So we are getting ready to redo our kitchen. We are in the initial stages and already do not necessarily agree on some things. But I will say that I could be completely wrong and can be convinced on this one.
Anyway, my wife has her heart set on a white kitchen. Or should I say, all white cabinets. We'd probably go with countertops in a grey tone and I am not sure about the floors and the appliances.
Not sure why I am not really digging a white kitchen? Maybe because I don't think it will mesh with the rest of the house (we have dark wood floors everywhere else and a sort of restoration hardware look in general). Maybe because a white kitchen feels old school to me?
Anyway, are white kitchen back in style now? Where to people stand on this one way or the other?
White floors are really hard to maintain especially if you have kids or pets. If you want to do white anything, make it the cabinets not the floors, walls or the counter tops otherwise you'll spend your life trying to keep it looking clean.
I think it might be worth your while to take a tour and visit some new homes or new condos with white or light kitchens (among others)? Even some of the kitchen show rooms will have small areas set up, but an entire kitchen would be best.
Then you can both look at them together and perhaps compromise and possibly come up with an idea you both like. Nothing is worse than writing check after check for something you are both less than thrilled with.
I don't particularly care for the dichotomy of dark everything else with a white kitchen, although I just saw one recently in a builder's model that didn't look too bad. I think the key is to have plenty of dark accents mixed in to tie the two concepts (light and dark) together. I also think it takes a special hand to prevent a white kitchen with grey counters from looking stark and clinical.
All white kitchens have been in style on either coast for quite some time. I have found that Kraftmaid has a great website with lots of different styles. Even if you don't like their cabinetry, the ideas and pictures are really good.
With that said deciding on a kitchen is a big commitment. No other reno affects the value of you home quite like a kitchen. If you plan on moving in 5 years or less pick a kitchen style that relates to the architecture or the location.
If you plan on being there longer, go with what you like, no reno no matter how hip, is cutting edge after 5 years. There's always something new.
A good rule of thumb is that high contrast makes a space look smaller and spaces that blend together tend to look larger. If your kitchen is on the smaller side, blending the floor colors, instead of contrasting them is usually a good idea. What about a tile floor close in color to your wood? Like an espresso with a bright white grout line? Your wife could still do the white on white thing, while preserving some relevence to the rest of the house. Some dark wood kitchen chairs or counter stools with a cleanable white faux leather or an off white Sunbrella fabric for durability? Could be cool.
Posts: 1481 | Location: Morristown | Registered: Jun 12, 2010
I have a white kitchen...I love it! I love everything about it. It's classic, it's clean, it's cool. I've paired it up with stainless appliances and black granite countertops. I have a backsplash that's a combination of beige/grey/black/white and stainless.
I walk into my kitchen everyday and say I love this room and I'm so happy I chose this.
I don't really care what anyone else has. I know this isn't my forever home, but it's my home for now. It makes me happy to be in it....and everyone knows...if mom is happy....everyone is happy
While I think it is great that someone loves their all white kitchen, I'm not sure that another persons enthusiasm helps this gentleman resolve his particular issues. The fact that he thinks an all white kitchen may be out of step with the rest of his home is a valid design question. I think some compromise between his wife's love of white kitchens and the existing design details of the rest of their house may be what is called for.
Posts: 1481 | Location: Morristown | Registered: Jun 12, 2010
For what it's worth, I am attaching some glimpses of the ajoining rooms. These are somewhat old pictures (when it was less furnished) but hopefully you get the idea of what the rest of the house looks like. We aren't done but in part, we want to keep the feel of it being an older home.
You can peek into our old kitchen in the background of the third picture. And please ignore the kennels. They were put there temporarily and we forgot to take them out.
Well, you do have all that white trim. I personally happen to love white kitchen cabinets, but it is your home. My suggestion would be to continue that dark flooring right into the kitchen and I would have a countertop with dark and light tones, like a granite.
