7 Wonderful New White-and-Wood Kitchens
Design and remodeling pros share details on how they mixed these classic elements to create warm and inviting spaces
A kitchen that combines some wood cabinets with some white cabinets creates a classic look that’s both warm and bright. And there are numerous approaches for successfully mixing these elements. Here, design and remodeling pros share how they combined white and wood cabinets to make stylish and inviting kitchens.
2. No Fuss
Designers: Alan Ohashi (architect), Philip Liang (design director) and Dmitry Martynov (project manager) of ODS Architecture
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 165 square feet (15 square meters); 11 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. “They wanted to create an open-plan room for cooking and gathering, with simple economical upkeep, and remodel the entire home while maintaining its midcentury modern look, with some additions as necessary,” says architect Alan Ohashi, whose clients discovered his firm on Houzz. “There was a stair in the middle of this space that was moved for better flow and circulation, and walls between the kitchen and dining area were removed for a spacious, light-filled environment.”
White-and-wood details. “For a very active family with three kids, a simple light palette was felt to be appropriate,” Ohashi says. “Nothing fussy or complicated.” The island, lower perimeter cabinets and open shelf unit are white oak. A redwood post and beam, wood stools and wide-plank wood flooring add more warmth.
Other special features. Ohashi created a visual punch with black aluminum windows, a matte black faucet and marble-look quartz countertops and backsplash. “The shadow line we created above the upper cabinets provides a space to break from the angled vaulting that expresses a light touch and design intent for the project,” he says.
Designer tip. “Keep it simple,” Ohashi says. “The room is a literal expression of the house form — angled roof, simple punch windows, open feeling. We tried to keep focus on these simple forms and volumes while adding more glass and light colors to brighten the environment. Minimal trim and details reinforce this visual simplicity.”
Stools: About a Stool 33, Hay
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Designers: Alan Ohashi (architect), Philip Liang (design director) and Dmitry Martynov (project manager) of ODS Architecture
Location: Oakland, California
Size: 165 square feet (15 square meters); 11 by 15 feet
Homeowners’ request. “They wanted to create an open-plan room for cooking and gathering, with simple economical upkeep, and remodel the entire home while maintaining its midcentury modern look, with some additions as necessary,” says architect Alan Ohashi, whose clients discovered his firm on Houzz. “There was a stair in the middle of this space that was moved for better flow and circulation, and walls between the kitchen and dining area were removed for a spacious, light-filled environment.”
White-and-wood details. “For a very active family with three kids, a simple light palette was felt to be appropriate,” Ohashi says. “Nothing fussy or complicated.” The island, lower perimeter cabinets and open shelf unit are white oak. A redwood post and beam, wood stools and wide-plank wood flooring add more warmth.
Other special features. Ohashi created a visual punch with black aluminum windows, a matte black faucet and marble-look quartz countertops and backsplash. “The shadow line we created above the upper cabinets provides a space to break from the angled vaulting that expresses a light touch and design intent for the project,” he says.
Designer tip. “Keep it simple,” Ohashi says. “The room is a literal expression of the house form — angled roof, simple punch windows, open feeling. We tried to keep focus on these simple forms and volumes while adding more glass and light colors to brighten the environment. Minimal trim and details reinforce this visual simplicity.”
Stools: About a Stool 33, Hay
Shop for counter and bar stools
3. Clean and Serene
Designer: April Aduddell of April Interiors
Location: Leander, Texas
Size: 240 square feet (22 square meters); 15 by 16 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a family-style gathering kitchen to be the heart of the home,” designer April Aduddell says. “They wanted something modern yet warm and inviting. Perfect for entertaining yet casual enough to host the little league baseball team after the game.”
White-and-wood details. “The homeowner wanted a kitchen that was both warm and welcoming and crisp and clean,” Aduddell says. “Combining the wood-stained cabinets with the painted white cabinets accomplishes just that. The wood is white oak with a diluted white stain over the top. The white cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.”
Other special features. Custom cold rolled steel and brass decorative vent hood. Taj Mahal quartzite slab backsplash and countertops. The island countertop has a mitered edge for a heftier look.
“Uh-oh” moment. “There was a moment during the design of the vent hood that we worried the finished hood was going to be too heavy for the overall kitchen, and the installation of the vent hood took five men two days to install,” Aduddell says. “Ultimately, the vent hood created the perfect finishing touch to the kitchen.”
Before and After: 4 Dreamy White-and-Wood Kitchens
Designer: April Aduddell of April Interiors
Location: Leander, Texas
Size: 240 square feet (22 square meters); 15 by 16 feet
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted a family-style gathering kitchen to be the heart of the home,” designer April Aduddell says. “They wanted something modern yet warm and inviting. Perfect for entertaining yet casual enough to host the little league baseball team after the game.”
White-and-wood details. “The homeowner wanted a kitchen that was both warm and welcoming and crisp and clean,” Aduddell says. “Combining the wood-stained cabinets with the painted white cabinets accomplishes just that. The wood is white oak with a diluted white stain over the top. The white cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.”
Other special features. Custom cold rolled steel and brass decorative vent hood. Taj Mahal quartzite slab backsplash and countertops. The island countertop has a mitered edge for a heftier look.
“Uh-oh” moment. “There was a moment during the design of the vent hood that we worried the finished hood was going to be too heavy for the overall kitchen, and the installation of the vent hood took five men two days to install,” Aduddell says. “Ultimately, the vent hood created the perfect finishing touch to the kitchen.”
Before and After: 4 Dreamy White-and-Wood Kitchens
4. Knotty and Nice
Designer: Ruth Bergstrom of Kitchen Associates
Location: Sterling, Massachusetts
Size: 225 square feet (21 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners’ wish list was to remove a wall that was to the right of the range and open up the kitchen to the family seating area and gain deck access,” designer Ruth Bergstrom says. “They wanted to add a large island for family and friends to gather around, and the Wolf professional gas cooktop was a must-have for the husband.”
White-and-wood details. “I recommended the natural knotty alder with brown glaze cabinets, which we had just installed in another home,” Bergstrom says. “The homeowner felt it was a match to their country setting that’s surrounded by woods and trees. The alder added warmth, and the white paint gave it a transitional feel at the same time.”
Other special features. The backsplash is porcelain tile in varying shades of white.
Designer tip. “The inside end of the island has an open cabinet with shelves,” Bergstrom says. “I often recommend this to be used for cookbooks or a charging station. You can also put baskets there for the stuff that always lands on the island so it can be a reclaiming spot.”
Cabinets: Natural knotty alder with brown glaze and white in Hingham finish, Brighton Cabinetry; backsplash tile: Cottage White, Wow; island pendants: custom, KMR Werkes
Designer: Ruth Bergstrom of Kitchen Associates
Location: Sterling, Massachusetts
Size: 225 square feet (21 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners’ wish list was to remove a wall that was to the right of the range and open up the kitchen to the family seating area and gain deck access,” designer Ruth Bergstrom says. “They wanted to add a large island for family and friends to gather around, and the Wolf professional gas cooktop was a must-have for the husband.”
White-and-wood details. “I recommended the natural knotty alder with brown glaze cabinets, which we had just installed in another home,” Bergstrom says. “The homeowner felt it was a match to their country setting that’s surrounded by woods and trees. The alder added warmth, and the white paint gave it a transitional feel at the same time.”
Other special features. The backsplash is porcelain tile in varying shades of white.
Designer tip. “The inside end of the island has an open cabinet with shelves,” Bergstrom says. “I often recommend this to be used for cookbooks or a charging station. You can also put baskets there for the stuff that always lands on the island so it can be a reclaiming spot.”
Cabinets: Natural knotty alder with brown glaze and white in Hingham finish, Brighton Cabinetry; backsplash tile: Cottage White, Wow; island pendants: custom, KMR Werkes
5. Minimalist Move
Designer-builder: Mr. & Mrs. Construction & Remodeling
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 230 square feet (21 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The client had a vision of a modern bright kitchen with a wow factor of a big island,” designer Lital Ben says. “They wanted to have a lot of storage and counter space and an open concept for entertainment.”
White-and-wood details. “We went with minimalist wood modern cabinets with white cabinets to brighten the room,” Ben says. “The cabinet’s colors complement the beautiful white oak wood floors. The island was made out of one big wood piece to eliminate the need for seams.”
The lower cabinets are flat-panel horizontal grain.
Other special features. “Black Miele appliances give the kitchen a modern, elegant design,” Ben says.
Designer tip. “We used a porcelain slab for the countertops,” Ben says. “Porcelain is harder than many natural stones, resistant to heat, stains, scratches and even UV light. It’s easy to clean and maintenance-free. And we use large sizes to eliminate the need for seams.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Designer-builder: Mr. & Mrs. Construction & Remodeling
Location: San Jose, California
Size: 230 square feet (21 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The client had a vision of a modern bright kitchen with a wow factor of a big island,” designer Lital Ben says. “They wanted to have a lot of storage and counter space and an open concept for entertainment.”
White-and-wood details. “We went with minimalist wood modern cabinets with white cabinets to brighten the room,” Ben says. “The cabinet’s colors complement the beautiful white oak wood floors. The island was made out of one big wood piece to eliminate the need for seams.”
The lower cabinets are flat-panel horizontal grain.
Other special features. “Black Miele appliances give the kitchen a modern, elegant design,” Ben says.
Designer tip. “We used a porcelain slab for the countertops,” Ben says. “Porcelain is harder than many natural stones, resistant to heat, stains, scratches and even UV light. It’s easy to clean and maintenance-free. And we use large sizes to eliminate the need for seams.”
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
6. Dramatic Open
Designers: Tim Hammer and Michael Meer of CAST architecture (architects) and Amy Lassila of Hyde Evans Design (interior designer)
Builder: Michael Smith of Align Builders
Location: Lake Shore, Washington
Size: 500 square feet with lounge area (46 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This was a full reorganization of a family home, plus an addition that maximizes its lakeside site and integrates water views and Mount Rainier beyond,” architect Tim Hammer says. “The main level of living, dining and open-concept kitchen creates a flow that accommodates a busy family, as well as hosting social gatherings.”
White-and-wood details. “The kitchen’s neutral palette includes soft-close white oak cabinets with custom panel details,” Hammer says. The white cabinets are painted Cloud White by Benjamin Moore. The cabinet hardware is black edge finger pulls.
Other special features. Honed quartz countertops. Marble-look porcelain slab backsplash. Northern white pine flooring.
“Uh-oh” moment. “We did the project as a renovation and addition rather than a new-house construction to grandfather in the favorable footprint and location of the home,” Hammer says. “Early in construction, as we began to peel away the layers of the existing home, it became apparent that the construction was subpar in many ways, and charting a path forward was significantly more complex and arduous than we had expected. Throw in the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing labor lockdowns, materials scarcity and the net result was a significant slowdown on our construction schedule.”
Project photos: Andrew Giammarco Photography
Designers: Tim Hammer and Michael Meer of CAST architecture (architects) and Amy Lassila of Hyde Evans Design (interior designer)
Builder: Michael Smith of Align Builders
Location: Lake Shore, Washington
Size: 500 square feet with lounge area (46 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “This was a full reorganization of a family home, plus an addition that maximizes its lakeside site and integrates water views and Mount Rainier beyond,” architect Tim Hammer says. “The main level of living, dining and open-concept kitchen creates a flow that accommodates a busy family, as well as hosting social gatherings.”
White-and-wood details. “The kitchen’s neutral palette includes soft-close white oak cabinets with custom panel details,” Hammer says. The white cabinets are painted Cloud White by Benjamin Moore. The cabinet hardware is black edge finger pulls.
Other special features. Honed quartz countertops. Marble-look porcelain slab backsplash. Northern white pine flooring.
“Uh-oh” moment. “We did the project as a renovation and addition rather than a new-house construction to grandfather in the favorable footprint and location of the home,” Hammer says. “Early in construction, as we began to peel away the layers of the existing home, it became apparent that the construction was subpar in many ways, and charting a path forward was significantly more complex and arduous than we had expected. Throw in the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing labor lockdowns, materials scarcity and the net result was a significant slowdown on our construction schedule.”
Project photos: Andrew Giammarco Photography
7. Charming Character
Designers: Ariel Richardson of ASR Design Studio and Gina Gutierrez of Gina Rachelle Design
Location: San Francisco
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The house was built in 1907 and was updated in 2000,” designer Ariel Richardson says. “They fell in love with the neighborhood, the open floor plan and the charming details of the house — paneling, wainscot, high ceilings — with lots of light streaming into the house with a view of the city and in the backyard. The homeowners wanted to update the functionality of their main floor because their storage was lacking. They also wanted to update the style with natural colors and tones.”
White-and-wood details. “The homeowners love natural colors and tones with complementary whites and blacks for a more modern look,” Richardson says. “They love texture and adding personality into a space. With the budget they had for their space, we decided to go with Ikea kitchen cabinets and Semihandmade fronts.”
The lower cabinets, island and cabinet tower are wood-look melamine. The upper cabinets are white in a skinny Shaker style. “The uppers help create more height and a spacious feel since the kitchen is on the smaller side,” Richardson says. “This gave the homeowners the modern look they were going for with warmth and texture infused into the space.”
Other special features. Marble-look countertops, backsplash and ledge.
Designer tip. “To tie together more traditional architecture with a modern vibe, mix your cabinet finishes that provide texture, warmth and style,” Richardson says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The main challenge of this project was maximizing the kitchen functionality and storage in such a small space,” Richardson says. “The homeowners love to cook, so it was important to take into account every square inch of the kitchen for storage, counter space for prep and a pantry for food storage.”
Cabinet fronts: Impression in Tahoe and Quarterline in white, Semihandmade; wall paint: Foggy Day, Dunn-Edwards
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Designers: Ariel Richardson of ASR Design Studio and Gina Gutierrez of Gina Rachelle Design
Location: San Francisco
Size: 150 square feet (14 square meters)
Homeowners’ request. “The house was built in 1907 and was updated in 2000,” designer Ariel Richardson says. “They fell in love with the neighborhood, the open floor plan and the charming details of the house — paneling, wainscot, high ceilings — with lots of light streaming into the house with a view of the city and in the backyard. The homeowners wanted to update the functionality of their main floor because their storage was lacking. They also wanted to update the style with natural colors and tones.”
White-and-wood details. “The homeowners love natural colors and tones with complementary whites and blacks for a more modern look,” Richardson says. “They love texture and adding personality into a space. With the budget they had for their space, we decided to go with Ikea kitchen cabinets and Semihandmade fronts.”
The lower cabinets, island and cabinet tower are wood-look melamine. The upper cabinets are white in a skinny Shaker style. “The uppers help create more height and a spacious feel since the kitchen is on the smaller side,” Richardson says. “This gave the homeowners the modern look they were going for with warmth and texture infused into the space.”
Other special features. Marble-look countertops, backsplash and ledge.
Designer tip. “To tie together more traditional architecture with a modern vibe, mix your cabinet finishes that provide texture, warmth and style,” Richardson says.
“Uh-oh” moment. “The main challenge of this project was maximizing the kitchen functionality and storage in such a small space,” Richardson says. “The homeowners love to cook, so it was important to take into account every square inch of the kitchen for storage, counter space for prep and a pantry for food storage.”
Cabinet fronts: Impression in Tahoe and Quarterline in white, Semihandmade; wall paint: Foggy Day, Dunn-Edwards
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen design stories
See more kitchen photos
Shop for kitchen storage and organization
Find a kitchen remodeling pro
Designer: Lindsie Davis of Blueberry Jones Design
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 192 square feet (18 square meters); 12 by 16 feet
Homeowners’ request. This was a new-construction home. “Our clients love to cook and bake, so creating cooking and prep zones in the kitchen was a must,” designer Lindsie Davis says. “By keeping the design modern and airy while maintaining a touch of traditional, we were able to achieve the perfect balance of modern and classic design.”
White-and-wood details. “Our client’s dream kitchen consistently included white cabinetry with marble countertops,” Davis says. “Given the size of the kitchen and layout, if we were to stay with all white we ran the risk of being too cold and one-note. By changing the islands to soft-toned lighter wood (white oak), we were able to add warmth to the space while maintaining the desired light and airy feel. The change in tone with the island and perimeter countertops also help add to the soft contrast of the space.”
The white cabinets are painted Pure White by Sherwin-Williams. “It’s a clean white with an undertone that doesn’t go yellow when mixed with other elements that offer a warmer tone, like the brass finishes and wood,” Davis says.
Other special features. “By using a white zellige-style porcelain tile we were able to continue the airy feel on the walls while adding a soft texture to keep things interesting,” Davis says.
Designer tip. “Spatial planning is huge,” Davis says. “You can have a beautiful kitchen with all the right finishes, but if the flow is off then you will lose all the function. Once the layout is completed, determining the tones of the wood and paint is so important. We like to pull several paint and wood tones that are similar to one another and look at them together in various lighting times throughout the day. As the light shifts, you will be able to determine which undertones will work well together.”
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