Building Character in a White Kitchen
There is nothing more timeless than the idea of a white kitchen. Gone are the days of golden oak cabinetry (that can stay in the 80’s). When you’ve lived with something for a long time, you are likely craving the alternative - something lighter and brighter. A white kitchen can become a blank slate for something beautiful with a little bit of extra thought and care for dreaming up special details to set it apart.
While white kitchens have their appeal, the challenge can often be to create a white kitchen that holds character, charm and soul. There is nothing more boring and sterile- looking than rows of the same white cabinetry lined up that all look the same. It falls flat.
If you're looking to embark on a kitchen remodel to help you reimagine your space, here are our creative tips for what to incorporate into your white kitchen to keep it feeling more chic than bleek.
Layer Your Neutrals
Not all whites are created equal and some have warmer undertones while others have cooler undertones. We recommend layering your neutrals to make your white kitchen something that has depth and interest. How do you do this exactly?
Consider if you are drawn to warmer or cooler whites and then work to select 2-3 different shades in the same colour family to use in different zones of your kitchen. For example, you might select one shade of white for your upper cabinetry and then select a slightly different shade of white for your lower cabinetry to create some contrast.
Top tip: We recommend mixing warm whites with each other and cool whites with each other for the best balance. If you mix warm and cool together, they could run the risk of feeling disconnected.
Design & Build: Otis Interiors | Photo: Aras Imaging
Incorporate Different Textures
A great way to ensure your white kitchen ends up feeling cozy is to consider adding different textures throughout. Think of texture as the physical (or visual) appearance of every surface in your space. Playing with textures is not only going to make your all white kitchen feel more interesting, but will make it feel like an extension of the rest of your home too.
Kitchens are notoriously filled with hard surfaces, so we suggest playing with surface textures in the following ways: backsplashes, countertops, hardware, fabrics, furnishings and decorative elements. You might select a dynamic backsplash that has movement or a pattern to it or consider adding soft window treatments like a roman shade or drapery panels to a window that helps break up the hard surfaces. You could add texture (or pattern) to your floors whether they be hardwood, tile or luxury vinyl plank. The easiest way to incorporate texture into a kitchen is by adding textured decor like tea towels or displaying a grouping of cutting boards in a decorative way on your countertops.
Mix In Natural Elements
Incorporating the warmth of natural materials can make your white kitchen feel liveable and connected to nature. Wood, stone (man-made or natural) and greenery are the top three natural elements you can bring into your new kitchen design. The mix of nature-inspired elements with modern amenities create a beautiful balance.
The options for different wood species are endless and we recommend considering where you can plan for a specific wood feature (example: wood floors, consider adding a wood island, accent shelving or accent features or use it to conceal your range hood) or you can sprinkle it in more sparingly by using it for your stool seating or by displaying decorative accents like fruit bowls, dough bowls or bread baskets, etc.
Natural stone has a raw beauty to it but there are also man-made stone and stone-like products (check out porcelain or Dekton) that look and feel like the natural version they are inspired by. You could look at different stone countertops finishes (polished or matte/honed) or incorporate stone backsplashes, accent walls or architectural features. For a more modern, rustic aesthetic, use stone as a feature on your range hood.
Plaster has been making a massive comeback and gaining more appeal due it it’s ability to be applied to different surfaces and take on different shapes. You can create a textured statement that is made up of a natural material (in it’s raw state) that exudes timeless beauty.
Pick a Feature and Do It Really Well
This is one tip that we at Otis have fully embraced when renovating our clients new kitchens. It’s far better to pick a one key feature and a supporting feature (much like a supporting actor) to focus on rather then try to implement all the ideas that are saved on your Pinterest board. If you are trying to do too much, it will feel cluttered and disconnected.
Some of our favourite ways to create a feature in your new kitchen is elevating the look of your range hood. The options are truly endless for style, colour and material. At our Project Kipling, we came up with a modern take on the “X” motif you see in the farmhouse style. For added impact we painted the hood in a rich blue with a wood banding to warm up the scheme. At our Project Scandi Noir, we mimicked the look of natural stone on the hood range and it’s bold veining became the star.
Flooring could also be your feature. Pick a bold patterned floor like a checkerboard or herringbone and make your floors come to life. It breaks up all the white cabinetry and ground your eye in the room. Both of these patterns are also timeless and will age with grace.
Lastly, consider how to incorporate new and old together in the same space. Is there an old piece of furniture you could add into the new white kitchen design? For example, an old hutch that could live within or around the contrast of the new cabinetry. Could you use antique hardware or an old re-purposed door? Having new and old elements live together in a new kitchen can give it character and charm and feel like it’s always been there.
If incorporating vintage is not your thing, you could consider ways for making your cabinetry look more intentionally like furniture pieces. Go with a decorative toe kick, get creative with your islands legs or gables (each end panel of your island) or create a range alcove to house your range in so it envelopes you when you are cooking. Sure to make your white kitchen stand out from others offering something distinctly unique for you and your family.
Enhance Architectural Details
If your home has special architectural details already, consider how they could be the star of your new white kitchen. If you are renovating to create your dream kitchen, consider what architectural features you could bring in to set your kitchen apart.
Look at integrating ceiling beams or a coffered ceiling (to make use of the fifth wall!). In our Project Farmstead project, we preserved wood ceiling beams as well as cladded an old chimney column in stone. We built the cabinetry around it to make it look like it was always apart of the home and is now a beautiful feature in the new kitchen to add warmth and charm.
If you renovating and are replacing windows in your kitchen, this is your opportunity to re-imagine them. You can re-imagine the shape, function and features to make your windows the star. Consider a contrasting colour from your kitchen like black or brown or add grills or mullions to enhance the style you are after.
Decorative panelling or wall moldings is a treatment that you can add whether you are renovating your kitchen or looking to add features on-to an existing kitchen. Wainscotting on walls, shiplap or beadboard on walls or cabinetry and decorative trim profiles can really elevate your white kitchen and take it to a level that is sure to elevate your home and impress guests.
Working in a few of these tips will help set you on the right path to creating a beautiful and timeless white kitchen that ensures those extra special details are considered to make it feel special and unique.
If you’re feeling stuck or are thinking of starting the planning on your own kitchen renovation, reach out to us and book your Discovery Call with us today! Kitchens are our favourite spaces in a home to design and build and we’d love to help you build the space where new families memories (and many delicious meals) will be shared.