and countertop space but can also be moved out of the way and used for other forms of buffet-style serving or entertainment.”
The white cabinets are painted in Dunn-Edwards’ Cool December. The blue is Dunn-Edwards’ Yankee Doodle. The flooring is European oak.
Designer: Katelyn Gilmour of KBG Design
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 240 square feet (22 square meters); 12 by 20 feet
Homeowners’ request. “Our client’s biggest complaint was that the kitchen was way too small and crowded for their family,” says designer Katelyn Gilmour. The dark, cramped kitchen lacked counter space, room for entertaining and a connection to the outdoors. By absorbing the undersize dining room, Gilmour doubled the kitchen’s footprint, added a movable slim island, improved indoor-outdoor flow and created a more functional, social hub.
White, wood and blue elements. “Our clients knew from the very beginning that they wanted a brighter, crisp color palette of white, blue and some sort of natural wood elements,” Gilmour says. “We intentionally placed stained rift white oak cabinet accents within the kitchen to echo around the room and incorporated some live-edge shelving above their coffee station (to the right of the fridge). Instead of a standard island, we proposed a slim one-of-a-kind rolling wood island, which provides daily storage and countertop space but can also be moved out of the way and used for other forms of buffet-style serving or entertainment.”
The white cabinets are painted in Dunn-Edwards’ Cool December. The blue is Dunn-Edwards’ Yankee Doodle. The flooring is European oak.
Other special features. Marble-look quartz countertops. Glossy white backsplash tile. “The new sink window can fully stack to one side, creating a connection between their indoor and outdoor spaces,” Gilmour says.
Designer tip. “Hot tip: Just because your kitchen is narrow doesn’t mean you cannot have a kitchen island,” Gilmour says. “Consider putting locking casters on a slim table to have an island but with the flexibility of not fully committing to it. Another tip: Surface-mounted light fixtures can add layers of lighting and interest within a space. In other words, standard pendants and sconces are not your only lighting options.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “It’s not every day we have clients that want their countertops to have lots of visual veining and movement to them, but these clients did,” Gilmour says. “We went to great lengths to draw up a specific slab templating design plan ahead of the fabricator to ensure the seams were minimal and the slab’s veining would flow contiguously. Well, somehow these plans were not followed. And to nobody’s surprise, the seams looked awful. Even worse, we were out of slab material. Instead of pointing fingers, my team and I quickly became part of the solution. We worked with the GC and fabricator to provide alternative slab layouts to minimize time and cost for the issue to be resolved. After reviewing this plan with the clients, and getting their approval, only one extra slab was needed to replace the mismatched sections of the countertops with only a 10-day delay to the schedule. Phew!”
Countertops: Windsor Brass, Cambria; backsplash tile: Cloe glossy in white, 2 by 8 inches, Bedrosians
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Designer tip. “Hot tip: Just because your kitchen is narrow doesn’t mean you cannot have a kitchen island,” Gilmour says. “Consider putting locking casters on a slim table to have an island but with the flexibility of not fully committing to it. Another tip: Surface-mounted light fixtures can add layers of lighting and interest within a space. In other words, standard pendants and sconces are not your only lighting options.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “It’s not every day we have clients that want their countertops to have lots of visual veining and movement to them, but these clients did,” Gilmour says. “We went to great lengths to draw up a specific slab templating design plan ahead of the fabricator to ensure the seams were minimal and the slab’s veining would flow contiguously. Well, somehow these plans were not followed. And to nobody’s surprise, the seams looked awful. Even worse, we were out of slab material. Instead of pointing fingers, my team and I quickly became part of the solution. We worked with the GC and fabricator to provide alternative slab layouts to minimize time and cost for the issue to be resolved. After reviewing this plan with the clients, and getting their approval, only one extra slab was needed to replace the mismatched sections of the countertops with only a 10-day delay to the schedule. Phew!”
Countertops: Windsor Brass, Cambria; backsplash tile: Cloe glossy in white, 2 by 8 inches, Bedrosians
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4. Navy Showstopper
Designer: Whitney Nelson of Granite State Cabinetry
Location: Hooksett, New Hampshire
Size: 500 square feet (46 square meters)
Homeowner’s request. “This client’s dishwasher failed them, so this started as an unexpected remodel due to water damage,” says designer Whitney Nelson. “Being an unexpected remodel, they put the design into my hands. Given the size of this space, I knew we were able to do something dramatically different than what they had. An angled peninsula in the original design really trapped you into this small corner of a really large room. The two-tier countertop was dated and really broke up any sort of sightline. There was also no focal point in the room.”
White, wood and blue elements. “This client’s personality was bold, so I knew she’d be open to something other than white for cabinetry,” Nelson says. “Her love for navy blue made it an easy choice to have Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy chosen as the main cabinet color. The island was done in a beautiful stained walnut. I accented the shelves in the glass cabinets with the same stained walnut. We brightened the space with some contrast in the quartz countertops and backsplash.”
Designer: Whitney Nelson of Granite State Cabinetry
Location: Hooksett, New Hampshire
Size: 500 square feet (46 square meters)
Homeowner’s request. “This client’s dishwasher failed them, so this started as an unexpected remodel due to water damage,” says designer Whitney Nelson. “Being an unexpected remodel, they put the design into my hands. Given the size of this space, I knew we were able to do something dramatically different than what they had. An angled peninsula in the original design really trapped you into this small corner of a really large room. The two-tier countertop was dated and really broke up any sort of sightline. There was also no focal point in the room.”
White, wood and blue elements. “This client’s personality was bold, so I knew she’d be open to something other than white for cabinetry,” Nelson says. “Her love for navy blue made it an easy choice to have Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy chosen as the main cabinet color. The island was done in a beautiful stained walnut. I accented the shelves in the glass cabinets with the same stained walnut. We brightened the space with some contrast in the quartz countertops and backsplash.”
Other special features. “The focal point in the room is the custom 7-foot metal hood,” Nelson says. “The body of the hood is in a smoky gray and the straps are in a deep bronze color, both colors that are in the waves of the quartz countertops.” Textured limestone tile forms the sink backsplash. The floors are white oak in a custom stain.
Designer tip. “Trust the process and know that your new space doesn’t need to have any resemblance to the old space,” Nelson says.
Countertops: Cambria; hood: Modern Aire
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Designer tip. “Trust the process and know that your new space doesn’t need to have any resemblance to the old space,” Nelson says.
Countertops: Cambria; hood: Modern Aire
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5. Event-Ready Hub
Designer: Maria Tenaglia Design
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Size: 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Located on the first floor of a traditional four-story Albert Farr-designed residence, this kitchen was conceived primarily as an entertaining space, serving as the principal connection to the adjacent outdoor living areas,” says designer Maria Tenaglia. “While fully equipped for everyday functionality, it was designed with professional use in mind, accommodating caterers during large-scale gatherings and events.”
White, wood and blue elements. “Being adjacent to the outdoor space with its pool and landscaped area, the white-and-blue palette was a natural choice,” Tenaglia says. “The walnut elements are predominantly on the butcher block and baseboard of the island. The Oxford White Benjamin Moore cabinets envelop the perimeter of the room, while the Benjamin Moore blue Spellbound-painted cabinetry anchors the core of the space, the island and the cook line. Benjamin Moore Hearthstone was used for the doors, windows, trim and ceiling beams to tie in with the lovely hex white-and-gray machined antique marble floor, a standout feature offering both durability and luxury.”
Designer: Maria Tenaglia Design
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Size: 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “Located on the first floor of a traditional four-story Albert Farr-designed residence, this kitchen was conceived primarily as an entertaining space, serving as the principal connection to the adjacent outdoor living areas,” says designer Maria Tenaglia. “While fully equipped for everyday functionality, it was designed with professional use in mind, accommodating caterers during large-scale gatherings and events.”
White, wood and blue elements. “Being adjacent to the outdoor space with its pool and landscaped area, the white-and-blue palette was a natural choice,” Tenaglia says. “The walnut elements are predominantly on the butcher block and baseboard of the island. The Oxford White Benjamin Moore cabinets envelop the perimeter of the room, while the Benjamin Moore blue Spellbound-painted cabinetry anchors the core of the space, the island and the cook line. Benjamin Moore Hearthstone was used for the doors, windows, trim and ceiling beams to tie in with the lovely hex white-and-gray machined antique marble floor, a standout feature offering both durability and luxury.”
Other special features. “The backsplash was a reclaimed brushed aluminum tile from Ann Sacks, which grounded the custom composite Scagliola pewter stone panels used on the hood above,” Tenaglia says.
Flooring: Paris Ceramics
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Flooring: Paris Ceramics
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6. Woodland Retreat
Designers: Becky Snyder and Katie Jones of Loomis Construction
Location: Sevierville, Tennessee
Size: 130 square feet (12 square meters); 10 by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request. This kitchen was designed in-house by Loomis Construction as part of an update to a short-term rental cabin in the Smoky Mountains. “Our vision for the kitchen and the entire cabin was the bluebird,” says designer Becky Snyder. “We used nature as our color palette.”
White, wood and blue elements. “With the bluebird theme, we knew we had to have blue cabinets,” Snyder says. “It was a toss-up between a light blue and navy, and we decided to use the navy. The wood ceiling is 1-by-8-inch tongue-and-groove pine stained in a walnut finish. The terra-cotta backsplash was a color choice from the bluebird colors on their chest. We mixed it up with a chevron pattern.” The walls are a warm neutral.
Designers: Becky Snyder and Katie Jones of Loomis Construction
Location: Sevierville, Tennessee
Size: 130 square feet (12 square meters); 10 by 13 feet
Homeowners’ request. This kitchen was designed in-house by Loomis Construction as part of an update to a short-term rental cabin in the Smoky Mountains. “Our vision for the kitchen and the entire cabin was the bluebird,” says designer Becky Snyder. “We used nature as our color palette.”
White, wood and blue elements. “With the bluebird theme, we knew we had to have blue cabinets,” Snyder says. “It was a toss-up between a light blue and navy, and we decided to use the navy. The wood ceiling is 1-by-8-inch tongue-and-groove pine stained in a walnut finish. The terra-cotta backsplash was a color choice from the bluebird colors on their chest. We mixed it up with a chevron pattern.” The walls are a warm neutral.
Other special features. “Since this is a house that sits in the woods, we wanted to keep natural elements throughout,” Snyder says. “We used 1-by-4-inch pine for the door and window trim and painted the interior doors a deep, dark navy (Gale Force by Sherwin-Williams).” The countertops are Black Pearl granite in a leathered finish.
Designer tip. “It was important that we kept our theme throughout, and we didn’t want our blues to compete with each other,” Snyder says. “Since our cabinets were not a custom color, choosing the right blue was important to look consistent throughout.”
Backsplash tile: 1933 Bella ceramic subway in Cinnamon, Robert F. Henry Tile
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Designer tip. “It was important that we kept our theme throughout, and we didn’t want our blues to compete with each other,” Snyder says. “Since our cabinets were not a custom color, choosing the right blue was important to look consistent throughout.”
Backsplash tile: 1933 Bella ceramic subway in Cinnamon, Robert F. Henry Tile
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
7. Pondside Serenity
Designers: Andrea Hartley and Karen Brasier of Brickmoon Design
Location: Wimberley, Texas
Size: 272 square feet (25 square meters); 16 by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners envisioned a quaint, comfortable kitchen that felt distinctly their own, a space they could personalize through thoughtful accessories and meaningful detail,” says designer Andrea Hartley.
White, wood and blue elements. “As we stepped into colors and selections, we strived to correspond the exterior and interior materials with the landscape,” Hartley says. “This Hill Country home overlooks an expansive pond that we wanted to pull shades of blue from. The exterior showcases a natural tumbled stone with blue-gray tones and stained timber beams, posts and brackets. The interior responds with a kitchen island painted in Santa Monica Blue by Benjamin Moore and locally sourced stained 6-by-8-inch reclaimed-timber ceiling beams. Painting the kitchen’s perimeter cabinets in Swiss Coffee from Benjamin Moore brightens the room while giving warmth.” The countertops and backsplash are Calacatta Borghini quartz.
Other special features. “Among the kitchen’s standout features is a recessed range alcove and a concealed vent hood,” Hartley says. “The homeowners wanted the range to serve as a visual centerpiece but favored a streamlined aesthetic over a traditional hood. To achieve this, the vent was discreetly concealed within a sheetrocked enclosure, allowing the backsplash and clean lines to take precedence.”
“A rustic timber beam spans the alcove above,” says designer Karen Brasier, “offering a charming ledge for personal touches and adding character without disrupting the kitchen’s serene palette.”
Designer tip. “One design trick we love and often recommend is continuing the countertop material up the wall to create a full-height slab backsplash,” Hartley says. “It’s a seamless solution that elevates the kitchen’s elegance while offering easy maintenance.”
“In some kitchens, the best solution is to bring the cabinetry to the ceiling for storage and a recessed look,” Brasier says. “Here, stopping the cabinets short of the ceiling made more space for the owner’s decor collection.”
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Designers: Andrea Hartley and Karen Brasier of Brickmoon Design
Location: Wimberley, Texas
Size: 272 square feet (25 square meters); 16 by 17 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners envisioned a quaint, comfortable kitchen that felt distinctly their own, a space they could personalize through thoughtful accessories and meaningful detail,” says designer Andrea Hartley.
White, wood and blue elements. “As we stepped into colors and selections, we strived to correspond the exterior and interior materials with the landscape,” Hartley says. “This Hill Country home overlooks an expansive pond that we wanted to pull shades of blue from. The exterior showcases a natural tumbled stone with blue-gray tones and stained timber beams, posts and brackets. The interior responds with a kitchen island painted in Santa Monica Blue by Benjamin Moore and locally sourced stained 6-by-8-inch reclaimed-timber ceiling beams. Painting the kitchen’s perimeter cabinets in Swiss Coffee from Benjamin Moore brightens the room while giving warmth.” The countertops and backsplash are Calacatta Borghini quartz.
Other special features. “Among the kitchen’s standout features is a recessed range alcove and a concealed vent hood,” Hartley says. “The homeowners wanted the range to serve as a visual centerpiece but favored a streamlined aesthetic over a traditional hood. To achieve this, the vent was discreetly concealed within a sheetrocked enclosure, allowing the backsplash and clean lines to take precedence.”
“A rustic timber beam spans the alcove above,” says designer Karen Brasier, “offering a charming ledge for personal touches and adding character without disrupting the kitchen’s serene palette.”
Designer tip. “One design trick we love and often recommend is continuing the countertop material up the wall to create a full-height slab backsplash,” Hartley says. “It’s a seamless solution that elevates the kitchen’s elegance while offering easy maintenance.”
“In some kitchens, the best solution is to bring the cabinetry to the ceiling for storage and a recessed look,” Brasier says. “Here, stopping the cabinets short of the ceiling made more space for the owner’s decor collection.”
More on Houzz
Read more stories
Browse photos for ideas
Find home professionals
Design-build pro: Jennifer Howard of JWH Design and Cabinetry
Interior designer: Kerry Jacobs of Manor + Woods
Location: Larchmont, New York
Size: 350 square feet (33 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This kitchen was part of a full-home design-build renovation by our team,” says designer Jennifer Howard. “One of the homeowners’ biggest challenges was that the original kitchen was poorly located and disconnected from the primary living spaces, making everyday family life and entertaining feel fragmented and inefficient for this busy family with four kids and two dogs. The vision was to relocate the kitchen to the true heart of the home, creating a central hub that seamlessly connected to the adjoining rooms and flowed out to the inviting backyard.”
White, wood and blue elements. “The natural rift white oak wood and navy palette (Naval by Sherwin-Williams) for the custom cabinetry was selected to create a family-centric space that feels warm, timeless and cohesive with the adjoining rooms,” Howard says. “The natural wood elements bring warmth and texture, appearing in the island base, the custom range hood and the open shelving in the butler’s pantry. This use of wood continues into the adjacent rooms, where it is echoed in ceiling details and custom built-in elements, creating a seamless visual flow throughout the main living spaces. White paint was reserved for the architectural trim details in keeping with the style of the home.”