White kitchens: 10 wonderfully modern looks for your new space
Posted on 24th November 2021
Now, let’s be honest, white kitchens have had a little bit of a bad rap in recent years. Why? Well, I think we see them as a bit dated, maybe a bit cold, possibly a bit boring (sorry!) and with so many colourful painted kitchens to be had, white has taken a bit of a backseat (until now!). I also think that when I say white kitchen, your mind probably goes right to a super high-gloss design with a bold glass splashback in lime green or red – a popular look in the 2010s. Am I right?
Well, according to the interiors experts at David Wilson Homes, we’ve all gone a bit head-over-heels for white kitchens this year with a reported 20,000% increase in the term ‘white kitchen’ being searched out. Now that is a lot, right?
White kitchens are much more than those clinical-looking shiny spaces nowadays and with clever design tricks, this colour choice can look very sophisticated indeed – and warm. It’s all about getting those other details right to balance out the white and, of course, choosing a shade of white that will work in your home and the levels of light in there. And layers. Layers, layers, layers.
So if you’re fed up of those dark kitchens, don’t want a grey design or aren’t a fan of colourful choices, I’m here to inspire you with my top pick of the white kitchens available now. From classic to modern, Shaker to slab and matt to gloss, see which one you like best…
Modern white kitchen ideas
Match your white kitchen to your appliances for a full-on white look like with this Bertazzoni Professional Series 90cm six-burner electric oven in Bianco, £3,629.Keep to the same palette of tones throughout a space to help the white blend. Here a grey breakfast bar and blind, plus the stainless-steel appliances coordinate with the sofa. The kitchen, by Brandt Design, cost £33,000. It features high-gloss white lacquered units with coordinating worktops and Neolith basalt grey satin breakfast bar.Match your worktops to your cabinets for a sleek look. This kitchen features surfaces by CRL quartz worktops by CRL Stone. Costs start from £400 per sq m.A warmer tone of white works against the neutral shades of the wood flooring and furniture. The Camden Kitchen Furniture Collection by Daval in Premium White is a UV gloss lacquer with minimal shine. This kitchen cost £12,000.Still want a bit of colour in your white kitchen? If you have space for an island, create contrast with a different shade. You could achieve a similar effect by having a dresser or one wall of cabinets in a different colour. This kitchen is by Drew Forsyth & Co shows the versatility of Shaker furniture, fitting seamlessly into a contemporary setting. Bespoke kitchens by Drew Forsyth & Co start from around £30,000.The Seamless kitchen collection by Life Kitchens does exactly as it says on the tin. The white handleless design sits flush and has gold details for a bit of glam. From £25,000.For a really bright feel, take your white cabinetry up the the ceiling and paint your walls to match. This gloss kitchen has a subtle shine which will help reflect light around the room. The Porter gloss white kitchen from Second Nature is priced from £12,000.A pure white colour choice here is offset with the wooden panelling, black glazed wall cabinet and dark painted walls. Not only does this help the white elements to stand out as a design feature, but it prevents to space seeming cold. The units are by Rotpunkt are in the Limit Snow design in City Grey and Black Glass. Prices start from £15,000.This complete Alno handleless kitchen was recycled and installed into a new home by Used Kitchen Exchange, saving it going to waste. The white design works perfectly in the large, bright space and is a juxtaposition against the wooden beams of the property. £12,000 including Corian worktops and Miele appliances.Fancy a Shaker-style kitchen? How about this modern take on an in-frame design. It’s handleless, but still features the framed door detail as a contemporary alternative to a more classic style. True Handleless Cambridge stone grey kitchen from Benchmarx Kitchens. Prices start in the region of £2,550 for an eight-unit design, excluding worktops, appliances, tap and sink.
How to make a white kitchen work
As I was researching this blog, I heard from kitchen design director and owner of his eponymous company, Tom Howley and he kindly gave me some tips on choosing a white kitchen – so without further ado:
White works well in a kitchen because it’s bright and most people want bright spaces. White gives the best start. It’s as simple as that.
I tend to gravitate towards warm whites, particularly when using warmer colours, whereas if you choose cooler colours in your scheme, you should go for a cooler shade of white to reflect this. It is important to match a white according to the colours you are using elsewhere.
Magnolia and buttermilk shades don’t work anymore. With a greater shift towards using darker tones such as greens, blues and blacks, these colours just don’t complement the more traditional shades of white. Ten years ago these colours were everywhere, whereas now they seem more dated. It’s just an evolvement of style.
