Five Ways to Warm up a White-on-White Modern Kitchen

I know, you think I’m going to say yellow (since it’s my favourite colour), and yes, this colour will certainly warm up a white, modern kitchen, but actually here’s how you do it.

First, this kitchen was designed by my good friend Interior Designer Lee Stergios in North Vancouver, who specializes in kitchen design. At the end I’m going to show you his cozy apartment, but first, here is how you warm up a modern white kitchen:

BM OC-66 Snow White (Walls and High Gloss Cabinets)

Add some texture

Here, Lee created that with the silver penny tile backsplash which he repeated in the accessories.

Use at least two different sizes of hardware

It always looks more custom when hardware has been thoughtfully chosen and installed.

I like the short contemporary pulls on the doors with long, almost full length drawer pulls. I talked about these very pulls in this post.

Include an interesting chandelier

Basic pendants would not have been as interesting as this contemporary, square chandelier which also picks up the silver accents in this kitchen.

Use wood flooring instead of white tile

I was in a show home in New York about two years ago with white subway tile, white slab cabinets, white countertops and white floor tile.

That kitchen, did feel as cold as a laboratory.

And, just in case you’re thinking it’s because it was screaming white, I would have felt the same way if it was all cream. Nothing to do with the colour, it was more how flat everything looked given even the cabinets were flat.

Kitchen design by Innova Interior Design

Create a wall of windows with this much fabulous green right outside!

Smith Firestone Associates

Here is another great example of how the view and the wood floors totally warm up this modern, white-on-white kitchen.

Via pinterest

I also like a well designed white, slab kitchen with a combination of wood (above).

I’m also showing you a peek of Lee’s apartment which has such a great, Ralph Lauren/gentleman’s club feel. I like the way he’s handled contrast using off-whites, blues and creams.

A vintage piece of luggage with a blanket tucked inside, beside the fireplace.

 A truly inviting, colourful, entry with a place to sit.

Here you can see a glimpse of the kitchen which Lee inherited. He re-configured the pantry wall that you can see, the white appliances are original. This kitchen will be renovated as well.

Walls BM 2128-30 Evening dove

I always like the way an animal print rug fills up a space visually and it’s great how it repeats the medium wood tones in the dining table.

These two cabinets came from Lee’s previous apartment and normally they would not work in the context of a dining room vignette but with the creative addition of the x ottoman, bolsters and large square mirror, they’re perfect!

Hope you enjoyed the tour! Thanks Lee for sharing your home with us! xo Maria

Related posts:

Trend Alert: Is Navy the New Black?

Ask Maria: Will my White Kitchen be Cold?

My White Kitchen Inside Style at Home

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