HOUZZ: Dream Spaces: 12 Beautiful White Kitchens

Dream Spaces: 12 Beautiful White Kitchens

Snowy cabinets and walls speak to a certain elegance, while marble counters whisper of luxury

Lisa Higgins

Houzz Contributor. I am a longtime design editor/writer based in New York... More 

Crisp, clean white kitchens with gleaming marble counters and backsplashes are everywhere you look these days. It’s easy to see why: White makes a space look bigger and airier, and enhances other design elements. Wood floors look richer against white, pendant lights stand out as sculptural elements, and stainless steel appliances sparkle. Adding marble to the mix introduces a luxurious touch.

That said, there are drawbacks to this kind of simple elegance. A white kitchen demands upkeep; all that white isn’t going to stay clean without maintenance. And marble is definitely not for everyone. It’s soft and porous, so it scratches and stains easily, and acidic foods can cause surface etching. Marble aficionados learn to love the patina (or live with the patina) that time brings. If you can’t abide the inevitable signs of wear and tear, consider alternative materials, such as quartz. 

But if you’re ready to take on the challenge, or just want to do a little daydreaming, check out the collection assembled here. You won’t be disappointed.

Tour dozens of white Kitchens of the Week

Crisp Architects

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Big and beautiful, this kitchen has it all, from original wide-plank oak floors to expanses of beautifully designed and fitted cabinetry. Note the netted-glass Sorenson Lanterns and the French café stools around the island, with its columned legs and Carrara marble top. The textural backsplash is done in a skinny pencil tile fashioned from Bianco Carrara marble.

Melissa Miranda Interior Design

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This petite, light-filled brownstone kitchen in Boston almost has a feminine feel, with its silvery Bertazzoni range hood and its filmy pendant drum shades. White Calacatta marble wraps around the island and is used on the counters, while Calacatta subway tiles adorn the backsplash. Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the space with sunlight.

Carrara vs. Calacatta: What’s the Difference?

Renaissance Design Studio

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Gleaming white Carrara marble counters take center stage here. But this kitchen is as functional as it is glamorous. There are seven seats at the peninsula and the island, so the cook never has to feel left out of the party. Other nice touches: the discreet wine fridge, the built-in paper towel holder next to the sink, the old-fashioned station clock, and bell-jar pendant lights. The maple cabinets are by Wood-Mode and are painted Nordic White.

Chelsea Atelier Architect, PC

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Clean and sleek, this modern kitchen — with its stunning waterfall marble island — is in a Manhattan loft. Four iconic white Norman Chernier stools provide seating, and the lighting comes from delicate glass pendants. A dark floor adds contrast, allowing each of the elements to pop.

Green Couch Interior Design

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The marble island, fashioned out of Calacatta Oro Extra, makes a splash here — especially when paired with the heavy-metal industrial-style stools. Two pendants (from Arteriors) with striking carved wooden shades provide light and pizzazz.

Molly Frey Design

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Benjamin Moore’s White Dove covers the cabinets and beadboard walls of this Cape Cod kitchen. The Carrara-topped table/island is paired with slipcovered Pottery Barn stools and two delicate mercury glass honeycomb pendant lights. The handsome floors are oak with a dark Jacobean stain.

Croma Design Inc

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Who needs custom cabinetry? These glossy white beauties are from Ikea (Akurum Abstrakt) and are accented with angular dark bronze pulls from Rocky Mountain Hardware. The showstopping herringbone marble backsplash is fashioned out of 2- by 8-inch Calacatta Michelangelo tiles. HanStone quartz (Aurora Snow) covers the countertops.

The lesson here? It’s OK to splurge in some areas and save in others.

Liz Schupanitz Designs

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White works beautifully with gray, as evidenced by the silvery backsplash in this Minnesota kitchen (made from Encore 3- by 6-inch silver ceramic tiles). The custom cabinetry — including the island, with its artfully turned legs — is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. Honed Calacatta marble covers the counters and island top, while the warm wood floors (by Stang-Lund) are walnut with a hard-wax-oil finish.

Green Couch Interior Design

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Marble rules in this modern kitchen — Calacatta Oro runs along the counters and up the backsplash; the island is Thassos. The “whitewashed” floor (stained with Rubio Monocoat) picks up the gray striations in the stone.

There’s a quartet of three-legged swivel stools (available from Arteriors) at the island, and oversize pendants from Visual Comfort.

Sarah Gallop Design Inc.

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There are two kinds of marble in this Vancouver kitchen: 3- by 6-inch Cararra subway tiles on the backsplash (accented with gray grout) and a more pristine Statuario on the counters and that beautiful island. The cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Simply White.

Pickell Architecture

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This warm and welcoming kitchen, with its gleaming wood floors (long-plank fir finished with Minwax’s Puritan Pine), features an island covered in Calacatta gold marble. (Note the storage cabinets tucked behind the bar stools.) Other nice touches: the two large Hudson Valley Haverhill brushed-nickel pendants, classic Philippe Starck Emeco brushed-aluminum bar stools and contrasting gray countertops of Pietra del Cardoso.

LKM Design

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In this pretty New Hampshire farmhouse kitchen, a blue wall adds interest, as do the silver lamps on the counter (the cords are transparent). Although they’re unorthodox, the lamps work with the white furniture-like cabinetry, Carrara marble counter and antique nickel pulls. As one wise Houzzer has pointed out, “Cabinetry is just furniture — put a lamp on it if you want.” I second that sentiment!

More photos: Browse thousands of white kitchen designs

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Dream Spaces: 14 Fabulous Indoor-Outdoor Bathrooms

7 Sweet Homes In Alabama 2 of which are from our own 2 Realtors in our association. Take a look!

7 Sweet Homes in Alabama

If your ideal Thanksgiving table is dressed with spicy collards, cornbread dressing, and bourbon-laced pecan pie, you’re going to adore these beautiful, historical homes for sale in the heart of Dixie. The home state of our magazine headquarters offers a treasure trove of sweet, Southern architecture at every price point!

By Elizabeth Finkelstein

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Courtesy of CRC Realty

We’re crazy about the stately elegance of the Italianate style, which is why we’re so fond of the historical Timbleton Home. Located in the city of Florence, the house features original woodwork and crown molding throughout. We can just picture this one all dressed up for the holidays.

For more information and photos, visit CIRCA Old Houses.

Asking Price:  $327,000

Listing Agent:  Becky Newman, CRC Realty; (256) 718-0111

Courtesy of Bass Agency Real Estate

How’s this for a whimsical porch? Filled to the brim with original woodwork and stained glass, this lacy confection is a steal at just $110,000. 


For more information and photos, visit Bass Agency Real Estate.

Asking Price:  $110,000

Listing Agent:  Tripp Bass, Bass Agency Real Estate; (334) 222-3145

Courtesy of The Eufaula Agency, Inc.

It’s easy to see why old-house lovers flock to Eufaula — the city is home to Alabama’s second largest historic district. This ca. 1850 home packs in over 5,000 square feet of Italianate-style beauty, while the meticulously landscaped yard adds to the overall charm.

For more information and photos, visit The Eufaula Agency, Inc..

Asking Price:  $370,000

Listing Agent: Michelle Hawkins, The Eufaula Agency, Inc.; (334) 687-7001

Courtesy of RE/MAX Professional Partners

Rumored to have been built on a Civil War battle site, this ca. 1872 home in located in the city of Lanett. The classic beauty sits on three generous acres.

For more information and photos, visit CIRCA Old Houses.

Asking Price:  $395,000

Listing Agent: Ashley Miller, RE/MAX Professional Partners; (334) 826-7111

Courtesy of Prestige Properties

Looks can be deceiving! At 4,600 square feet, this restored, turn-of-the-century home is larger than it appears. The inside is simply stunning, from the authentic wooden trim right down to the antique fixtures. The home is located in the city of Opelika.

For more information and photos, visit Postlets.

Asking Price:  $382,000

Listing Agent:  Ashley Smith-Durham, Prestige Properties, (334) 559-8817

Courtesy of Conner-Lawrence Real Estate

Dating back to 1872, this charming home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s easy to fall in love with the wrap-around porch and gracious, historical interior. We’re talking 14 foot ceilings!


For more information and photos, visit The Eufaula Board of Realtors.

Asking Price:  $259,000

Listing Agent:  Camilla Shamblin, Conner-Lawrence Real Estate; (334) 355-4440

Courtesy of Bill Mackay Real Estate

How could you not feel warm and fuzzy coming home to this house everyday? The ca. 1840 Lockett-Martin Home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is part of the West Marion Historic District in Marion, Alabama. It comes with a bit of Southern history, too: Mary Lockett is credited with designing the first flag of the Confederacy — the “Stars & Bars” — in 1861. The best part of the house is the asking price of just $110,000.

For owner contact information and photos, visit Bill Mackay Real Estate.

Asking Price:  $110,000

Listing Agent:  Bill Mackey, Bill Mackey Real Estate; (334) 289-8470

Writer Elizabeth Finkelstein is a self-proclaimed old house addict on a lifelong hunt for her perfect historic home. From big Victorian fixer-uppers to tiny colonials to mid-century modern masterpieces, Elizabeth believes that the best homes show the charm of having been loved over time. She chronicles it all on her website CIRCA, which showcases beautiful old houses for sale across the country.

Home Safety Tips! Make Sure Your Protected!

A quick once-over of the items on this list may improve the safety and security of your home and could protect your family and friends. It is important to periodically pay attention to these things because things change over time.
Security

• Does each exterior door have a deadbolt?
• Does the lock on each window work?
• Have you added pins or clips to your windows for additional security?
• Do you have dowels or broom sticks in the track of windows and sliding glass doors?
• Do you have security company labels or signs displayed prominently?
• Do you have an alarm system? Is the system monitored?
• Do you have a dog that barks when strangers approach the home?
• Are emergency numbers posted near the telephones?

Fire

• Do you have smoke detectors near all sleeping areas?
• Do you check the batteries monthly and change them annually?
• Do you have two carbon monoxide detectors?
• Do you have an escape ladder for upper floors?
• Do you have fire extinguishers near exits and in the kitchen?
• Do you have an emergency escape plan and is the family familiar with it?
• Are any outlets or switches warm to the touch?
• Are kitchen ventilation systems working properly?
• Is the dryer ventilated to the outside and is the exhaust free of lint?
• Is the furnace cleaned and serviced yearly?
• Is the space around the hot water heater clear of combustible materials?

Falls

• Are all electrical and phone cords out of the flow of traffic?
• Are rugs and runners slip resistant?
• Is your step-stool sturdy and in good condition?
• Are stairs clear of objects that could cause a fall?
• Are all entrance ways, exits, halls and walks well lighted?
• Do bath tubs and showers have non-skid strips or suction mats in them?

Other

• Do you keep drugs and medicines out of reach and sight of small children?
• Are interior doors designed so small children cannot lock themselves in rooms?
• Are pool and play areas fenced to keep small children in and uninvited guests out?
• Are firearms kept out of reach and sight of children?
• Is a well-stocked first aid kit available for emergencies?
• Is there one member of your family trained in first aid, CPR and the Heimlich maneuver?