Decorating & Design
September 13, 2018
Design Debate: Are White Kitchens Boring Or Brilliant?

At House & Home we’re big fans of white — we’ve even dedicated two special issues to Decorating With White. Needless to say, we’ve seen our fair share of white kitchens and it sounds like you have, too! Lately many of you have been writing in to tell us you’re bored of the traditional all-white kitchen. But there are so many ways for white to be right. So, we’ve compiled some of the best white kitchens that have graced our pages and we want to hear what you think: Are white kitchens boring or brilliant?

Blond woods on the ceiling, shelves and bar stools give this bright white kitchen innate warmth.

The kitchen in this French Colonial home includes a striking arch painted in a grey-white, which frames the windows and vent hood nicely.

A striped runner adds a cheerful dose of color underfoot in this all-white kitchen.

A black restaurant-inspired lighting system lifts the eye up toward the whisper of purple hidden in this white kitchen’s walls.

In this crisp kitchen, simple Shaker-style cabinets are paired with humble butcherblock countertops and beachy pendant lights.

Brass hardware dresses up this Nova Scotia kitchen’s white big-box store cabinets, while a rich rug and black door add even more interest.

A curb backsplash with plenty of veining brings interest to flat-front white cabinets.

Olive trees and a fireplace oven up the wow factor in a big way in this white kitchen.

Unique birdcage-like pendants bring whimsy without overwhelming thanks to this kitchen’s simple palette.

A pair of oversized polished-nickel gooseneck lights and a grouping of cheerful blue stools make a memorable statement in this white boathouse kitchen.

Energize a classic white kitchen by introducing exotic tile, a warm metal faucet and lantern lighting.

Textured faux-grasscloth wallpaper (made of vinyl!) is a practical yet pretty choice in a white kitchen.

Die-hard fans of the white-on-white kitchen will love this space’s gleaming floor tiles, herringbone backsplash and glossy cabinetry — all done in bright white, of course.

Two charcoal grey cabinets flanking this otherwise white kitchen bring in nice contrast and dimension.

High-contrast black and white fans will love this industrial-meets-minimalist loft kitchen.

A vibrant striped kilim rug and vintage island table bring interest to an otherwise white-on-white kitchen.

Metallic backsplash tile plays off this white kitchen’s chrome accents nicely.

Spraying the wood cabinets in this kitchen white gave the homeowner the bright kitchen she was envisioning at a fraction of the cost of new cabinets.

For ultra-minimalists at heart this spare condo kitchen is everything you need and more (or less should we say?)!

Walnut shelves and subtle veining in this kitchen’s marble backsplash help break up the expanses of white.

The white enthusiast who calls this kitchen home chose to forgo upper cabinets in order to display her all-white dishware collection.

Floating above the stove, this inky black vent hood is the perfect counterpoint to white cabinetry and counters.

Tall hundred-year-old Egyptian doors are a worldly foil to white Shaker-style cabinets.

Honed bluestone floors and a black Caesarstone counter on the island give a white kitchen depth.