For the past several years, painted white cabinets have ruled the design world as the number one choice for kitchens. We don’t see that trend slowing down any time soon, and for good reason – the crisp white brightens up the room and is a classic look that stands the test of time. What we are seeing over the past year is a big jump in clients choosing an accent color for the island. This is a great way to add interest to the kitchen design, as it creates a secondary focal point. The sky is the limit for colors and stains in cabinets today, but we’ve narrowed down our top 3 favorites to pair with a white kitchen.
Sapphire Blues
The island is a great spot to have a little fun with color, and a pop of deep blue is gorgeous with a white kitchen. While it does make a statement, blue is still a relatively neutral color that blends into several different design styles with ease. We like to choose paint from Sherwin Williams to get the exact right shade and add a custom touch to the kitchen design. For a more subdued look, try a moody blue with undertones of gray or sea green like 2739 Charcoal Blue, 7602 Indigo Batik, 9177 Salty Dog, or 7625 Mount Edna. Brighter tones like 6516 Downpour, 6538 Dignified, or 6966 Blueblood add energy to the design without overpowering. Whether your style is minimalist or eclectic, a blue island can add just the touch you are looking for.
Charcoal Blacks
Deep grays and blacks are very popular in cabinet design right now. They complement the other popular touches of black we are seeing in door hardware, windows, and faucets, and add a quiet elegance to any room. SW 6258 Tricorn Black is a beautiful true black color, but we also love black with a hint of green or purple like 6994 Greenblack, 6279 Black Swan, or 6989 Domino. Charcoal grays like 7674 Peppercorn or 7069 Iron Ore provide the gravity and statement a black island makes while their unique lighter hue adds incredible interest.
Medium Stained Wood
Combining painted and stained cabinets in a kitchen is a classic look that gives you the best of both design worlds. Wood tones add instant warmth to any room and are a beautiful balance to bright white cabinets. Our favorite look right now is to start with a wood that has gorgeous natural patterns like walnut or alder and showcase them in a medium toned stain that highlights them. This same stain color can then be repeated on other wood accents like the kitchen hood, faux beams, or open shelving to create a well-designed scheme. Quartersawn oak is a show-stopping cabinet wood that adds not only warmth but texture to the island, and works particularly well in an elegant farmhouse kitchen.
Just like a beautiful piece of furniture, a statement color on the island is an amazing centerpiece for any kitchen design. For additional ideas and combinations, visit our Pinterest boards and find your perfect kitchen inspiration!
