New This Week: 3 Beautifully Balanced White Kitchens
See how designers use cabinet hardware, wood and other accents to bring layers of interest to mostly white kitchens
Just exactly what is a white kitchen? Well, if you look at Houzz’s 2019 Kitchen Trends Study, you’ll find that most people want a kitchen that includes white cabinets, white countertops and a white backsplash. That’s a lot of white. But don’t think a white kitchen has to come off looking like you’ve wandered into a blizzard. Designers come up with all kinds of neat ways to bring balance, contrast, warmth and texture to white kitchens. Here, three designers show how they played with cabinet hardware, texture and wood to perk up mostly white kitchens.
Another special feature. “One of my favorite features of this kitchen is the metal shelves on either side of the range hood, which was a last-minute change,” Edwards says. “The clients had wanted wood floating shelves, but as the flooring, beams and wood island came in, it was feeling like we needed something else. We had these metal shelves made, and I think they complete this space so beautifully.”
Designer tip. “Instead of adding another material to the backsplash, we took the marble up 10 inches,” Edwards says. “One more texture or finish would have been too much in this space, so I am very happy we kept it simple.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “This kitchen was part of a two-year complete home addition and renovation, so we had many ‘uh-oh’ moments,” Edwards says. “The freak-out moment is always when the finishes start to go in and the client is looking at them each individually and not yet seeing how they will come together in the end. The challenge as a designer is being confident in the design plan and reminding the client to trust you, and then hoping like crazy it all pulls together like you’ve imagined.”
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Designer tip. “Instead of adding another material to the backsplash, we took the marble up 10 inches,” Edwards says. “One more texture or finish would have been too much in this space, so I am very happy we kept it simple.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “This kitchen was part of a two-year complete home addition and renovation, so we had many ‘uh-oh’ moments,” Edwards says. “The freak-out moment is always when the finishes start to go in and the client is looking at them each individually and not yet seeing how they will come together in the end. The challenge as a designer is being confident in the design plan and reminding the client to trust you, and then hoping like crazy it all pulls together like you’ve imagined.”
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2. Brass and Marble With Green Veining
Designer: Linda Burnside of LGB Interiors
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Homeowners’ request. “From the very beginning, our client wanted her kitchen to be light and airy and to be an extension of the garden adjacent to the space,” designer Linda Burnside says. “The view of the garden became an integral part of the design, allowing the green from the garden’s massive banana palms to become the accent color and a perfect juxtaposition to the white cabinets. The kitchen’s footprint was very small, so we were challenged with making it feel larger and more welcoming, somewhere our client would want to spend time.”
Balance. “The brass hardware on the white cabinets [Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams] really helped with balancing the warm tones in the wood floor,” Burnside says. “The use of lighting over the sink and window also allowed for extra contrast and added lighting at different levels.”
Another special feature. Marble countertops with green veining that connects to the greenery of the nearby garden.
Designer tip. “Simplicity was the key to making this design a success,” Burnside says. “Every aspect of the kitchen has a chance to shine, and all of the elements have clean, simple lines.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The entire original kitchen was built with metal cabinets and air ducts that run across the top of the cabinets on each side,” Burnside says. “We were not able to move the ductwork, so we got creative with a custom wood mesh panel to cover the air vent located over the sink. We also painted the soffit for the ductwork the same sheen as the cabinets and trim to make it look like one cohesive built-in cabinet.”
Bianca ceramic pendant (over sink): Regina Andrew
Designer: Linda Burnside of LGB Interiors
Location: Columbia, South Carolina
Homeowners’ request. “From the very beginning, our client wanted her kitchen to be light and airy and to be an extension of the garden adjacent to the space,” designer Linda Burnside says. “The view of the garden became an integral part of the design, allowing the green from the garden’s massive banana palms to become the accent color and a perfect juxtaposition to the white cabinets. The kitchen’s footprint was very small, so we were challenged with making it feel larger and more welcoming, somewhere our client would want to spend time.”
Balance. “The brass hardware on the white cabinets [Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams] really helped with balancing the warm tones in the wood floor,” Burnside says. “The use of lighting over the sink and window also allowed for extra contrast and added lighting at different levels.”
Another special feature. Marble countertops with green veining that connects to the greenery of the nearby garden.
Designer tip. “Simplicity was the key to making this design a success,” Burnside says. “Every aspect of the kitchen has a chance to shine, and all of the elements have clean, simple lines.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The entire original kitchen was built with metal cabinets and air ducts that run across the top of the cabinets on each side,” Burnside says. “We were not able to move the ductwork, so we got creative with a custom wood mesh panel to cover the air vent located over the sink. We also painted the soffit for the ductwork the same sheen as the cabinets and trim to make it look like one cohesive built-in cabinet.”
Bianca ceramic pendant (over sink): Regina Andrew
3. Wood, Black Iron, Marble With Blue Veining and Shiplap
Designer: Glennys Cowles Bryant of GCD Interiors
Location: WaterSound, Florida
Homeowners’ request. An open and inviting area that would flow into other living spaces, both outside and in. “They wanted a space made for entertainment and to be able to cook and socialize with their guests at the same time,” designer Glennys Cowles Bryant says.
Balance. “While keeping it fresh and airy with the white walls and cabinets, we wanted to add depth and dimension without taking away from the incredible view of the ocean right outside these windows,” Cowles Bryant says. “We chose a lot of natural elements to add to the natural beauty of the surroundings. The oak wood beams add texture, while the solid marble backsplash with waves of blue veins adds movement. The black iron light fixture and dark Indonesian-style finish on the stool legs added the crispness needed to ground the space. And shiplap walls add a coastal vibe.”
Designer tip. “We always add something natural or something that cannot be replicated,” Cowles Bryant says. “Not only does it make a good conversation piece, [but] it adds an area of interest. The finishing touch in this space was the butterfly art. The butterflies are a preserved part of this world — each one is unique.”
More on Houzz
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Behold These Bold Kitchen Backsplashes
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Designer: Glennys Cowles Bryant of GCD Interiors
Location: WaterSound, Florida
Homeowners’ request. An open and inviting area that would flow into other living spaces, both outside and in. “They wanted a space made for entertainment and to be able to cook and socialize with their guests at the same time,” designer Glennys Cowles Bryant says.
Balance. “While keeping it fresh and airy with the white walls and cabinets, we wanted to add depth and dimension without taking away from the incredible view of the ocean right outside these windows,” Cowles Bryant says. “We chose a lot of natural elements to add to the natural beauty of the surroundings. The oak wood beams add texture, while the solid marble backsplash with waves of blue veins adds movement. The black iron light fixture and dark Indonesian-style finish on the stool legs added the crispness needed to ground the space. And shiplap walls add a coastal vibe.”
Designer tip. “We always add something natural or something that cannot be replicated,” Cowles Bryant says. “Not only does it make a good conversation piece, [but] it adds an area of interest. The finishing touch in this space was the butterfly art. The butterflies are a preserved part of this world — each one is unique.”
More on Houzz
8 Elements of Classic Kitchen Style
Behold These Bold Kitchen Backsplashes
Find a kitchen designer near you
Browse cabinet pulls for your kitchen
Designer: Angie Edwards of Design Shop Interiors
Location: Sebastopol, California
Size: 247 square feet (23 square meters); 13 by 19 feet
Homeowners’ request. Relocate the kitchen to what once was a powder room and bedroom, so it would be adjacent to the new family room, creating a great room layout. Also, “the clients knew they wanted a French range, barn wood floors and steel windows,” designer Angie Edwards says.
Balance. “I didn’t want this to feel like a white kitchen, but rather a clean and layered kitchen,” Edwards says. “So, many of the materials we used in here are raw and aged. The floors and beams are 150-year-old reclaimed barn wood; the lighting and faucets are varnished unlacquered brass. Bringing in the beautiful polished marble and the clean white cabinets kept the kitchen from feeling too rustic.” The black window frames, shelves and range also help bring balance and contrast.
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