Why white kitchens are here to stay!
White kitchens will never go out of style! And according to home renovating and realtor statistics most homeowners opt for white kitchen cabinets. The white kitchen is often critiqued as being boring, but if you want to invest in your property and sell it for profit a white kitchen is the way to go.
A recent white kitchen project I have been involved in. Kitchen design and installation by the Kitchen Connection and Photo by Lisa Seyfried photography
So why has white stood the test of time? In the 1920’s and 1930’s there wasn’t much choice as it was the only color available to manufacturers, but today we have so much color to choose from and more, but still more than 50% of homeowners choose white. Two words come to mind – clean and fresh. It is also a feel good color – color therapists agree that white sends out positive energy and represents purity, innocence and happiness. It is also the brightest color, reflects light and makes even small kitchens feel more spacious. Looking at demographics white kitchens do appeal to both young families as well as the older generations. Kitchens are also emotional rooms – they are the heart of the home where families get together, where special memories get created. You need to show prospective buyers that is true for your house too.
So in the real estate market, the kitchen is the one room that will get the most comments and attention from potential buyers. This could be the room they totally fall in love with or hate so much that your house will lost all appeal to them and they will walk away – so having a white kitchen is one of the best ways to ensure your return on investment.
If your kitchen has not been updated for decades then doing a full renovation would ideal. For some of us, a refresh or an update of a dated kitchen is usually all that is needed.
Here are five top tips to update your kitchen
If your cabinet doors are still in great shape, then consider having your cabinets painted, below I will discuss my favourite white paint colors for kitchen cabinets.
Replace dated hardware – this is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways with great impact. Keep it simple and have the same finish throughout, nickel is a great option as it will work well with faucets and stainless steel appliances.
Updating counter tops and back splashes can make a tremendous difference too. You might not even have to re-tile – simply removing outdated tile back splashes will give your kitchen an immediate face lift, no tiles are sometimes better than ugly tiles. If you grouting is not looking great, then consider keeping the tiles but just redo the grouting.
So many nice kitchens are dragged back in time by dated appliances. It might a bigger expense, but updating your appliances is one of the most important items to address. Replace your fridge and stove and you will see the offers pouring in.
The best companion color to go with your new white cabinetry is grey – it is time to get rid of outdated color schemes and embrace the calming effects of grey.
Which whites are best for kitchen cabinets?
As you might have noticed not all whites are whites! Benjamin Moore has 18 whites, so where do you start? First of all whites either have warm or a cool undertone and there are even variations here. Warm whites have undertones of red and yellow, resulting in a soft glow and welcoming mood. Cool whites have undertones of blue, green and gray, creating a space that looks crisp, clean and luminous.
Kitchen cabinets painted with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, Photo: KountryKraft
My favourite Benjamin Moore white is Chantilly Lace. If you are looking for a versatile white then this is the white for you. It is the perfect white, it is not too cool and not too cold, it is really the perfect white. If you are not very confident in choosing a white, then this white should be your first choice. Revere Pewter is a great grey to accompany the Chantilly Lace.
If you are looking for a warmer white then you might want to consider Cloud White. It has a subtle creamy-yellow undertone and creates a warm and natural color. You might think it is white on its own, but when you combine it with truly white trim or appliances, you will notice the subtle difference. Choose Gray Owl to go with your Cloud white kitchen. Be careful with other greys – as the yellow undertone in Cloud white might be more than subtle. Depending on what other colors you have in an open room concept, you might not want to have grey, but rather choose one of the more pure whites, such as Oxford White or Decorator’s White for trims and wall colors.
Kitchen painted in Cloud White, Photo: Lewis and Weldon
My other favourite is Simply White – it’s fresh and clean color, but doesn’t feel cold at all. It has a very slight yellow undertone and at times a bit of green can be detected. It is a great in between – it has some of the freshness of Chantilly lace and some of the warmth of Cloud White. Also consider using it in kitchens were there isn’t a lot of natural light coming in or if you have a northern exposure. It looks great in every light and can even be used with white trims and dark wood flooring. Simply white pairs well with Classic Gray.
Did you know that we also offer paint consultations? We can do In-person or Virtual paint consultations to help you with choosing the best whites for your kitchen!
A recent kitchen I have completed here in Nelson, BC. Kitchen cabinets in Simply White, Kitchen design and installation by the Kitchen Connection and Photo by Lisa Seyfried photography
Lighting also plays a big role
I have a lot of clients who paint their cabinets and then find out they are not as crisp white as they had intended. Another important factor to consider is the lighting – the type of bulbs chosen has a huge effect on your cabinet colors. If you buy lighting that is closer to 2000 Kelvin then your white cabinets will appear more yellow and warm while a 5000K bulb will give a whiter more daylight look.
What about wall colours?
Having white cabinets are great as it gives you the opportunity to add other subtle wall colours. But which colours to choose?
Cool greys are great for modern kitchens and bathrooms. The blue-greys work so well when paired with Carrera marble or if you have subtle grey veining in your countertops. If your kitchen has stainless steel appliances and brushed nickel hard ware it will look great too. If however you have granite countertops with lots of colour variation you might want to choose cool greys with a green undertone - cool green-greys are the perfect neutral and works well in lots of kitchens and bathrooms.
If you kitchen has warm wood tones such as walnut and oak and metallic hardware and faucets in brass or bronze, you might want to consider using warm greys or taupe colours.
Often stone in kitchens dictate colour schemes too. Greiges are great colour schemes for French country inspired looks, they are considered warm greys and work well with wood tone and stone detail too.
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A final tip
If you have trouble finding the perfect white, remember to compare it with Chantilly Lace, you will be able to see the undertone colors right away. Also remember that color should always be in context – my advice is a just a general guide and this might not be the correct white for your home. When choosing a white you need to take into account some of your hard finishes, your flooring and adjacent rooms and hallways.
If you are still not sure which colors to choose, then consider our Online Paint Consultation or ask your question in this blog post. Good luck.