They may have been popular in the past but now, a white kitchen screams rental. They were a byword for chic, clean, minimal expensive spaces, but as our tastes have gone more in the direction of a coloured kitchen cabinet, the poor white kitchen has been relegated to the sidelines. This is not so much the case in America, where a huge shiny white kitchen with acres of marble is still a (not so) stealth wealth symbol, but even there, there seems to be a move in the other direction.
Perhaps it's because we associate colour with expressing ourselves, or perhaps it's because white is so unforgiving when it comes to the mess of life, but a white kitchen can still be a truly lovely thing. If you still hold a candle to these bright, airy spaces, then let the below examples be a guide as to how to get them right.
Consider Interesting Shapes
All kitchens are not designed equally and it isn't just in our choice of worktops, cabinetry and paint that this rings true. In this modern kitchen by FERM Living, the textured kitchen is all the more appealing for the shape of the cabinet doors. The fluted doors makes them quite unusual and all the better for it. Even more intriguing at the overhead locker-style cabinets that hang at the bottom of the upper row, providing extra storage while also softening the entire space.
Be Open to Open Shelving
All white objects also work to add a creative flair to this Cape Town kitchen, but the real winning design element here (and there are a few) is the use of open shelving. On the top level, it stops there being an overwhelming expanse of white and adds some character via white pots and jars. The open shelf also works as a divider, which is an absolutely genius idea and adds so much visual interest as well as truly useful space for objet d’arts.
This compact galley-style kitchen Sue Bond’s Fresnaye home is also a wonderful example of how open shelving can be key to making a white kitchen work. The utter lack of any cabinets on the walls makes the space seem lighter and has given the owners spaces to hang art and interesting knick knacks and shelves which all bring personality to the kitchen, where otherwise there would be a flat expanse of white doors.
The thin shelves on the other wall add a storage element and further space for ornaments and it all comes together to be a winning example not just of how to bring character to a white kitchen, but also how to get a galley kitchen right. The last thing worth noting is the wooden window frame and shutters – an excellent softening touch.
Switch Up Your Hardware
There are two ways in one can easily add character to a white kitchen: wood and handles. The wooden shelves – like the window shutters in the previous example – are a brilliant tactic in a white kitchen, but her choice of ornate gold handles are the real breadwinner here. It's such a small and easy swap – even in a rental – but it makes such a remarkable difference to the overall feel of the space, which is now pretty and delicate rather than cold and clinical (words often associated with all white rooms).
As for the wooden shelves, they are once again open – meaning no white cabinets at eye level – but it is the sheer heft of them which makes a statement and adds a lot more to the kitchen.
Inject Some Serious Decorative Flair
While this kitchen isn't entirely white, it is a good case study in how a relatively small decorative touch can have a large impact on a neutral kitchen. The small marble backsplash and counter between the all-white cabinets and walls are such a clever touch, as adding art to a kitchen where there are walls full of cabinets is quite hard. The addition of a crew of creeping planters uses an existing space in a smart way while bringing additional colour and excitement to the room.
This story is adapted from the original via House & Garden UK.
