How to Warm Up a Contemporary White Kitchen

Add comfort and texture to a monochrome kitchen by introducing the rich tones of wood

Amanda PollardSeptember 4, 2018

Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.

Modern flat-front cabinets give a fresh, bright feel to a kitchen, but how do you prevent the space from looking sterile? Incorporating wood on cabinets, countertops and floors, and with furniture and accessories, allows you to create a room that feels both airy and warm. Take a look at these gorgeous kitchens for inspiration.

Designer Kitchen by Morgan

Keep the wood light. Glossy white cabinets lend a luminous quality to a kitchen. To maintain that look, introduce wood with a light touch. This island has natural wood cabinetry below its gleaming white countertop. The designers left a gap between the two elements, which helps lift the island and create an airy feel.

A full-height cabinet with a pale wood surface adds another warm element, and its recessed design ties in with the island cabinets.

S. Group

Repeat it. Contrast shiny white lower cabinets with warm wood uppers. This row of upper cabinets is covered with a dark wood that matches the flooring. The addition of a wood panel on the side of the island ties the two levels together.

Find a designer for your kitchen

Space Craft Joinery

Consider the details. This overall white kitchen gets its warmth from such well-crafted features as the wood breakfast bar, the veneered range hood and the beautiful handles on the tall cabinets. Even the edging on the shelves adds to its quality look.

Minett Studio Architecture and Design

Bring in black. Add drama to your wood-and-white kitchen with a touch of black. In this beautiful space, the black-framed windows, globe pendant lights and charcoal-hued island legs contrast sharply with the glossy white cabinetry.

The light wood gives the space a honey-toned warmth, and the dark wood beams above help bridge the gap between white and black.

Hart Builders Pty Ltd

Showcase the grain. Make a feature of your kitchen’s wood elements by choosing a variety with a beautiful grain. These two matching panels of wood were divided into sections along the upper cabinets and the base of the island. Since they were cut from one sheet of wood, the grain forms a continuous pattern.

The textured wood is the ideal contrast to the gleaming white countertop.

Slab-Style Cabinetry Offers Flexibility and Style

APT Renovation Limited

Put it on the counters. A simple way to warm up a contemporary white kitchen is by choosing wood countertops. In this kitchen, they tie in with the floor and the sloped ceiling for a bright yet cozy feel.

There are many different types of wood you can use, including oak, pine, iroko and bamboo. The material you go for will depend on the tone you’re after and the level of durability you need. Maintain wood counters by oiling them regularly or sealing them with a specialist product.

Your Guide to 15 Popular Kitchen Countertop Materials

Graham Atkins-Hughes Photography

Bring in wood furniture. If you want to add wood to an existing white kitchen but don’t have the time or budget to change any of the main elements, use it on furniture and accessories instead. Although this bright white kitchen has a pale wood floor, it’s the wood chairs and wall-hung knife rack that really warm up the space.

Browse wood dining chairs

Tell us: Do you like the clean, contemporary look of a white kitchen with a touch of wood for warmth? Share your thoughts in the Comments.

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