I know white kitchens are all the rage right now. But I think I’ve mentioned this before, sadly for us a white kitchen will never work. Both of us love to cook and as a result cook a lot. And Indian cooking uses a lot of spices in an array of colors, yellows, reds, browns etc. It also involves a good amount of oil with almost ever dish needing a tempering of mustard seeds and curry leaves. All this means that white cabinets tend to show the grease and start to discolor easily. Don’t ask me how exactly this happens but it does. I have seen it happen in my aunt’s home in India. White kitchen cabinets were all the rage in early 90’s there. Closer to home, I hear my cousin crib about them often in her Charlotte home. For these reasons I’m a proud member of the wood tone/dark cabinet club.
I didn’t realize how popular white kitchens were until I searched for kitchen pics on Houzz for this post. All I could see were white cabinets! Anything with darker cabinets was part of an ultra modern kitchen. And then I found this one! All pics courtesy Houzz.
I love everything about this room, especially the marble countertops.
Here is a more contemporary kitchen that caught my eye. Yes, the style is a little bit more sleeker than I’d usually prefer but I’m so loving those pendants and the island.
Contemporary Kitchen design by New York Interior Designer valerie pasquiou interiors + design, inc
I couldn’t help but include a few superstars from the sea of white kitchens mostly for their layout and style. I’m loving the breakfast area more than the cooking space in the below pic. I could sit there all day, on the bay window seat enjoying the view!
Got to give full marks to the designers for the simplicity of this kitchen. Monochromatic color scheme never looked better. Serious pendant and industrial bar stool envy here!
Who wouldn’t want a skylight in their kitchen? Again great kitchen-breakfast area layout. Totally digging the black countertops.
I tried my luck one more time. This time specifically searching for ‘warm kitchens’ and found this beauty.
In all these pics did you notice something?
- I tend to like kitchens with large islands.
- No fancy edged countertops for moi!
- Yay to simple back splashes.
- In all but one pic the cook top is not on the island. The island in our home is catch all place for the kids’ school work, lunch boxes on their way to the sink, lunchbox packing, and more importantly where the kids end up doing homework some days. As you can see a cook top on the island would just not work for us. We also wanted a range hood in the home. A stove top on the island would mean that the the range hood would be hanging in the middle of the room. We are not big fans of that look either.
The kitchen played a big role when we zeroed in on our current home.
What kind of kitchens do you like? White/ non-white? How about the island? Do you prefer a sink / cook top / nothing on the island?
All pics courtesy Houzz.
I love the kitchen with the black cabinets too. I am going to paint my oak kitchen cabinets with Black on the bottom half and white on the top half next spring.
Me too. Black is not exactly the color that comes to mind when you think about kitchen cabinets. They look great!
Vidya
I’m a fan of the white kitchen just because it seems classic to me.
I have found that I really like gray and dark painted cabinets as well, just not a fan of the stained wood cabinets. But that’s why there is variety!
I have nothing against the look of white cabinets. It is just that it is not practical for our family. They do look really clean and serene. I love your kitchen.
Vidya
You hit it on the nose when you mention that it is hard to find wood cabinet kitchen photos. This is also true for Pinterest. I am starting to like white kitchens more lately just through sheer exposure to them, but I am originally someone who likes the warm wood cabinets in a kitchen.
I know. I think it might be a phase, might be something else in a few yrs. I’m now taking a liking to two tone kitchens with the island cabinets a diff color.
Vidya
I love the two tone kitchens. It’s just more interesting. Some cabinets with the glass fronts even have some sort of decorative design or a bright color at the back of the cabinet to make the items sitting inside of them pop right out at you as you look at the cabinets. I like that idea.
Yes – two-toned is a great look. I see tables and chairs I like that are two-toned.
I just built my own dream house and couldn’t quite commit to an all-white kitchen so I went with a dove White on the perimeter and a dark island.
Love all the pics you posted, but if you’re a real cooking famile, I’m going to suggest you steer clear of marble countertops, because they etch and stain so easily . There are plenty of granites that will give you a similar look, but will wear better (although any stone will need to be sealed).
Good luck and enjoy!!
I have really enjoyed reading your blog dear Vidya!
I have sent you a Libester Award, to find out how it works please follow this link. Hope your having a wonderful day dear! Thanks for all the lovely updates on your blog. 😀
oops forgot link lol http://projectsonthefarm.blogspot.com/2012/10/libester-award.html#links
Thanks again! 😀
Aww…Thank you so much Debi. That is really sweet of you.
Vidya
Where can I buy those ivory chairs with the ebony cupboards?
I love the bar stools and have looked for them everywhere. If anyone knows where I can get them let me know.
I saw similar barstools on Wayfair at this link
https://www.wayfair.com/Charlton-Home–Amador-Upholstered-Swivel-Bar-and-Counter-Stool-X111277254-L59-K~W000166143.html?refid=GX433481643568-W000166143_1778832008_1778832015&device=m&ptid=901744701254&network=g&targetid=pla-901744701254&channel=GooglePLA&ireid=81620305&fdid=1817&PiID%5B%5D=1778832015&PiID%5B%5D=1778832008&gclid=CjwKCAjwwYP2BRBGEiwAkoBpAvoYiVGbeBcEwszLoZtp9BqvIUniMf0uMoK0eWunmpCAuwx45h3zzRoCgsUQAvD_BwE
Hope this helps!