MARVA Blog

White Doesn’t Mean Vanilla: Adapting an All-White Kitchen to Different Styles

White Doesn’t Mean Vanilla: Adapting an All-White Kitchen to Different Styles

July 4, 2017

All-white kitchens continue to trend in popularity, but designers know this style can be customized for a variety of aesthetics, so white never means vanilla.


There are plenty of ways to dress up a white kitchen with unique accent furniture, backsplashes, and paint colors to make it feel more welcoming, and give it a style that is uniquely you.


 

Farmhouse

Farmhouse kitchens often blend a number of different styles, including rustic, vintage, and cottage. Reclaimed items, antique fixtures, and mason jar everything can bring this style to life. Think wood accents, fresh flowers, and, of course, the farmhouse sink. Exposed shelves in a light-stained wood, matched to a kitchen island or table with a wooden top, would be a perfect way to “dress down” an all-white kitchen to make it feel less fussy. Since actual wood is porous, easily scratched and high maintenance, choose a design like La Bohème, from Neolith’s Timber collection. Neolith Sintered Compact Surface award-winning La Bohème design is a maintenance-free, nonporous surface, receiving attention in the industry for its true-to-life look and feel of wood. It is an ideal surface for a kitchen countertop, where hygiene and non-absorption are key.

Neolith Farmhouse Kitchen Lifestyle

When choosing white countertops for your farmhouse kitchen, look for designs with more subtle movement, like Neolith’s Blanco Carrara, rather than a design with dramatic veining that distracts from the farmhouse aesthetic. Another option is to opt for an off-white or cream, such as Neolith’s Arena design, rather than pure white. Consider a more matte finish for your countertops – Neolith’s Silk finish would be perfect - rather than gleaming polish, so that the white looks less icy. The softness of the Silk finish can make the space feel more comforting and inviting.

Since a defining feature of farmhouse kitchens is the capacity to entertain a large group, Neolith surfaces are ideal for countertops. Through innovative processes, Neolith combines the very best natural raw material with state-of-the-art technology to create high-tech, durable slabs that are resistant to scratching, stains, extreme temperature changes, moisture, high traffic, chemicals, and UV rays.


 

Modern

In some ways, contemporary kitchens are a simple design because they embrace a minimalist aesthetic. Plenty of kitchen storage is essential to keep clutter at bay, for that clean-cut look. Modern cabinets are defined by unobtrusive textures and simple handles and pulls that don’t interrupt the monochrome appeal. Unexpected pops of color, used sparingly, will add interest to the space – keep it understated with a pot of fresh greenery, or get creative with bright bar stools or other accent furniture.

Neolith Modern Kitchen Lifestyle-1

Neolith is perfect for modern kitchen designs, because the Sintered Compact Surfaces embrace the latest and greatest technology in developing a material that is unmatched in the industry. The Sintering Technology subjects 100% natural materials to very high pressures and temperatures, creating unprecedented physical and mechanical features.

Neolith Modern Kitchen Lifestyle-2

For a high-end contemporary look, Neolith Estatuario combines the look of Carrara marble -- luxurious grey veining crossing a pure white background -- with a durability that stands up to modern life. Or, keep the white monochrome with the Arctic White design from Neolith’s Colorfeel collection, which is a pure white. A more industrial aesthetic can be achieved with the Iron Frost design from Neolith’s Iron collection, which stands out due to the delicate shiny metal details on a white background with barely-perceptible light grey dilution. Achieve that ideal monochrome look by using the same material for your countertops and backsplashes.

Neolith Modern Kitchen Countertop

For your countertop edges, keep things simple with an eased and honed edge, where the edges are smoothed and slightly rounded. This option shows off the thinness of Neolith surfaces. For a little drama, add a waterfall edge down the end of your countertops to smooth out the design.


 

Retro

Think of a 50s diner when designing a retro-inspired kitchen – pops of bright colors and some accents of gleaming chrome can help achieve a back-in-time look. Although color is a defining feature of this style, starting with white cabinets and countertops creates a perfect base so that the color accents can truly pop. For this design, embrace patterns in bright shades – an accent wall in a bright wallpaper or a mosaic tile backsplash. Another option is to pick out a vintage poster or picture to feature and build your color accents around that. Add a bright curtain around any kitchen windows. Cherry-red stools at the kitchen island immediately inspire a flashback, but any bright shades like yellow or orange can have a similar effect.

Neolith Retro Kitchen Lifestylee

Diners are a casual place to grab a bite, so skip the high-end look of marble-inspired designs. Instead, stick with the flat white of Neolith’s Arctic White design to keep things simple, or choose from Neolith’s Colorfeel collection.


 

Coastal

With a coastal kitchen, every day can feel like a vacation!  Soothing colors, sea-inspired accents, and hardwood furniture are key to this aesthetic. White countertops and cabinets can brighten up the room to call to mind sunny beach days, while a color palette of pale blues and sea-foam green are reminiscent of ocean waves. Choose subtle, soothing lights to illuminate the space in concert with the soft colors. For furniture, look for wood that is unfinished or has a natural stain.

Neolith Coastal Kitchen Lifestyle

Like a farmhouse kitchen, you want the atmosphere to exude laid-back vibes, so embrace the wood look of La Bohème from Neolith’s Timber collection for tabletops or a kitchen island top, and keep your white counters soft with a Silk finish. Since nobody in a beachy state of mind wants to spend their time cleaning, Neolith countertops are perfect. Nonporous and resistant to commercial-grade chemical cleaning solutions, Neolith is one of the most hygienic options on the market for kitchens. And since they are scratch-resistant, you don’t have to waste any headspace worrying about the state of your countertops and can spend more time daydreaming about the sea.

Transitional

The best of both worlds, a transitional kitchen falls somewhere in the middle of the spectrum between formal and contemporary. This style is ideal for embracing the best of a formal or luxury kitchen, like glossy marble countertops and statement-making pendant lighting, but with a more inviting and less high-maintenance atmosphere. The key to this style is balance: choose the marble design of Neolith Estatuario and polish it to a high shine, but skip any ornate finishes on the edges and keep things simple with an eased and honed edge, or a mitered edge with apron for a stacked look. Choose flooring like hardwood (or for more durability, any selections from Neolith’s Timber collection). Furniture should be comfortable and inviting, and light fixtures should be modern but eye-catching – think statement pendants, not chandeliers.

Neolith Transitional Kitchen Lifestyle

Much like the transitional style, Neolith Classtone collection designs blend old-world charm with forward-thinking technology and durability that can stand up to modern lifestyles. The collection embodies the look of exclusive, high-end natural stone, but with a durability that surpasses these classic surfaces. The Sintered Compact Surface can withstand high weight loads, acidic liquids, heat, scratching, and more without leaving a mark, and the options for varying thickness and lightweight characteristics make Neolith easy to install and available for a wide range of uses, from flooring to wall cladding to outdoor installation.

Like What You're Reading?

Get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.



Inspiration Gallery

View Inspiration Gallery View Inspiration Gallery

We understand the industry,

because we are in the industry.

Scroll