There is nothing like finding the perfect balance in your kitchen between light and dark, so why not add some contrast for an elegant visual appeal. Many homeowners are afraid that adding contrast to a mainly light color palette will result in a dim room. As you scroll down the page, you will see that this collection of kitchens with light and dark contrasts will prove otherwise. Have a look below to see just how how can rock contrasts in your kitchen for a sophisticated style. Be sure to let us know which kitchen most inspired you and why in the Comments below!
The Takeaway: Try playing with light and dark contrasts in your kitchen to add depth and balance.
1. A bright and airy kitchen in Newport Beach, California has several highlights. The light fixtures above the island are the Circa Lighting Hicks Large Pendant Light. The backsplash tile was sourced from Walker Zanger. The hardware and faucets are from WaterWorks. (via Design Works)
2. The island cabinet is painted in C2 Monday Morning C2-489, while the countertop is Calacatta Marble. The flooring is European White Oak. (via Art of Construction)
3. The backsplash is 3×6 Calacatta Marble subway tiles. The hood is custom. (via Lindsay Chambers Design)
4. The 9′-8″ x 4′-3″ island has a 2.5” thick honed white Carrara marble countertop, which lends a professional aesthetic. The drawer pulls on the island are from Home Depot. The industrial pendant lights are Restoration Hardware. The cabinets are semi-custom. They are from Wood Mode—Brookhaven, part of the “natural collection” and it is #505. The white subway tile backsplash is from Home Depot. The flooring is white oak, #2 with three coats of water-based polyurethane. The kitchen is about 18′ x 18′ with a 9′ x 10′ breakfast nook. (via Michael Robert Construction)
5. Modern farmhouse style kitchen features pendant lights over the island from online retailer Build.com. The main 3″x6″ subway tile is: MSI – Highland Park – Whisper White with Laticrete #78 Sterling Silver grout. The accent tile behind the cooktop is by Jeffrey Court – Floral Imprint: Statuario. Size is 4″x6″. The cabinet hardware was found at Hardware Resources. The quartz countertop manufacture is LG—Viatera in Everest. A similar paint color to the island cabinet is Benjamin Moore HC-168 Chelsea Gray. The cabinets were sourced from U.S. Cabinet Depot. The flooring is 5″ wide handscrapped Birch wood. Prefinished. (via Custom Home Group)
6. The bistro light fixture above the island is from Visual Comfort. The cabinetry was sourced from StarMark Cabinets, while the quartz countertop is from Cambria. The range is Thermador, while the other appliances are Sub-Zero. The island features cabinets on all four sides, one is designed with a rack to hold newspapers and mail. There is also microwave drawer and wine cabinet integrated into the island. (via Joey Leicht Design)
7. This elegant kitchen in Balboa Island, California features white cabinets surrounding a light gray island. The flooring is French oak with a dark walnut stain. (via William Guidero Planning and Design)
8. A 1980’s bungalow with a small galley kitchen was transformed into an open contemporary space. The color on the base cabinets is Escarpment CC-518 | Benjamin Moore, while the upper cabinets are Cloud White CC-40 | Benjamin Moore. The countertop is made of Cambria quartz—Castille with a Seacliff Edge (Z). The counter stools are from Dinec with a custom fabric. The island is 12 feet long and 39 inches deep with a 10 inch overhang. The flooring is Mercier Hard Maple – the color is Stone. (via Tobi Brockway Interiors)
9. The perimeter cabinets are Simply White OC-117 | Benjamin Moore, while the island cabinets are Chelsea Gray HC-168 | Benjamin Moore. The countertops are Cambria Brittanica, quartz. The custom hood is made out of reclaimed bar wood. The wall color is Repose Gray from Sherwin Williams. The flooring is a Mannington laminate floor, called Keystone Oak. (via CVI Design)
10. The countertops are custom concrete. A slab of marble embedded in the island was reused from the original countertops. Similar paint colors for the cabinets are Sherwin-Williams Snowbound SW 7004 and Gauntlet Gray SW 7019. The drawer pulls are from Atlas Homeware—Thin Square Rail Pulls in 12″ and 6″ lengths. The pendant lights are from Progress Lighting and the model number is P5184-104. The kitchen is 14 x 17 feet. The island is 36″ wide, with 24″ deep cabinets on one side and a 12″ bookcase on the other. (via Paula Ables Interiors)
11. This San Diego kitchen features white perimeter cabinets and a gray island, complimented by gray backsplash tile that continues up to the ceiling. (via GDC Construction)
12. The cabinets are from Signature Custom Cabinetry – Paint Grade Maple, “Smoke” on the island and “Decorator’s White” on the perimeter. The countertops are Cambria Quartz (Jumbo), Torquay. The backsplash tiles are MSI Stone – Tundra Gray Marble Polished, 3×6. The handles are from TopKnobs (Podium Pull in Brushed Satin Nickel). The range hood is the Zephyr Arc Collection 35 3/8″ Hood. The oven on the wall is a steam oven by Miele – PureLine 24″ Steam Oven. The counter stools are Amisco Browser 30″ Swivel Metal Barstools – Dark Brown/Beige. The flooring is Hickory Forge Ringing Anvil engineered hardwood from Cloister Flooring. Overall dimensions: 12.5′ x 31′. (via Kitchens by Eileen)
13. This elegant kitchen in Seattle features white cabinetry complimented by a gray island and marble countertops and subway tile backsplash. Similar pendant lights can be found on Restoration Hardware in the Languedoc Collection. (via Urban Restoration)
14. The island is Signature Custom Cabinetry traditional ebony paint (115″ x 50″), while the perimeter cabinets are Signature Custom Cabinetry traditional white paint. The perimeter countertop is Caesarstone, polished “Lagos Blue”, while the island is polished quartzite, “supreme white”. The backsplash is 3×6 white beveled subway tile. The fridge is Subzero-Model BI-48S/S. The light fixtures are the Pelham Pendant by Hudson Valley. The wall paint is Storm AF-700 | Benjamin Moore. The flooring is oak. (via Venegas and Company)
15. The island countertop is granite and is approximately 110″ in length. The perimeter countertops are is Caesarstone Pebble with a honed finish. The cabinets are Plato Woodwork and the island color name is “Shadow”. The flooring is stained white oak. The overall kitchen is roughly 15′ x 15′. (via Apple Wood Construction)
16. A transitional style kitchen in Wellington, Florida features a beautiful contrast of light cabinets with a dark island. A unique feature in this spacious kitchen is the windows behind the glass cabinets, creating a natural illumination. The Countertop material is Antico Brown Granite. (via Pegasus Builders)
17. This elegant shaker style kitchen is bespoke to Tom Howley, the cabinets are called Hartford. The grey/blue shade on the island is called Chicory, while the perimeter cabinets are painted in Meadowsweet. The countertops are Ivory Spice granite and the flooring is Mazzano Tumbled marble. The Provence Rise & Fall Polished Nickel pendant lights are by England’s Elstead Lighting. (via Tom Howley)
18. The island is Cherry with a Flint finish, Madison door, flush inset. Dimensions: 120″ x 48″. Perimeter cabinets are a White Dove finish, Madison door, flush inset. The countertops are Silverwater Quartizite. The counter stools are the Linon Home Decor-Saddle 29 in. Dark Brown Bar Stool (Home Depot). The light fixtures are the Titan Lighting-Kelsey 1-Light Oil Rubbed Bronze Pendant with Clear Glass (Home Depot). (via The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn)
19. This San Diego kitchen features cabinets with a shaker style door and partial exposed face frame. The backsplash is a matte white subway tile. The light fixture was custom designed by Gibson & Gibson Antique Lighting in San Diego. The flooring is a real white oak flooring, stained a dark walnut color and sealed. (via Bill Bocken Architecture & Interior Design)
20. The cabinets have a pure white lacquer finish, while the island and fridge is “black licorice”. The island is 105 x 55. Countertops are Satin Cambrian black granite and Honed Calcatta Colorado Marble. The vent hood is custom from Vent-A-Hood. Counter chairs are from Ethan Allen. The Yoke Pendant lights are by Visual Comfort. The wood ceiling beams are pine with a blended finish. Floors are sand and finish White Oak with a Dura-Seal stain-blend of two colors. Walls are SW7658 Gray Clouds, Sherwin-Williams. A wall of thin veneer Leuders stone is from Alliance Materials.(via USI Design & Remodeling)
21. The cabinetry is from Kitchen Craft, perimeter cabinets are Alabaster with a Pewter Glaze and the island is Cappuccino with a Chocolate Glaze. The counter stools are Pottery Barn’s Seagrass Barstools. The backsplash is Emser Tile, Glass 3 x 6 Fog, the countertops are Granite-Arctic Cream. The fridge is a 48″ Kitchen Aid. The pendant lights above the island are Pottery Barn’s Hundi Lantern’s, while the light over the table is Kichler’s Circolo chandelier. The dining area features the Pottery Barn’s Benchwright Table and Bench. The walls are painted in Tony Taupe SW 7038, Sherwin-Williams. This kitchen is approximately 15 wide and 16 long. (via Great Spaces!)
22. This Chicago kitchen renovation features a touch of glam, but also feel timeless. The backsplash is a beautiful waterjet marble damask pattern available at Artistic Tile. The countertops are a Quartzite from MGSI called “Moonlight”. Both the perimeter and island countertops feature custom glazed finishes. The hood was custom made by Abbaka. (via Joey Leicht Design)
23. This transitional galley kitchen features Dura Supreme Cabinetry, Bella Maple doors in a Graphite Rub on the perimeter; the island is Bella doors in Classic White Rub. The countertops are granite-Santa Cecilia, while the backsplash is Ledgestone Quartzite. The range hood is a GE Monogram hood-Model ZV800SJSS. The stools are from Abbyson Living, Colin Grey Linen Bar Stool. The walls are SW 7503 “Sticks & Stones” and the ceiling color is SW 7021 “Simple White” from Sherwin-Willaims. Kitchen Dimensions: 16′ x 14′. (via KSI Kitchen & Bath)
24. The island paint color is London Fog 1541 | Benjamin Moore, while the kitchen perimeter cabinets are painted in Baltic Gray 1467 | Benjamin Moore. The Island top is Quartz – London Fog and the other countertops are Granite – Honed Absolute Black. The brand of the pulls are Jeffrey Alexander – Belcastel pulls. (via Thomas Built LLC)
25. The perimeter cabinets are painted in Oxford White CC-30 | Benjamin Moore. The island is painted in Metropolis CC-546 | Benjamin Moore. Island dimensions: 4′ X 7′-6″. The countertops are a natural quartz. The pendant lights are from Elte in Toronto. (via Flexwood Fine Cabinetry)
26. A North Carolina cottage features this traditional style kitchen. The perimeter cabinets are painted in Blue Twilight – Valspar. The island is wrapped with a painted shiplap. The countertops are a custom colored gray concrete. Hudson Valley Lighting’s Pelham Collection carries a similar pendant light. The floors are Cumaru. Dimensions: 11′ 10″ x 14′ 6″. (via S&W Home Builders)
27. This transitional style kitchen in Connecticut is clean, bright and functional. The backsplash is a stone waterjet mosaic made of 4 different materials: Shell, Thassos, Dolomite and Afyon White. (via Karen Berkemeyer Home)
28. The island is Dura Supreme Cabinets in “Zinc”, while the perimeter is DuraSupreme Cabinets “Classic White”. The backsplash is from Ambiante Tile-Pillow Subway 3×6 “White Linen”. The custom mosaic above the Rohl range is from Artistic Tile-Custom blend 2 Herringbone. The hardware is the 4141-1014-P Polished Nickel Pull by Berenson Hardware. The pendant lights are the “Zurich Lantern” from Vaughan Lighting. The hood is a 60″ custom locally made metal hood. The flooring is Everstone “ever-grau” porcelain 24″ x 24″ and 12″ x24″ through Pental in Seattle, Washington. The walls are Edgecomb Gray HC-173 | Benjamin Moore. (via Collaborative Interiors)
29. The countertops are Bianco Statuario Venato marble. The main area in the kitchen is 18’x18′. The island sizes are as follows: 4′ by 8′ and 28″ by 7 1/2′. The overhang on the island is 21 1/2″. The distance between the two Islands is 48″. The chandelier are from Light Styles in Tampa, Florida. The wood floors are from Armstrong and the color is Misty Gray. The color of the walls are Passive by Sherwin Williams. (via Trend Interior Design)
30. The island cabinet is painted in Trout Gray 2124-20 | Benjamin Moore, while the countertop is granite-Alaska White. The perimeter cabinets are painted in Oxford White CC-30 | Benjamin Moore, while the countertop is Caesarstone 4141. The 6-inch handles are from Restoration Hardware. The backsplash is polished, rectangular Sino Carrerra with a 3″ honed Azul Velverde stone. The pendant lights are from Union Lighting. The walls are painted in Coventry Gray HC-169 | Benjamin Moore. The floor is oak in a medium brown stain. (via Jane Lockhart Interior Design)
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