Before and After: 4 Breezy White, Wood and Blue Kitchens
See how design pros made these cooking spaces as fresh as the ocean air and more efficient to boot
Add crisp navy, true blue or even a classic blue-gray to perennially popular wood and white in a kitchen and something magical happens: Suddenly, the space is as fresh as can be. Below, check out how designers used this color trio to create distinctly different yet equally appealing kitchens, while also changing layouts, finishes and other elements so the spaces work better for the homeowners.
Photo by Tetiana Sokolova of Capture Studio
After: Adams, who uses Houzz Pro software, knocked back the kitchen to its bones and removed a wall, opening the space to the dining and living areas and expanding the footprint by 120 square feet. Gone are the unneeded eating area and fireplace, while an island with seating for four and striking navy cabinetry now occupies the previously empty floor space. Rift-cut white oak meets white laminate for the perimeter cabinetry. A hood clad in the same wood, along with blue-and-white banded-shade pendant lights, draws the eye upward.
The sink is now in the island, letting the cook enjoy bay views through big windows just past the throw rug, as well as chat with folks at the island or in the dining area beyond.
Flooring: Engineered white oak; pendant lights: Wilson, Arteriors; paint: Paper White in eggshell (walls) and Decorator’s White in semigloss (trim), Benjamin Moore
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After: Adams, who uses Houzz Pro software, knocked back the kitchen to its bones and removed a wall, opening the space to the dining and living areas and expanding the footprint by 120 square feet. Gone are the unneeded eating area and fireplace, while an island with seating for four and striking navy cabinetry now occupies the previously empty floor space. Rift-cut white oak meets white laminate for the perimeter cabinetry. A hood clad in the same wood, along with blue-and-white banded-shade pendant lights, draws the eye upward.
The sink is now in the island, letting the cook enjoy bay views through big windows just past the throw rug, as well as chat with folks at the island or in the dining area beyond.
Flooring: Engineered white oak; pendant lights: Wilson, Arteriors; paint: Paper White in eggshell (walls) and Decorator’s White in semigloss (trim), Benjamin Moore
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2. Marine Blue + Maple + Warm White
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple with grandkids
Location: Plano, Texas
Size: 300 square feet (28 square meters)
Design-build firm: Mae Reedy Design + Build
Before: Dated, dark and not conducive to gatherings of extended family, this 180-square-foot Texas kitchen was ready for an overhaul. The layout could stay pretty much the same, but almost everything in it had to go. Design-build pro Mae Reedy was ready for the challenge.
10 Kitchen Remodeling Trends to Know for 2026
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple with grandkids
Location: Plano, Texas
Size: 300 square feet (28 square meters)
Design-build firm: Mae Reedy Design + Build
Before: Dated, dark and not conducive to gatherings of extended family, this 180-square-foot Texas kitchen was ready for an overhaul. The layout could stay pretty much the same, but almost everything in it had to go. Design-build pro Mae Reedy was ready for the challenge.
10 Kitchen Remodeling Trends to Know for 2026
Photo by The English Den
After: Reedy nixed the peninsula and expanded the footprint into a breakfast area, adding 120 square feet and making room for a big island with seating for six and storage on one side. The marine blue island base coordinates with the new range hood, both set off by copious midtone maple cabinets, ivory porcelain floor tiles and glossy white backsplash tiles and countertops. A silvery white steel wagon wheel chandelier turns the island area into a focal point while keeping the look light.
Cabinetry: Artisan Maple Bellefonte five-piece in Mariner (island) and Sandbar with a semitransparent stain (perimeter), Wolf Home Products; floor tile: Riverstone in ivory, 15 by 30 inches, Castille, Floor & Decor; backsplash: Cloe in white, 2½ by 8 inches, Bedrosians; paint: Whitetail (walls and ceiling) and Navajo White (trim), Sherwin-Williams; stools: Amalie, Armen Living
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After: Reedy nixed the peninsula and expanded the footprint into a breakfast area, adding 120 square feet and making room for a big island with seating for six and storage on one side. The marine blue island base coordinates with the new range hood, both set off by copious midtone maple cabinets, ivory porcelain floor tiles and glossy white backsplash tiles and countertops. A silvery white steel wagon wheel chandelier turns the island area into a focal point while keeping the look light.
Cabinetry: Artisan Maple Bellefonte five-piece in Mariner (island) and Sandbar with a semitransparent stain (perimeter), Wolf Home Products; floor tile: Riverstone in ivory, 15 by 30 inches, Castille, Floor & Decor; backsplash: Cloe in white, 2½ by 8 inches, Bedrosians; paint: Whitetail (walls and ceiling) and Navajo White (trim), Sherwin-Williams; stools: Amalie, Armen Living
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3. Blue-Gray + Oak + Off-White
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with one child in college and one still at home
Location: Richardson, Texas
Size: 430 square feet (40 square meters)
Designer: Tara Lenney Design
Before: An odd shape gave this 310-square-foot Texas kitchen a chopped-up layout. A narrow pathway to the breakfast area created traffic jams, and the laundry room’s location behind the fridge didn’t help matters. Plus, all the elements had a dated and heavy feel, particularly the cabinets and the beige tile. The homeowners brought on designer Tara Lenney to tackle the makeover.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with one child in college and one still at home
Location: Richardson, Texas
Size: 430 square feet (40 square meters)
Designer: Tara Lenney Design
Before: An odd shape gave this 310-square-foot Texas kitchen a chopped-up layout. A narrow pathway to the breakfast area created traffic jams, and the laundry room’s location behind the fridge didn’t help matters. Plus, all the elements had a dated and heavy feel, particularly the cabinets and the beige tile. The homeowners brought on designer Tara Lenney to tackle the makeover.
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Photo by Steven Lenney
After: Lenney took everything down to the studs and, using Houzz Pro, completely remade the kitchen, breakfast area, laundry room and dining room. (Here, the window at the back right is in the same spot as the window near the sink in the previous photo.) The newly spacious kitchen is open to the dining area and a living area and has views out to the patio and pool — not to mention abundant natural light — thanks to large glass doors to the left. A walk-in pantry now sits behind the range wall.
Cabinets in a classic blue-gray enliven the white walls, while a white oak island, a custom wood hood and stools of woven rattan over solid mahogany frames join a wood dining table in bringing organic warmth. Pendant lights with conical clear glass shades add subtle interest while maintaining sightlines.
Cabinet paint: Water’s Edge, Benjamin Moore; wall and ceiling paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; trim paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams; pendant lights: Katie conical in hand-rubbed antique brass, Visual Comfort; stools: Balboa in Perennials white basket-weave fabric, Serena & Lily; flooring: engineered hardwood
After: Lenney took everything down to the studs and, using Houzz Pro, completely remade the kitchen, breakfast area, laundry room and dining room. (Here, the window at the back right is in the same spot as the window near the sink in the previous photo.) The newly spacious kitchen is open to the dining area and a living area and has views out to the patio and pool — not to mention abundant natural light — thanks to large glass doors to the left. A walk-in pantry now sits behind the range wall.
Cabinets in a classic blue-gray enliven the white walls, while a white oak island, a custom wood hood and stools of woven rattan over solid mahogany frames join a wood dining table in bringing organic warmth. Pendant lights with conical clear glass shades add subtle interest while maintaining sightlines.
Cabinet paint: Water’s Edge, Benjamin Moore; wall and ceiling paint: Snowbound, Sherwin-Williams; trim paint: Pure White, Sherwin-Williams; pendant lights: Katie conical in hand-rubbed antique brass, Visual Comfort; stools: Balboa in Perennials white basket-weave fabric, Serena & Lily; flooring: engineered hardwood
This side of the kitchen is a beverage zone that helps keep the cooking area clear. A wine fridge and an ice maker sit below a countertop tower that stores entertaining supplies, while generous cabinetry supplements the storage in the work zone.
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Before Photo
Photo by Angel Tucker
4. Neutral Blue + Warm Woods + Snowy White
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young daughters
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Size: 317 square feet (29 square meters)
Designers: Three Sparrows Interior Design and Jonathan Chambers Architects
Builder: Wescott Building & Remodeling
Before: A previous renovation had eliminated many of the charming period details in this kitchen, part of a 1920s Colonial Revival home in Rhode Island. Plus, the space was inefficiently laid out (check out that second sink in the center) and just didn’t work well for the homeowners and their two young daughters. The owners tasked Three Sparrows Interior Design and Jonathan Chambers Architects with creating an addition to expand the kitchen’s footprint and designing a family-friendly space with finishes that would celebrate the home’s architecture.
4. Neutral Blue + Warm Woods + Snowy White
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their two young daughters
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Size: 317 square feet (29 square meters)
Designers: Three Sparrows Interior Design and Jonathan Chambers Architects
Builder: Wescott Building & Remodeling
Before: A previous renovation had eliminated many of the charming period details in this kitchen, part of a 1920s Colonial Revival home in Rhode Island. Plus, the space was inefficiently laid out (check out that second sink in the center) and just didn’t work well for the homeowners and their two young daughters. The owners tasked Three Sparrows Interior Design and Jonathan Chambers Architects with creating an addition to expand the kitchen’s footprint and designing a family-friendly space with finishes that would celebrate the home’s architecture.
After: The sink is in the same spot but is now surrounded by more windows, made possible by the 150 square feet added. A spacious island in a classic neutral blue anchors the new space, standing out against snowy white cabinets and light gray walls. Warm wood stool frames and flooring bring in natural notes.
Nodding to the home’s 1920s history are vintage-style pendant lights and hardware, aged brass finishes, marble-look countertops and more.
Wall paint: Classic Gray, Benjamin Moore; cabinets: Fresh Snow and Stonehedge finishes, Covered Bridge Cabinetry; countertops: London Fog quartz; pendant lights: Hudson Valley Lighting; stools: Portside, Serena & Lily
Nodding to the home’s 1920s history are vintage-style pendant lights and hardware, aged brass finishes, marble-look countertops and more.
Wall paint: Classic Gray, Benjamin Moore; cabinets: Fresh Snow and Stonehedge finishes, Covered Bridge Cabinetry; countertops: London Fog quartz; pendant lights: Hudson Valley Lighting; stools: Portside, Serena & Lily
Perpendicular to the island, a walk-in pantry hides behind two false cabinet doors next to the fridge; it houses small appliances and cleaning supplies as well as dry goods. To the right sits a second oven, especially handy for cooking big holiday meals, right below a coffee station — which is handy anytime and keeps sleepy pourers out of the cook’s way.
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Your turn: How have you used white, wood and blue to give your kitchen a breezy vibe? Let us know — and upload a photo if you can — in the Comments.
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Your turn: How have you used white, wood and blue to give your kitchen a breezy vibe? Let us know — and upload a photo if you can — in the Comments.
More on Houzz
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Hire a kitchen remodeler
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A retired couple
Location: Alameda, California
Size: 285 square feet (26 square meters)
Designer: William Adams Design
Before: Downsizing from their previous Oregon home, these retiree homeowners wanted to boost both efficiency and style in their new-to-them 165-square-foot Northern California kitchen. Wasted space in the center, an awkwardly placed corner sink and a giant unnecessary fireplace went right on the to-go list. Also, the grouted tile countertops were hard to clean, and the light was poor for both kitchen tasks and entertaining. Designer William Adams took the homeowners’ inspiration photos from Houzz and ran with them.
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