Dear Danica, I’m Worried Our Kitchen Will Look One Dimensional When We Paint The Cabinets

Hi Michele! Kitchens are such a stressful project and I can 100% relate to questioning your own decisions. It seems that your main concern is that you don’t want your kitchen to look one dimensional or lack warmth if you paint your cabinets white. So let’s talk about that!

Over the weekend, I was reading The Interior Design Handbook and Frida, the author, enlightened me as to why some rooms just feel flat and one dimensional. It’s because they lack contrast and juxtaposition. When I think about contrast, my mind instantly goes to colors – really bright colors paired with really dark colors. But that’s not the only way to incorporate contrast. Think about opposites in general- hard and soft surfaces. New and old. Matte and glossy surfaces. Rustic and modern styles. Textured and smooth objects.

Frida writes, “If you experience a room as flat, it’s a good idea to look at how many different tactile surfaces there are; perhaps you need to introduce more variation.”

So with that information in mind, let’s look at your kitchen. I actually like that you’re doing the same paint color on both the upper and lower cabinets. Not that two tone cabinets are bad, but I personally like when the two match. If you paint your cabinets white, there are a good number of other ways to introduce contrast that will foster dimension and warmth. On the other hand, if you choose to paint your cabinets dark, that will become your main area of dimension, but I would still suggest that you incorporate other tactile contrasts into the space.

With that being said, I don’t think there’s a right or wrong answer for you. If you’re drawn to moody kitchens that inherently have richness, then paint the cabinets a darker color. If you’re drawn to light and airy, which it seems that you are, then white or even a beige cabinet color would be the way to go.

Let’s see how we can incorporate both visual (aka color) and tactile (aka surface) contrast throughout your kitchen –

COLOR CONTRAST
Let’s assume you paint your cabinets white, a contrasting island with mid-toned wood will do wonders for bringing warmth and dimension into your kitchen. This will serve as your color contrast.

MATTE AND GLOSSY CONTRAST
It looks as though your tile backsplash and countertops both have a glossy sheen so let’s find ways to incorporate a matte sheen. Maybe the wood island could be finished with a matte wax rather than a glossy varnish. Does your antique brass hardware have a dull sheen? That can also serve as a contrast. Your cabinets will most likely have a satin sheen which will bridge the gap between the two.

NEW & OLD CONTRAST
It’s hard to incorporate old things in a new kitchen remodel. The cabinets are new (or at least look new). The appliances are new, the island is new, the hardware is new, and with all new things, it can feel one dimensional because it’s lacking character and depth.

The accessories you include in can be a great way to add old things. Antique pottery, original artwork in antique frames, or an antique vase billowing with flowers on the island are just a few options to consider. The finish of your hardware can also play a role. Antique brass is great for that! Perhaps you find some antique bar stools or you lay an antique runner on the floor. Maybe instead of a smooth wood veneer for the island you look into wood with a little bit of texture.

HARD & SOFT CONTRAST
Pretty much every surface in a kitchen is hard and it’s not as easy to incorporate soft surfaces as it would be in pretty much any other room in the house. But there are a few obvious places where you can add in some soft surfaces – the window covering, a rug, and the bar stools. A linen window shade would add a soft element to the space. Plus, the natural tactile texture of linen acts as a contrast to the smooth finish of painted cabinets. A vintage runner of course is a soft surface and perhaps a cushioned seat on your bar stools would be a good option too.

TEXTURED & SMOOTH CONTRAST
With the cabinets and countertops being smooth, which also happen to be 80% of the surfaces in the kitchen, we’ll need some texture in the kitchen to break it up. When/if the time comes, a wood floor that shows lots of grain pattern would be an equal balance to all the smooth surfaces. Or even a natural tile like limestone can serve as your texture. I already mentioned doing wood on your island that may be a little more rustic. And as I mentioned earlier, a linen shade over the window is a great way to add in some texture.

IN SUMMARY
Regardless of whether you paint your cabinets white or dark, you’ll find that depth, dimension, and warmth are created when you incorporate contrast and a variety of textures in other areas of the kitchen!

I hope this helps!