The more things change the more they stay the same. It is time to embrace the white kitchen, as it is here to stay. I remember back in the early 1990’s when white cabinets were more popular than ever. But, something happened and the majority of builders began offering primarily maple cabinets. Most were honey in color. This forced you into a warm color palette for that portion of your home. Fast forward to today and the cabinet color of choice is resoundingly white. But, why are white cabinets and kitchens so popular again? One word: information. As in, it is readily available. Whether you scour over Houzz.com or merely flip the pages of Architectural Digest each month, you will be certain to find a white kitchen in every price point across the spectrum.
Notice the lighting trend in the next two photos.
White with natural beauty. Castle Homes, photo by Alyssa Rosenheck
We are in the beginning stages of a kitchen reno and would love your thoughts on lighting. We have 8ft ceilings and struggling with the right scale of pendant lights. Any suggestions? I love statement lights but don’t want them to overpower the entire space.
Hi Erin, there are a few rules, but you might also check with your local lightening store. Some offer free in home consultations. Here are the guidelines I would use to get you started:
For a fixture over an island, measure the width then subtract 12″. That is the absolute maximum width of a fixture (if you use just one). Keep it simple if you choose to go with one. If you use pendants, they should hang about 12-21” below an 8’ ceiling. For hanging pendants above an island or table, start with 28-32” above the island, and space them about 22-24″ apart.
I hope this helps! I will do a blog post on this eventually so please consider subscribing if you haven’t already or check back from time to time.
xoxo, Jennifer
Great post! I love love love a crisp beautiful white kitchen and went back and forth during my building process. I ultimately chose dark ebony cabinetry as I’m a freak about smudges and I have kids. Like the fingerprints on stainless steel – makes me crazy. I’m considering have my uppers done in white on the back side of my kitchen now.
Angela
Thank you so much Angela! I too went back and forth and ultimately decided to used black, light taupe and bluish gray, but I’ve considered painting my cabinets white since. I bet your uppers would be beautiful white! Good luck with your decision! xoxo
Great post Jennifer! We are working on a design for our new kitchen, and white is our choice too! Thanks for sharing!! Xo
Thank you so much Amy!!! Love your blog! You and Tana did a great job!!!
Love your pictures. I am trying to figure out the make of the hood in the 5th photograph from the top. Any ideas? It is an unusual shape. Thanks!
Hi Susan! It is such a great hood. I wish I knew, but I don’t. Sorry!
Thank you for including us!
Cyndy Cantley
Birmingham, Alabama
We have a creamy white kitchen. Closest match is White Dove, with subway tile backsplash that blends with cabinets. Would love to change countertops out from having a busy black, taupe, gray, white, to a quartz that looks like carrara marble. It’s called Ella by Cambria. They have a glossy version and now a matte version, that looks and feels more like real marble. For a large island, do you think shiny or matte looks better in a kitchen that doesn’t get much natural light at all? It has a little bit of a grayish undertone in the background, and darker gray and taupe veins…Does this sound like it will clash with the creamy white cabinets? I wanted white cabinets, but hubby said it would be too stark..Should not have listened and gone with my gut and first love of WHITE! Do you recommend led white lights or warm incandescent in the kitchen? Maybe that would help it not look so yellow if I changed the bulbs out? I love your blog.