Before and After: 3 Positively Radiant White-and-Wood Kitchens
Dark times are a thing of the past for these renovated cooking spaces, thanks to an ever-popular design combo
No matter how much you love wood, too much of it alone can certainly drag down a space. Enter buoyant white, which can lift lumber from the land of the uninspired and take it to heavenly design realms. See how three designers matched crisp white with earthy wood for a next-level look in these kitchen makeovers, then let us know in the Comments whether any of their ideas might elevate your own cooking space.
After: The remodelers took the kitchen down to the studs, removing walls and a back staircase as well as borrowing space from adjoining areas to expand the kitchen by 64 square feet. As they did, they discovered a bonus hiding under the ceiling: 7 extra inches of height. One structural beam is now joined by decorative ones on the higher ceiling, adding character and a sense of history.
Dark walnut via a butcher block island top, open shelves and storage cubby stands out yet feels grounded against a creamy light greige backdrop. Engineered maple flooring adds to the inviting warmth and keeps the overall look bright. And the reconfigured layout offers efficient work zones with plenty of breathing room, more storage and an easy flow.
Cabinet, molding and ceiling beam paint: Natural Cream by Benjamin Moore; cabinet hardware: Channing pull in flat black and Kinney knob in flat black, Top Knobs; backsplash: Expo collection in Prima White, Ceramic Tileworks; flooring: hard maple, Lauzon Wood Floors
Read more about this makeover
Dark walnut via a butcher block island top, open shelves and storage cubby stands out yet feels grounded against a creamy light greige backdrop. Engineered maple flooring adds to the inviting warmth and keeps the overall look bright. And the reconfigured layout offers efficient work zones with plenty of breathing room, more storage and an easy flow.
Cabinet, molding and ceiling beam paint: Natural Cream by Benjamin Moore; cabinet hardware: Channing pull in flat black and Kinney knob in flat black, Top Knobs; backsplash: Expo collection in Prima White, Ceramic Tileworks; flooring: hard maple, Lauzon Wood Floors
Read more about this makeover
Photos from Nicolette Jarquin
2. Off-White + Hickory
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Nicolette Jarquin; her husband, David; and their two sons
Location: Eureka, California
Size: 206 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Nicolette Jarquin of Arcata Cabinet & Design
Before: The owners disliked almost everything about their kitchen and dining area, part of a 1925 fixer-upper bungalow in far Northern California. Aesthetically, a plethora of dark wood, yellowed vinyl flooring, laminate countertops and fluorescent lighting felt dated and dreary. And functionality-wise, a shallow double-bowl sink made washing big pots impossible, a peninsula divided the two spaces, and the dining area had a hard-to-reach bank of cabinets over a window.
When an electrical issue popped up on top of all that, homeowner and designer Nicolette Jarquin sprung into action on a full remodel.
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2. Off-White + Hickory
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Nicolette Jarquin; her husband, David; and their two sons
Location: Eureka, California
Size: 206 square feet (19 square meters)
Designer: Nicolette Jarquin of Arcata Cabinet & Design
Before: The owners disliked almost everything about their kitchen and dining area, part of a 1925 fixer-upper bungalow in far Northern California. Aesthetically, a plethora of dark wood, yellowed vinyl flooring, laminate countertops and fluorescent lighting felt dated and dreary. And functionality-wise, a shallow double-bowl sink made washing big pots impossible, a peninsula divided the two spaces, and the dining area had a hard-to-reach bank of cabinets over a window.
When an electrical issue popped up on top of all that, homeowner and designer Nicolette Jarquin sprung into action on a full remodel.
Find kitchen remodelers near you
After: Jarquin knocked the kitchen back to the studs and swapped the locations of the kitchen and dining areas. For the new layout, she created an L-shaped kitchen that’s open to the dining area, with a narrow island replacing the peninsula. A deep undermount single-basin sink can handle big pots with ease.
Brightness abounds with creamy upper cabinets and walls, zellige-style backsplash tiles in varying tones of off-white, and polished white quartz countertops with a bit of black veining to tie in with the range hood and faucet. Enlivening all the white elements are hickory lower cabinets in a tan stain and wood-look vinyl plank flooring.
Cabinets: maple in Coconut finish (uppers and pantry) and rustic hickory with a Buckskin stain (lowers), Breman Shaker door style, Diamond by MasterBrand Cabinets; backsplash: Cloe in Creme, 5 by 5 inches, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; countertops: White Attica, Caesarstone; wall paint: Mascarpone, Benjamin Moore
Brightness abounds with creamy upper cabinets and walls, zellige-style backsplash tiles in varying tones of off-white, and polished white quartz countertops with a bit of black veining to tie in with the range hood and faucet. Enlivening all the white elements are hickory lower cabinets in a tan stain and wood-look vinyl plank flooring.
Cabinets: maple in Coconut finish (uppers and pantry) and rustic hickory with a Buckskin stain (lowers), Breman Shaker door style, Diamond by MasterBrand Cabinets; backsplash: Cloe in Creme, 5 by 5 inches, Bedrosians Tile and Stone; countertops: White Attica, Caesarstone; wall paint: Mascarpone, Benjamin Moore
From farther back you can see how the kitchen and dining space now feel beautifully connected and cohesive. And although that previous odd bank of cabinets over the window is gone, there’s smart storage aplenty, including tall pantry cabinets and a pullout for trash and recycling.
Learn more about this project
Learn more about this project
“After” photos by Josh Goetz Photography
3. Bright White + White Oak
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a son, 10, and daughter, 9
Location: Bethpage, New York
Size: 238 square feet (22 square meters)
Designer: Ellen Lopez of EL Design Studio
Before: A header and support walls for the fridge were cutting off this New York kitchen from the living room, while a peninsula was blocking it from the dining area. The result: bottlenecks and a tight feel. Plus, low-cost java-colored cabinets from a budget-conscious remodel in 2013 were creating a gloomy atmosphere — and falling apart to boot. The owners called in designer Ellen Lopez to work some remodeling magic.
3. Bright White + White Oak
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with a son, 10, and daughter, 9
Location: Bethpage, New York
Size: 238 square feet (22 square meters)
Designer: Ellen Lopez of EL Design Studio
Before: A header and support walls for the fridge were cutting off this New York kitchen from the living room, while a peninsula was blocking it from the dining area. The result: bottlenecks and a tight feel. Plus, low-cost java-colored cabinets from a budget-conscious remodel in 2013 were creating a gloomy atmosphere — and falling apart to boot. The owners called in designer Ellen Lopez to work some remodeling magic.
After: Lopez took the space down to the studs, doing away with the header, support walls and peninsula to open up the space. Then she moved the fridge to the range wall and brought in an island with room to circulate all around.
The kitchen is now awash in luminous white, including via the appliances. The countertops are marble-look quartz with a hint of veining, and the backsplash is composed of zellige-style tiles in various shades of white. A custom range hood is clad in white shiplap for a farmhouse touch amid all the clean lines; it has a white oak detail that nods to the island base. And the flooring feels right at home in red oak with a light walnut stain.
Countertops: Smithfield, Cambria; backsplash: Portmore in white, 4 by 4 inches, TileBar; refrigerator and range: GE Cafe; faucet: Crue in Moderne Brass, Kohler; paint: Swiss Coffee (walls) and Decorator’s White (ceiling), Benjamin Moore
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The kitchen is now awash in luminous white, including via the appliances. The countertops are marble-look quartz with a hint of veining, and the backsplash is composed of zellige-style tiles in various shades of white. A custom range hood is clad in white shiplap for a farmhouse touch amid all the clean lines; it has a white oak detail that nods to the island base. And the flooring feels right at home in red oak with a light walnut stain.
Countertops: Smithfield, Cambria; backsplash: Portmore in white, 4 by 4 inches, TileBar; refrigerator and range: GE Cafe; faucet: Crue in Moderne Brass, Kohler; paint: Swiss Coffee (walls) and Decorator’s White (ceiling), Benjamin Moore
Shop for kitchen products on Houzz
Before: This photo gives you a better sense of how dark and closed off the former kitchen was. That small casement window didn’t provide much light, and the fridge sat to the left of the peninsula, backed by the blocky support wall seen earlier.
After: In this wide view you can see how unified, connected and open the new kitchen and dining area are. You can also spot a sentimental touch: the vintage chandelier over the dining table. It once belonged to the grandmother of one of the homeowners.
Read more about this transformation
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Read more about this transformation
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
1. Cream + Walnut and Maple
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Luke and Christy Kujawa, their two high-school-age kids and two dogs
Location: Minneapolis
Size: 215 square feet (20 square meters)
Designer: Kate Roos Design
Builder: Mitch Tuthill of City of Lakes Builders
Before: An awkward layout hindered the flow and wasted space in this circa 1900 Minneapolis kitchen for a family of four. The owners also wanted to nix the aging oak cabinets, dark green granite countertops and worn wood flooring. Designer Kate Roos came on board for the makeover — and her team encountered a pleasant surprise when work got underway.