2014 White Kitchen Cabinets Ideas

White cabinetry is a classic choice for a kitchen. Providing a neutral backdrop, white cabinets can be left alone or dressed up with colorful art and accessories.

White cabinets are a versatile choice for a kitchen. Though usually available in laminate or thermofoil (which can be difficult to paint over), more expensive custom wood cabinets can be ordered in a painted white or cream finish with distressed or glazed details.

With plenty of options, white cabinets don't have to be basic. If you want a warmer look, shift direction and use wood cabinetry for your island. Use the same hardware on both the white peimeter cabinets and the island, or the same countertop on both to tie the look together.

Like a little black dress, white cabinets are appropriate almost anywhere, whether your kitchen is sleek and modern or warm and traditional. Full-overlay cabinetry with doors that cover the entire cabinet frame present a minimalist profile, which works well in a modern kitchen. Pair the streamlined cabinetry with similarly styled hardware for the ultimate modern look.

An off white tone, glazing, and distressing techniques will give white cabinets traditional flair. Detailed door fronts and classic hardware will help solidify cabinetry as truly timeless.

White is a quintenssential cottage hue, which is why white cabinets work so well for the style. Pair the cabinets with vintage-inspired hardware, sweet pastels, and materials such as beaded board and wood surfaces for the ultimate in cottage style.

Even though white is simple, it fits well in elegant, showstopping kitchens. When used in tandem with detailed moldings and trimwork, glass door insets, and rich materials such as marble and stained cherrywood, white cabinets convey formality and grace.

Glaze applied to the edges, carved details, and reliefs gives white cabinets instant patina. Paneled cabinet doors, antique-inspired hardware, and details such as carved corbels, brackets, and turned legs will also turn white cabinets into old-world charmers.

Glazing and distressing say "traditional," while a high-gloss finish says "modern." The reflective surface of glossy cabinets will bounce light around the room and make the space feel bigger and lighter.

If you're concerned that white cabinet after white cabinet will turn your kitchen dull, shake it up with a bit of variety. Use glass doors in select upper cabinets, or include open shelves in your plan.

Add a little color to white cabinets with contrasting frames. To DIY this look, remove cabinet doors and paint them white. Once dry, mask off the door panels and paint the frames in your chosen color. Lighter colors work well for the frame. Once you've selected your accent color, pick a white with similar undertones for a look that will be well-blended, not jarring.

A black and white color combination is dramatic. When using the duo in a kitchen with white cabinets, keep the look from becoming theatrical by practicing restraint. Opt for black and white patterns with an organic or curvy aesthetic, rather than sharp and geometric, and use the black in small doses.

Bring a little pep to white cabinets with a colorful backsplash. White goes with almost anything, so backsplash options are wide open. Think about the look you want to create and the other elements in your kitchen, such as the floor and countertops, when selecting a backsplash color and material. With these parameters in mind, it will be easy to find something you love.

If you crave an all white look, use texture to your advantage. Subway tiles laid in a herringbone pattern or white stone with a mottled texture will add visual interest to your kitchen without breaking away from a sophisticated white scheme.

To create a new look without extensive remodeling, simply remove the doors from a few upper cabinets. Paint the interior of the cabinet boxes white, and show off eye catching dishes and accessories in your new display space.

Decorating With White 2013 Summer Ideas

When decorating a room, expensive or difficult to change elements are best left neutral. For whites, consider the variety supplied by a creamy wool rug, white linen slipcovers, shiny silk pillows, and a furry throw. Contrast comes in the form of black accents, which can be as powerful as hot pink in an all white room.

Use white to separate and emphasize your forays into colorful decor. In this room, white walls and shapely textured furnishings set a chic neutral stage for vibrant ceramics, glass, and a collectible pink chair. A shelving unit creates a display grid on the white wall that adds dimension in the room and spreads the notes of pink and blue over a larger space.

Slipcovered in crisp white and dressed for dinner, modern chairs add a touch of minimalist formality to this white dining room. The shaded chandelier and simple window shades sum up the classic-modern style of the space. The white palette is enriched with a subtle ivory tone on the walls.

Layers keep a white room from being one-note. Prop framed mirrors against a wall or over a mantel. Look for interesting mirrors at thrift stores or tag sales and paint the frames in shades of cream and white. Slightly overlapped or placed against one another, the large mirrors will practically double the natural light in the room. Add another piece in front of the mirrors, preferably something with a similar tone and an interesting shape, such as this old French clock, to create depth.

Contemporary amenities are dressed in traditional design elements in this timelessly elegant white kitchen. Glass-front cabinets and thick marble counters confer period authenticity, while stainless steel appliances add a modern counterpoint. Oak plank flooring grounds the room and brings warm, natural color to the mostly white space.

White brings cohesion to a large room and its different layers of color and texture. In this bright and breezy living room, wide-plank pinewood floors and finishes emphasize the house's history, while the dark tones contrast with the contemporary white walls and slipcovered seating in an old-world/new-world combination.

Add signature flourish, intrigue, and even texture to an all-white bath. In this unique space, a quartz tile surface is embossed with a subtle wash of lace pattern that dances in the natural light. Augment the luxurious spa feeling with lots of white: towels, floor covering, and shower curtain it's a surefire way to refresh.

This Victorian flat was transformed to give it the ambience of a modern loft. White paint coats the formerly dark wood architectural elements such as the fireplace mantel, allowing the relief carvings to stand out in greater prominence. Using white and black on furnishings allows the modern and Victorian styles to blend seamlessly.

Springy greens in the fresh flowers and the muted sandy tones of timeworn accessories give this living area country charm. Slipcovers can be tossed into the laundry if spills threaten to ruin the pristine scene.

White in this space is interrupted only by an occasional plant or expanse of wood, and seems cool, calm, and collected. Subtle variations of white and cream add interest to this space, while fresh flowers and plants help unite the indoors to the outdoors.

Holiday Decor With Black and White 2014 Ideas

Mix things up this holiday season by introducing black and white into your Christmas color palette.

Design Star season 7 contestant Britany Simon and designer Brian Patrick Flynn worked together to add an updated, graphic look to an Atlanta home's traditional holiday decor by including strong, contrasting elements of black and white.

From the over scale fabric poinsettias on the Christmas tree to the mix of black-and-white wrapping paper prints, the color combination makes its way around the living room in both a strong and subtle manner.

Designers often add both graphic appeal and colorful updates to hardback books by covering the books with coordinating fabrics. To incorporate black, white and red into the living room, each book was covered with stripes and gingham. By keeping the palette holiday centric, but using patterns meant for year-round use, this ensures the books can remain out once the holidays have passed.

To add holiday flair to the living room's year-round sofa, pillows and throws are layered on and the end tables are decorated with ornaments for a festive, seasonal touch.

Throw pillows are an instant way to add holiday flair to your furniture. As the holiday season rolls in, this living room's sofa is given a quick and easy Christmas makeover with large metallic silk pillows paired with smaller ones featuring a wintry red, white and black plaid pattern.

Fillable clear glass lamps offer the opportunity to change up the look of your task lighting seasonally. In order to bring black, white, red and metallic flair to this living room's pair of lamps, an off white drum shade with a thin band of black detailing was added. The glass body was filled with a combination of red, gold and silver ornaments. Once the holidays pass, the lamps can instantly take on everyday appeal by switching the ornaments out for something different.

Tree skirts offer another opportunity to play with black and white through pattern. During the weeks leading up to Christmas, it's likely the tree skirt will remain bare and you'll be able to see it more clearly. Once covered up with gifts, the skirt will lose its presence. Consider using black mixed with another holiday accent color, then bringing in accents of white through wrapped gifts. This will ensure that your skirt will still remain part of the overall design.

When updating your holiday palette with black and white, it's not necessary to stick with black and white prints specific to the holidays. To dress up this wingback chair, a red and white check pillow was paired with a graphic black and white throw blanket. This look also works for everyday use.

This fireside gift wrapping area continues the black and white theme from the floor to the fireplace and into the Christmas tree thanks to a graphic rug, handmade stockings and a tree decorated mostly with black and natural-toned ornaments.

When it comes to choosing a holiday tree skirt that's a bit less expected than those featuring reindeer or snowflakes, consider plaid or tartan. Not only do plaids and tartans evoke a wintry feeling, but they also bring in a masculine touch which can keep your overall holiday decor as appealing to men as it is to women.

Since the gift wrapping area was designed to be heavy on black and light on white, the tree is dressed mostly with black and natural toned ornaments. This results in a more subtle aesthetic. The played down approach allows the room's main feature, a lighting installation piece over the mantel, to remain the focal point of the space.

For strong, graphic impact, Britany created a lighting installation from three cardboard letters and industrial globe string lights. Once illuminated, the trio of letters instantly becomes the room's main focal point. To balance the intensity of the bright white, black was used heavily in other areas to keep the color scheme balanced.

A little bit of black and white goes a long way. Britany had four custom stockings made for Mom, Dad, daughter and son each featuring a subtle or strong use of black and white.

In order to add pops of color and black and white on the fireside gift wrapping area's mantel, Britany filled three clear glass apothecary jars with tiny gifts using wrapping paper in shades of red, black and white.

Dress up your fireplace this season with small cypress or juniper trees in bold colored pots. If choosing a black or white pot, consider adding a few metallic or red ornaments to the tree. Use a red or green pot for a big punch of color, and use ornaments in black or white to keep the color scheme flowing throughout the tree.

Tour of the White House at Christmas 2013

Step inside America's first home during the holidays as designers and volunteers prep rooms from floor to ceiling with handmade crafts, one-of-a-kind art displays and decked-out Christmas trees.

By : Kayla Kitts

Welcome to a White House Christmas
Each year, first lady Michelle Obama chooses a theme for the home's holiday decor. This year's theme is "Gather Around," a celebration of coming together with loved ones during the holiday season. Each room in the White House will showcase this idea through handmade decorations and unique Christmas trees.