A striking arch frames the windows and range.

Designer Katherine Newman installed this gorgeous arch to enhance the historical feel of the home — a French Colonial Revival built in 1934. Exotic bamboo barstools and burled-walnut drawer fronts add texture and lend a rich, layered look.

See more white kitchens in our photo gallery.

Custom millwork adds interest to white cabinets.

In this Mont Royal apartment, designer Caroline Comtois positioned the range hood above the oversized island for dramatic effect. The building dates back to 1929, so the custom moulding adds to the traditional feel of the condo. Plush stools in the same soft white as the cabinetry invite guests to socialize in the kitchen.

See more white kitchens in our photo gallery.

Open storage lends a casual look to a country kitchen.

Smoky blue beadboard highlights sculptural Eva Zeisel ceramics, and smartly contrasts the white cabinets.

Blue tiles from England add a vintage touch.

The owners of this Vancouver home are avid hosts, so designer Sophie Burke (shown) tucked a second oven and warming drawers into the island. Deep counters offer ample prep space.

Intricate cabinets have the feel of freestanding furniture.

Warm cross-cut oak floors look stunning against the creamy millwork. Homeowner Alyson Wood chose the eye-catching pendant lights because they were reminiscent of a ship’s antique polished-brass fixtures.

A black-painted metal and white oak staircase adds an industrial edge.

Sunlight pours through picture windows to highlight the stunning herringbone-patterned floor. It’s one of the classic European touches homeowners Byron Peart and Stefan Weisgerber share an affinity for.

For more design and decorating ideas, browse our White Kitchens photo gallery, plus watch a video tour of this home.

Casual seating for breakfast.

One long stretch of counter extends out from the corner across a window overlooking the St. Lawrence River, creating a welcoming place for homeowners Byron Peart and Stefan Weisgerber to enjoy breakfast and intimate dinners. “It’s our favourite spot in the mornings. It’s very calming to look out over the water and city line,” says Stefan.

For more design and decorating ideas, browse our White Kitchens photo gallery, plus watch a video tour of this home.

A partial wall allows for clear sight lines into the adjacent living room.

At first, homeowner Katherine Yaphe worried that the whole house would be kitchen. “It’s enormous!” she laughs. Now, she admits that it’s excellent for entertaining. Instead of separating the living room with a full wall, architect Richard Wengle hid it behind a partial wall and sunk it, allowing the ceiling in the living room to reach over 11 feet.

For more design and decorating ideas, browse our White Kitchens photo gallery, plus watch a video tour of this home.

A large picture window brightens up this condo’s kitchen.

This open-concept space looks seamless with a concealed fridge, waterfall marble counter and extra-pale wood flooring.

Pops of blue and green enliven the space.

A polished-nickel gooseneck faucet, herringbone marble backsplash and white CaesarStone countertops are classic choices that will feel fresh for many years. 

Bamboo lower cabinets add rustic contrast to the white uppers.

Designers David Zacharko and David Yustin’s clever space includes a rolling library ladder for easy access of the highest cupboards. A window seat gives the owners’ three kids a cosy spot to hang out.

Use a light, airy approach in a small space.

Stylist Joel Bray updated the existing cabinets with just a coat of white paint and new hardware, opting instead to spend more installing new soft grey quartz counters and doubling the width of the peninsula. Grey veining in the dolomite marble subway tile was accentuated with darker grey grout, giving the kitchen a bistro vibe.

For more design and decorating ideas, browse our Kitchen Trends photo gallery.

Tour the rest of the space in our Online TV segment.

Use glossy surfaces to create intriguing reflections.

With the ethos that less is more when designing her own modern kitchen, designer Julie Charbonneau stepped back many times to judiciously examine each item. “I usually put stuff all over, but this space looks much better if it stays empty,” says Charbonneau. Against the clean, white kitchen, the large, dark-wood dining table takes centre stage under a showstopping light fixture.

Take a video tour of this loft, plus see more Modern & Contemporary Kitchens, Julie Charbonneau interiors, or White Rooms.

An oversized island adds drama.

Charbonneau broke up her white kitchen by dramatically framing the door to the loft's bedroom — and the window beyond — with extra-wide wood trim. A concrete ceiling layers texture into the clean-lined space.

Metallic backsplash tiles reflect light in a tiny room.

At the back of designer Sarah Callanan’s loft, the all-white kitchen is softened by a new granite counter and an existing raw-wood beam, which also serves as display for a unique vintage coach house lantern.

For more design and decorating ideas, browse our White Kitchens photo gallery, plus watch a video tour of this loft.

A pair of potted orange trees sit on the counter for an unexpected touch of greenery.

Homeowner Sasha Seymour’s kitchen is a true showpiece with a fireplace oven and double fridges. Light pours in from an oversized skylight, illuminating the brass hardware. As Sasha prepares dinner, her dog Cleo happily pads around on herringbone wood floors that look as though they belong in a pre-war New York apartment or Parisian pied-à-terre.

Find more inspiration in our photo galleries of Rooms With Warm Metal Accents and Pets & Interiors. Plus, watch a tour of Sasha’s retro-inspired townhouse on Online TV.

Ceiling-height subway tiles and open shelving create the feel of a European bistro kitchen.

Sasha’s kitchen is a true showpiece. She had initially planned to clad the open shelves in brass but decided to use the material for the kickplates instead. The unlacquered brass hardware was found in vintage shops and on eBay.