White Kitchens

January is all about new beginnings and new beginnings. We jump on the train and, so to speak, start our own cleaning for the new year. No, it’s not the infamous annual goop detox, it’s a pallet cleanse.

When it comes to design, there is no better cleaner than white. This shade gives any room an instant dose of freshness and calm. It’s also one of our favorite kitchen colors that goes well with a neat and architectural design. Many homeowners decide they want to tackle some type of home renovation in the New Year, and a kitchen remodel is usually first on the list. However, unless a major renovation is planned this year, painting the kitchen cabinets white is a quick and affordable solution that will give your space an instant boost.

“White is not just a design trend, it’s an integral part of design,” says Ellen O’Neill, Creative Director of Benjamin Moore, who recently named Simply White the 2016 Color of the Year. We could no longer agree. White goes beyond styles and trends. With that in mind, we’ve rounded up 10 stunning white kitchens to start 2016 off with a clean blackboard.

Slim and contemporary

This airy kitchen with poly-shaped lacquer cabinets looks airy and industrial. Designers Tony Ingrao and Randy Kemper used stainless steel for the lower cabinets to ground the design, while crystallized countertops add a contemporary sheen. From Architectural Digest.

A touch of drama

The modern white kitchen cabinets in this Fontainebleau, France kitchen are the perfect foil for dramatic black accents. Thanks to the open, airy space, a matt black accent wall looks dramatic but not intrusive, and black and white floor tiles create a graphic impression without looking busy. In this kitchen, white offers space to breathe and a chance for the eyes to rest. From Royal Roulotte.

Grays & Blues

Do not be fooled. These diamond tiles are actually painted to look marbled to be both luxurious and very practical (they hide marks and scratches!). The gray marble countertop, the blue and white backsplash and the industrial fittings offset the white cabinets. Nice from the house.

Malibu Modern

White ceilings, floors, and cabinets can easily lead to an alienating, stark kitchen. In Courteney Cox’s Malibu home, designer Trip Haenisch used white to prioritize the surrounding landscape. But in the kitchen he installed cool gray stone floors and vintage wooden stools to introduce and warm up earth tones. From Elle Decor.

Rustic country kitchen

Can you believe this cozy country kitchen is from Ikea? Add a personal touch to this affordable space with an antique baker’s table, woven rope baskets, and vintage bar stools. Black grout in the subway tiles gives the white backsplash a sense of depth and texture. Nice from the house.

Pop of Color

This Russell Groves designed penthouse in the Upper East Side features an open kitchen that is sophisticated yet family friendly. The kitchen island and countertops are covered with a Caesarstone surface and are countered by Knoll metal bar stools with bright yellow cushions. Mid-century gold pendants complement the yellow of the chairs and help break up the white space. From Elle Decor.

Cool & clean

The design of this Chicago apartment was inspired by what every Instagrammer likes to call the “magic hour”. A palette of muted grays and neutrals perfectly complements the soft light that enters the room during the hour just before sunset. Charcoal pendants and dark woodwork add masculine but warm tones, while a mirror reflects the abundant light and further brightens the space. From Elle Decor.

Organic elements

At Kelly Klein’s Palm Beach home, White provides a blank canvas displaying her collection of kitchen items. Stacks of bowls, platters, cups, and glassware look ornate and arranged on open shelves, while the sleek white shelves and white wall paint keep them from looking cluttered and busy. A wooden ceiling underlines the natural, organic atmosphere of the room. From Architectural Digest.

Female kitchen

In the Portland kitchen of textile designer Caitlin Wilson, white offers the opportunity to present other strong colors and patterns. A light pink and blue Persian carpet and blue checkered counter stools give the clean white space a playful, feminine touch, and an island of wood and granite fits seamlessly. From MyDomaine.

Classic white kitchen

In Bill and Giuliana Rancic’s Chicago townhouse, white was a strategic choice to brighten the underlit space. Thickly veined Calacatta marble adds texture and drama, while a trio of matte black Windsor stools anchor the space, giving it a classic, timeless look. From the traditional home.