I hinted earlier this spring that I might be headed into a kitchen renovation, and sure enough, we are in the depths of kitchen planning right now! We've moved past the basic layout, and the budget (see our readers' real-life stories of how much they spent on kitchen remodeling), and now we're thinking about finishes. Personally, I'm almost settled on wood cabinets and some kind of white countertop (quartz? white granite? marble?). I love this look, and I wanted to share some of my favorite pieces of inspiration with you. Here are 10 lovely white and wood kitchens.
I'm planning on a big island in our open kitchen, too, so you can see that theme running through these inspiration photos too!
TOP ROW
• 1 Moraga Residence from J. Weiss Design - An all-time favorite. Sparkly and clean, but still warm, thanks to that wood.
• 2 Luxe kitchen from Elle Decor - Very swanky, but the layout and clean lines could be swiped for a more modest space. (Love the window below the hood!)
• 3 Queen Anne Remodel at This Old House - A more classic approach.
• 4 Forbes Townhouse by Abelow Sherman - A Brooklyn townhouse remodel, with walnut cabinets and Cararra marble.
• 5 Modern Classic - Burlingame by Sullivan Design Studio - A darker wood and very glamorous marble make for a dressier kitchen that still feels casual enough in its openness to the living area.
BOTTOM ROW
• 6 Amy Butler's Granville, Ohio Kitchen from Apartment Therapy - I like the more rustic-modern feel in this country kitchen.
• 7 Steve Justrich Kitchen Remodel at The Kitchn - A lighter, brighter wood than my preference, but still one of my all-time favorite kitchen tours. Steve used quartz countertops.
• 8 Window-Filled Kitchen from Venegas and Company - I love how the eye is drawn up to the windows in this kitchen, with light marble countertops over dark wood.
• 9 Prospect House from Janof Hald Architecture - A more dressy kitchen, with Calacatta marble countertops.
• 10 Sea Cliff Renovation by Moroso Construction - One of my favorites. Clean, understated, with a mix of materials that includes stainless steel on the island.
Do you have any favorite examples of kitchens in this style? Maybe you renovated your own kitchen to have wood cabinets and white countertops? I'd love to see!
We're always looking for real kitchens from real cooks.
Submit your kitchen here.
Related: Kitchen Gallery: Bright White + Warm Wood
(Images: 1. Elle Decor 2. J. Weiss Design 3. Ken Gutmaker/This Old House 4. Abelow Sherman 5. Sullivan Design Studio 6. David Butler 7. James Hall Photography 8. Venegas and Company 9. Janof Hald 10. Moroso Construction)
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We have matte cherry cabinets with confetti terrazzo concrete as the island countertop. It never fails to make me smile :-)
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ItHvVrrWNzWsVh4FDqKbCg
Nice combination. We have blonde wood, with dark marble counters (not the most practical, but good looking).
This is a look I have been considering for my future kitchen reno. Based on this (much appreciated!) roundup, I have determined that I much prefer the wood grain going vertical and not horizontal (ie: #2 and #9 are my favorites.) Thanks for helping me narrow it down!
Got to say, I love Amy Butler's kitchen. But then I love her whole house. If I can tidy our kitchen up enough I will post to you. Have just done a before and after on the living room, so now tired!!! It's on the blog if anyone would like to see!
Just a thought but... the wood/white combination works out a whole lot cheaper with white cabinets and wooden worktops.
I'm so over the all white kitchens. They seem so sterile to me but these feel very warm and inviting. Love the wooden touches. I'd like to see an example of this in a smaller kitchen as well.
TO MSCHATELAINE: I've seen TERRRAZZO glass counter tops but not concrete. Are we talking about the same company that uses recycled glass to make beautiful countertops?
What counter material is that in Amy Butler's kitchen? Does anyone think that the marble trend is getting overplayed? I think the nicks and stains that marble will take on can look fantastic in an older home, but if the house has a more modern architecture, it might not look right as it patinas.
I'm looking at white countertop material for my wood kitchen, and am leaning towards quartz. The problem for me is that my 25-year-old black granite counters look fine and are in good condition so I can't justify the expense. I would prefer white because it looks so fresh and I could use the extra light on my work surface. I also would prefer my counters to wrap up the backsplash all the way to the upper cabinets. My kitchen is small, so the more seamless it looks, the bigger it will feel.
I was hoping to see some kitchens with white cabinets and wood countertops too. This combination works both ways!
We just had our small London kItchen remodelled with a handmade white and wood mix. The wood stops it feeling clinical but in a small space the white makes it light, clean and happy! There are photos and before and afters here:
http://flatnumber88.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/kitchen
White marble countertops are timeless, and have been used for centuries in Europe. The key is that most countertops in Europe are honed, rather than polished. If you must have polished marble, use a quality stone impregnator to help protect against stains and etching.
Impregnators and Sealers do not protect against etching, but slow down the effects, so if you can wipe up spills quickly, you are in better shape to not have damage.
use a pH neutral stone soap for cleaning to support the sealer, and not break down the sealer like high alkaline cleaners do such as dish soaps (pH 11-14)