Kitchen design question

[melodramatic26]

do you like white kitchens? Do you think in 10 years they will look dated? What do you think about doing the kitchen cabinets in white and then doing the island in a darker color?

Our new kitchen is open to the "cafe" area and then the great room (living room) area. I orginally thought I wanted dark cabinets but after thinking about it, I think that white might really make the space seem more open and airy and I really want dark floors and was questioning how dark floors and dark cabinets would contrast too much.

I'm a trend follower and I'm really nervous about picking something that's going to be the next avocado fridge.

[Deleted]

No, white kitchens have been around forever. I think its the lines of the cabinetry that are more important--timeless design and classic hardware.

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2013 8:13:16 GMT -5 cjoy said:

My kitchen is white. I love it.

Pretty much everything is going to look dated in ten years.

This. 

I do really like white cabinets, though. I think they help make a kitchen look clean, if that makes sense. 

[pantsparty]

H and I were discussing this the other week. We're having dark wood cabinets with a light granite countertop. And, we're having light wood floors throughout the first floor. I thought it would look weird to have dark cabinets and light floors, but I found some pictures on Pinterest and it looks pretty natural together. We just got a cool-toned wood color that goes with our other colors, and I think it keeps the space from getting too dark.

To answer your question, probably not. I think wood cabinets will be in style a long time, and white is a nice color that keeps the space light.

[melodramatic26]

Apr 4, 2013 8:13:16 GMT -5 cjoy said:

My kitchen is white. I love it.

Pretty much everything is going to look dated in ten years.

with kids, how easy is it to keep clean?

and betty, I do understand. I think that's why I keep finding myself liking white kitchens more than dark ones, especially for such an open area.

[melodramatic26]

Apr 4, 2013 8:20:16 GMT -5 pantsparty said:

H and I were discussing this the other week. We're having dark wood cabinets with a light granite countertop. And, we're having light wood floors throughout the first floor. I thought it would look weird to have dark cabinets and light floors, but I found some pictures on Pinterest and it looks pretty natural together. We just got a cool-toned wood color that goes with our other colors, and I think it keeps the space from getting too dark.

To answer your question, probably not. I think wood cabinets will be in style a long time, and white is a nice color that keeps the space light.

this is exactly what we have right now. And I love the color combo. We remodeled and designed the kitchen 100% ourselves so I obviously think it looks amazing. I think maybe I'm just wanting to go completely different this time, maybe?

[partiallysunny]

I love white cabinets and I think the look is timeless.

I also love the mismatched upper/lower cabinet look as well having the island in an accent color, but I think that look with end up looking dated in the future. It's also something I think that depends on the style of you cabinets. In a modern cabinet, it will look more dated then say a traditional or cottage style cabinet.

[papie]

I think it will look nice for a long time, it is the details that look dated, not the cabinets. My kitchen is from 2001, and while I love the cabinets, the backsplash look really dated now, but that is a detail. I also hate the counters, but would have probably hated them back in 2001 as well.

[MrsStark]

We have mostly white cabinets with some black cabinets. The white cabinets suffer more from our cat rubbing on them and leaving oil residue than from our daughter, but she's not really mobile quite yet.

My kitchen looks something like this:
www.kitchen-design-ideas.org/images/kitchen-cabinets-traditional-two-tone-024a-s13368874-antique-white-dark-wood-two-islands.jpg

If anyone is really interested, I can try to dig up some actual pictures, even though it's STILL not 100% finished.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

i love the look of dark floors, however i discovered the hard way that they are a bitch to keep clean and every single scratch is visible. with kids and/or pets, i would consider a medium to light floor.

[melodramatic26]

Apr 4, 2013 8:31:40 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

i love the look of dark floors, however i discovered the hard way that they are a bitch to keep clean and every single scratch is visible. with kids and/or pets, i would consider a medium to light floor.

oh this is super helpful to know. I've just been looking at pretty pictures of them and didn't think about it from a practical standpoint.

[VeryViolet]

I really love white kitchens and have for a long time. I also agree that it is the details that look dated more than the color choices. I do think that having a different color island may look dated eventually. However, if you plan on being in your house a while and you really like it I say go for it. I really like the look and it isn't going to look dated tomorrow or even next year.

[nomad100]

When we redo our kitchen in 2-3 years, the plan is to have white or antique white cabinet uppers and lowers with dark countertops and a dark wood island with a lighter countertop. Marble subway tile backsplash and stainless appliances. Medium brown flooring (cork maybe?)to coordinate with our bamboo flooring in the rest of the house.

I have loved that look for years so don't really care if it looks dated in 10 years since this is our forever home.

MrsStark I love that photo you posted right down to the cooktop under the passthrough to the family room. That is how I want to have our cooktop when we do the big remodel.

[melodramatic26]

Apr 4, 2013 8:38:47 GMT -5 VeryViolet said:

I really love white kitchens and have for a long time. I also agree that it is the details that look dated more than the color choices. I do think that having a different color island may look dated eventually. However, if you plan on being in your house a while and you really like it I say go for it. I really like the look and it isn't going to look dated tomorrow or even next year.

I'm really glad you said this. I've been living in/updating/renovating a house all with the expectations that we were going to sell it realatively soon, so while they are nice choices, they are totally "safe" ones too.

You're right, this is the time to do what I want.

[Waffles]

I totally with thinkofthesoldiers about the dark floors: they really show every bit of dust and every scratch.

About the kitchen, I think it's more the design and the details (door handles etc.) that age. You can still do white/very light colour with light floors too. We have gone from a medium/dark floor to white oak and our kitchen cupboards are a butter/yellowy cream. It goes very well and allowed us to paint a brighter/darker colour around (cherry red).

[runforrest]

I hated our white kitchen when we first bought this house, but we have since refaced the cabinet doors, gotten dark granite countertops, a new backsplash and stainless steel appliances, and now I rather like it. Our house has medium-colored oak floors throughout, and I really like our kitchen now.

I don't think white will go out of style, but agree that it depends on how you style it.

[leeluu]

I love white kitchens! My dream kitchen is white cabinets with a large, honey colored marble island.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Apr 4, 2013 8:59:10 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Oh, and we are getting dark floors in our house - pet fur be damned! I am buying a swiffer and we're going to be come BFFs.

The kitchen floors will be a lighter tile, though.

Isn't your H the one that wants a GSD? I doubt the cats or your small dog will cause much in the way of scratches, but a big dog will most definitely scratch the floors. Be wary of the dark wood. It will show every single scratch.

[daisybuchannan]

I want a white kitchen so badly. 

White cabinets, carrera marble counters. 

Dream!

[Doggy Mommy]

I love the look of white cabinets and a dark island. I agree with others that details start looking dated (like light fixtures or backsplash) before the cabinets. I wouldn't worry too much.... Looks always change over time as do our tastes. Just design it in a way that you love now because 15 or 20 years from now you'll probably want to re-do it again anyway.

[thinkofthesoldiers]

Apr 4, 2013 9:36:14 GMT -5 daisybuchannan said:

I want a white kitchen so badly. 

White cabinets, carrera marble counters. 

Dream!

I don't understand wanting marble in the kitchen at all. That shit STAINS so easily. What a waste of money. Unless you aren't going to use the kitchen, then I guess I can understand.

[daisybuchannan]

Apr 4, 2013 9:45:18 GMT -5 thinkofthesoldiers said:

Apr 4, 2013 9:36:14 GMT -5 daisybuchannan said:

I want a white kitchen so badly. 

White cabinets, carrera marble counters. 

Dream!

I don't understand wanting marble in the kitchen at all. That shit STAINS so easily. What a waste of money. Unless you aren't going to use the kitchen, then I guess I can understand.

Well, it is a dream, so there's that. 

If we do buy a house where I can renovate the kitchen, I'd likely get a granite that has a similar look to the marble.