The classic high-contrast palette works with everything from traditional to contemporary style.
The black-and-white color palette suits every kitchen style. From traditional to Scandinavian modern, transitional to chic contemporary, the black-and-white combo provides a versatile base for a variety of textures and finishes. Here’s how five designers used the high-contrast pairing to create beautiful kitchens in a wide range of styles.
With their three boys “sorta moved out,” these homeowners had the time to give their dated kitchen a complete renovation. They enlisted designer Jennifer Grey to help them renovate while staying within the kitchen’s original footprint. Her clients’ request for something bolder and brighter, as well as the dining room’s black-and-white wallpaper (back left), inspired the color palette.
The largest swath of black comes in on the island’s base. The dark finishes on the light fixtures pick up on the color from above. The tones of the gray grout between the herringbone tiles and the veining in the marble-like quartz countertops fall somewhere between black and white.
It’s not all stark contrast, however. In addition to the wood counter stool seats, matchstick blinds add warmth and texture. And clear-glass cabinets allow the homeowners to switch up the accent colors with their personal collections.
Takeaway: Use a big swath of black for a graphic punch. The size of the island base makes it a powerful modern element.
2. Classic White With Black Contrast
Soon after their last child left the nest, these homeowners were ready for a lifestyle change. Not wanting to leave their beloved neighborhood, they decided to make their existing home new to them. Their biggest desire was to transform their dark and dated kitchen into the classic white room of their dreams. Designer Liz Schupanitz brought their vision to life.
Before, the microwave was over the range, but the couple wanted to replace it with a vent hood that could serve as a focal point. So she designed an appliance-and-storage wall that could accommodate additional ovens on the left. The vent hood was painted to resemble zinc.
Adding strong dark contrast to the room’s traditional white keeps it fresh. Black-and-white buffalo-check stool fabric, dark iron lanterns, an almost-black paint on the vent hood and black granite countertops that resemble soapstone add just the right doses of darkness to the light, bright kitchen. Farrow & Ball’s Stony Ground paint adds warmth on the walls.
Takeaway: Using shades of gray to ease the stark contrast can lend a more traditional look.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I’ll describe as “collected.” I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I’ve been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
With their three boys “sorta moved out,” these homeowners had the time to give their dated kitchen a complete renovation. They enlisted designer Jennifer Grey to help them renovate while staying within the kitchen’s original footprint. Her clients’ request for something bolder and brighter, as well as the dining room’s black-and-white wallpaper (back left), inspired the color palette.
The largest swath of black comes in on the island’s base. The dark finishes on the light fixtures pick up on the color from above. The tones of the gray grout between the herringbone tiles and the veining in the marble-like quartz countertops fall somewhere between black and white.