When asked to select one timeless kitchen use, designers tend to revert to the same answer: white. The eternal qualities of this versatile tone need no introduction, but in all its beauty, there remains the question of how to keep it interesting. This is where we look to Kelly Rowland for inspiration.
In her Sherman Oaks home, the Destiny's Child singer exhibits a bright white kitchen color palette – comprising matte cabinets, subway tiles (on her backsplash), and a veined marble island – the latter being (arguably) the most striking feature in the space.
Despite being primarily only one color (white), the room doesn't feel clinical, cold, or boring. Instead, Rowland keeps it contemporary with a material method decorating technique that kitchen design expert William Durrant uses in his own projects.
'Stick with varying shades of white for a clean and cohesive look. You can add depth and interest by incorporating different textures and finishes, such as matte, glossy, or textured surfaces,' Durrant comments.
Mixing materials – whether it's a marble kitchen island with wooden cabinets – or subway tiles with a glossy countertop – is a failsafe way to keep our space interesting. However, there remain yet more designer-approved methods to keep our white kitchens stylish. Next up, Durrant recommends incorporating contrast with bold colors.
'Introduce bold accent colors through elements including cabinetry, kitchen islands, backsplashes, or kitchen accessories. Popular choices include navy blue, black, deep red and purples, or even vibrant hues like a sunny yellow,' he says. In Rowland's case, it comes in the form of the dark, dusty blue paint on the bottom half of the island and the contrastable black cabinet handles. However, her natural wood flooring also hasn't gone unnoticed by Durrant, who says we can use wooden elements to add yet more texture to our white space.
'You can bring warmth and texture to your white kitchen by incorporating natural materials such as wood, stone, or metal. Wooden kitchen islands, exposed ceiling beams, or stone backsplashes can add character and visual interest.'
As mentioned, Rowland chose black handles and hardware to complement her primarily white scheme, but Durrant explains that metallic finishes work just as well alongside this color palette.
'Consider adding metallic finishes such as stainless steel, brass, or copper to complement the white palette,' he says. 'These accents can be incorporated through hardware, light fixtures, faucets, or appliances, adding a touch of luxury and sophistication.'
Shop the white kitchen edit
Tapping into this timeless palette doesn't need to involve a whole room renovation. We're starting with these picks below.
