Before and After: 4 Revitalized White-and-Wood Kitchens
See how this classic color pairing can yield a range of inviting looks
White and wood are longtime friends in kitchens of all styles and sizes. But as you’ll see in the kitchens here, all of which had a little or a lot of wood or white to begin with, the best design results happen when they’re in thoughtful conversation instead of going in different directions. Check out the dramatic makeovers, then let us know in the Comments if you’d like to borrow any ideas for a companionable white-and-wood look in your own kitchen.
After: The new space isn’t just more open and tranquil; it’s almost luminous with its expansive swaths of off-white and trio of windows ushering in abundant sunlight. Gone are the clunky fridge and double ovens, replaced by a discreet paneled refrigerator and a 30-inch freestanding range. Clean lines prevail.
White oak via open shelves and the island base adds gentle warmth, while aged-brass pulls on the cabinets and drawers bring in subtle shimmer.
Cabinetry: custom, Cabinet Plant; cabinet, wall and ceiling paint: White Dove by Benjamin Moore; cabinet hardware: Blair in aged brass, Rejuvenation
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White oak via open shelves and the island base adds gentle warmth, while aged-brass pulls on the cabinets and drawers bring in subtle shimmer.
Cabinetry: custom, Cabinet Plant; cabinet, wall and ceiling paint: White Dove by Benjamin Moore; cabinet hardware: Blair in aged brass, Rejuvenation
Find kitchen remodelers near you
The countertops are a khaki-and-cream Naica quartzite with gold veining, adding interest without busyness. They have a light-diffusing leathered finish that also minimizes the appearance of smudges and water spots.
Similarly, the white ceramic backsplash tiles quietly offer interest, thanks to their slight color variations and glazed finish. And lest you fret about any dust gathering on the dishware here, know that this area is a coffee station used daily.
Backsplash tile: Makoto in Shoji White, Bedrosians Tile and Stone
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Similarly, the white ceramic backsplash tiles quietly offer interest, thanks to their slight color variations and glazed finish. And lest you fret about any dust gathering on the dishware here, know that this area is a coffee station used daily.
Backsplash tile: Makoto in Shoji White, Bedrosians Tile and Stone
Read more about this project
“After” photos by Picture Perfect House
2. Graceful Refacing
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple of empty nesters
Location: Hinsdale, Illinois
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designers: Stephanie Frees of Plain & Posh and Amy Tausk of Swoon Interiors
Before: The layout of this 1990s Illinois kitchen was fine, but the staggered cabinet placement and large range mantel created a haphazard effect. An island of dark wood with a black countertop felt out of sync rather than grounding. And all the finishes had a dingy air. Designer Stephanie Frees, who’d already worked on several rooms in the house, collaborated with one of the homeowners and designer Amy Tausk on a Scandinavian-inspired remodel that avoided major structural changes.
2. Graceful Refacing
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple of empty nesters
Location: Hinsdale, Illinois
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designers: Stephanie Frees of Plain & Posh and Amy Tausk of Swoon Interiors
Before: The layout of this 1990s Illinois kitchen was fine, but the staggered cabinet placement and large range mantel created a haphazard effect. An island of dark wood with a black countertop felt out of sync rather than grounding. And all the finishes had a dingy air. Designer Stephanie Frees, who’d already worked on several rooms in the house, collaborated with one of the homeowners and designer Amy Tausk on a Scandinavian-inspired remodel that avoided major structural changes.
After: Refaced cabinets, some with exquisite millwork detailing, star in the new design. Frees also removed that big mantel and some of the cabinets, adding cubbies and crown molding to bring the remaining cabinets up to the ceiling for a cleaner look. Check out too how she replaced some of the cabinets with drawers as part of the refacing project — yes, it’s possible!
The appliances and the location of all the major elements are unchanged, while the hutch, vent hood, pendant lights, island, stools and faucet are new. Rift-sawn white oak on the hutch and the island adds a warm touch, and both pieces have Scandinavian-style reeded diamond details. Large white-and-brass pendants and a thick quartzite island countertop create a strong center without weighing down the design.
How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets
The appliances and the location of all the major elements are unchanged, while the hutch, vent hood, pendant lights, island, stools and faucet are new. Rift-sawn white oak on the hutch and the island adds a warm touch, and both pieces have Scandinavian-style reeded diamond details. Large white-and-brass pendants and a thick quartzite island countertop create a strong center without weighing down the design.
How to Reface Your Old Kitchen Cabinets
Open shelving with a charming display now lives where a microwave once was, while the island houses a new microwave drawer.
This photo also gives you a closer look at the backsplash, which is composed of assiduously arranged zellige tile in 15 color variations. The tile stretches across the wall and up behind the vent hood, then makes its way over to surround the window.
Read more about this project
This photo also gives you a closer look at the backsplash, which is composed of assiduously arranged zellige tile in 15 color variations. The tile stretches across the wall and up behind the vent hood, then makes its way over to surround the window.
Read more about this project
“After” photos by Regina Mallory Photography
3. Looking Up
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Peabody, Massachusetts
Size: 170 square feet (16 square meters)
Designer: Jenni Jacobs of McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath
Before: A bunch of disparate finishes — honey oak cabinets, black granite countertops, brown granite backsplash tile and a light ceramic tile floor — gave this 1980s Massachusetts kitchen a dated feel and detracted from the exposed wood ceiling beams. A peninsula (you can see one end at the lower left here) also cut off the kitchen from adjacent areas. The homeowners tapped designer Jenni Jacobs to give the kitchen a warm and bright contemporary look that would fit with the rest of the home.
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3. Looking Up
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple
Location: Peabody, Massachusetts
Size: 170 square feet (16 square meters)
Designer: Jenni Jacobs of McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath
Before: A bunch of disparate finishes — honey oak cabinets, black granite countertops, brown granite backsplash tile and a light ceramic tile floor — gave this 1980s Massachusetts kitchen a dated feel and detracted from the exposed wood ceiling beams. A peninsula (you can see one end at the lower left here) also cut off the kitchen from adjacent areas. The homeowners tapped designer Jenni Jacobs to give the kitchen a warm and bright contemporary look that would fit with the rest of the home.
See why you should hire a designer who uses Houzz Pro
After: With almost all white and greige below, those lovely wood ceiling beams now get their due. Jacobs replaced the peninsula with a breezy white island, opening up the flow and creating a radiant center point. The stools, with their mahogany-and-brass frames and white fabric, add a stylish modern note without hogging the spotlight, while white oak flooring creates a light and warm base.
Lights along the ceiling beams and above the sink keep sightlines open.
Cabinetry: Luxury Line, Tedd Wood; cabinet paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; counter stools: Jagger in Natural, Arhaus
Lights along the ceiling beams and above the sink keep sightlines open.
Cabinetry: Luxury Line, Tedd Wood; cabinet paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; counter stools: Jagger in Natural, Arhaus
Incorporating a coat closet that the previous peninsula stemmed from added 10 square feet to the kitchen’s footprint, meaning more room for storage. To the left of the mesh-front cabinets sits a paneled fridge with freezer drawer, and to the left of that are pantry cabinets. A runner rug brings in a bit of pattern, but its soft tones keep the look soothing.
You can see here how the island opened up the kitchen to living space at the far end. At this end, there’s also openness to the dining area (not seen), which has big windows that flood the kitchen with light.
Read more about this project
You can see here how the island opened up the kitchen to living space at the far end. At this end, there’s also openness to the dining area (not seen), which has big windows that flood the kitchen with light.
Read more about this project
“After” photo by Stephanie Studer of LifeCreated
4. Radical Makeover
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Size: 500 square feet (46 square meters), including a dining area
Design: Kimberley Worswick of Kimberley Kay Interiors
Before: The layout and location of this kitchen in a 2008 Arizona home custom-built by the previous homeowners didn’t make much logical sense. The space was stuck between the family room and dining room. It had odd angles. An island near the range was impractically narrow and dwarfed by a looming oversize range hood.
4. Radical Makeover
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of four
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Size: 500 square feet (46 square meters), including a dining area
Design: Kimberley Worswick of Kimberley Kay Interiors
Before: The layout and location of this kitchen in a 2008 Arizona home custom-built by the previous homeowners didn’t make much logical sense. The space was stuck between the family room and dining room. It had odd angles. An island near the range was impractically narrow and dwarfed by a looming oversize range hood.
Before: Rotating the angle of view shows us another previous island, this one massive and two-tiered. It looked awkward and hindered flow; notice how narrow the pathway to the dining room at the back is.
The homeowners hired designer Kimberley Worswick to pull off a major overhaul that would involve relocating the kitchen to the dining area, knocking down walls, adding a breakfast area and creating a fresh Mediterranean style.
The homeowners hired designer Kimberley Worswick to pull off a major overhaul that would involve relocating the kitchen to the dining area, knocking down walls, adding a breakfast area and creating a fresh Mediterranean style.
After: For orientation, this photo was taken from about the same angle as the second “before” photo; the range is about where the artwork on the back wall was. The kitchen is now open to the family room (where this photo was taken from) and hallways, and to the left is a breakfast area with a banquette.
A generous white-and-wood island for dining and serving now anchors the space in the foreground, while a smaller second island with seating for three lies closer to the kitchen’s working elements. White upper cabinets join rift-sawn white oak lowers in a straw-colored stain. Darker faux wood ceiling beams help define the space and break up the expansive white ceiling, while French oak flooring extends to the adjacent spaces to enhance the feeling of connection.
Ceiling and wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Read more about this project
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A generous white-and-wood island for dining and serving now anchors the space in the foreground, while a smaller second island with seating for three lies closer to the kitchen’s working elements. White upper cabinets join rift-sawn white oak lowers in a straw-colored stain. Darker faux wood ceiling beams help define the space and break up the expansive white ceiling, while French oak flooring extends to the adjacent spaces to enhance the feeling of connection.
Ceiling and wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore
Read more about this project
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen stories
Browse kitchen photos
Hire a kitchen remodeler
Shop for kitchen products
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1. Coming to Light
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: An empty-nest couple
Location: Staten Island, New York
Size: 227 square feet (21 square meters)
Design-build firm: Paul Lopa Designs
Before: With its abundance of traditional cherry cabinets and black granite countertops, this New York City kitchen felt heavy and staid. A big fridge on the same wall as the range and catty-corner from double ovens also had a confining effect, while ornamentation combined with the upper cabinets hindered the lone window’s attempts to lighten things up. The homeowners brought on designer Paul Lopa to overhaul the space with a calm and bright contemporary style.