Take the white kitchen style and make it yours
(Nov. 30, 2022) — The white kitchen is highly controversial in the realm of home design.
A tried-and-true design aesthetic, the white kitchen has been living its best life for quite some time and isn’t showing signs of relinquishing its status anytime soon. Yet a quick online search spits out a wide range of pros and cons regarding this design choice. Industry pundits are equally in favor of the white kitchen continuing its reign, as well as suggesting it’s time for another color to lead the charge.
There’s lots of convincing dialogue on either side of the debate to consider, but in my opinion, if you are considering a kitchen remodel, it really comes down to one obvious question: What do you want?
Part of the white kitchen’s longevity is that it tends to look appropriate in just about any home. We love the clean, classic look of this kitchen design, but in the same breath, we might poke fun at how often we see it on the many design pages that we peruse. Truthfully, when something looks good and has a beautiful track record, it’s hard not to appreciate its enduring style.
Creating focal points
A white kitchen certainly doesn’t have to be all white. Consider bringing a secondary color on the island, range hood, stand-alone pantry or upper cabinets. This isn’t a matter of arbitrarily picking a door or drawer to highlight with color, it’s about calling out unique cabinetry details and creating focal points that tie all of the kitchen cabinetry together – as well as the bigger picture consisting of the kitchen, dining area and family room.
Backsplash tile and countertops are the glue that holds the kitchen together. White subway tile paired with a white quartz with gray or beige veins is a classic choice. But take the combo a step further. Consider a tile with a significant texture, bold or subtle color, perfectly machine-made or water jet cut or rustic and handmade, and pair that tile with a countertop with a ton of personality, or maybe something calm and sleek.
Whatever your design aesthetic, look at the expected choice first – almost to check it off your mental design list. Then, consider something different. Maybe a glossy ceramic arabesque shape or a handmade, painted, terracotta tile with a subtle geometric design, in shades of dove gray, warm beige, dark charcoal and ivory.
Personal preference matters
Flooring, wall color, window treatments, appliances, plumbing, hardware and lighting add the much-needed substance that gives a white kitchen its personality. These materials, along with the contrasting cabinets, backsplash tile and countertops, break up the sea of white – personalizing your kitchen.
If you include a variety of finishes, textures and colors into a white kitchen, you’ve created something eclectic and personal. After all, isn’t that what design is all about?
The white kitchen is popular because it’s a very comfortable color to incorporate into any home. It’s highlighted often amongst the pages of our favorite design sources, showcased on our favorite HGTV shows, and even enjoyed first-hand when our friends and family take on kitchen remodels.
When starting a kitchen remodel of your own, don’t be concerned with what the pundits have to say. Create a kitchen that fulfills your needs and wish list, selecting materials that make you happy.
Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton. Contact her with questions, comments and suggestions at jenna@j-designs.com.
Jennifer Leischer
Jennifer Leischer is the owner of J. Designs Interior Design based in Clayton, CA. Combining a public relations degree from California State University, Chico, with further studies in design and interior architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, Jennifer began her career as an interior designer in 1998, working for various firms in San Francisco and Orinda, and Denver, Colorado. She describes every designing moment, throughout her career, as a wonderful tutorial about the importance of relationships, open communication, and getting down to the basics of functional, yet stylish, living spaces.