Tips For Pulling Off Two Tone Kitchen Cabinets
A new year means new interior trends and I am loving this years biggest trend in kitchen design. Two toned kitchen cabinets are quickly taking over the ever popular white on white. Designers (and their clients) are starting to take more risks with kitchen design and its clear that no one wants a cookie cutter white kitchen anymore. Some people might feel apprehensive about taking a big risk in their kitchen design, and they should! (Helloooo home owners spend more money on their kitchens than any other room in the house). If things go wrong and those bold kitchen cabinets didn’t quite work out you’ll end up spending a small fortune fixing it. That’s where the beauty of two toned kitchens comes in.
Combining more than one finish gives the ability to mix a little bit of bold with a little bit of neutral. You will be left with a completely unique, original, and inviting kitchen. There are a few guidelines I suggest sticking to while planning your two toned kitchen.
1. USE CONTRASTING FINISHES
If you want to pull off a two toned kitchen it is important to use two colors that are complementary, yet contrasting. Your kitchen won’t stand out if the cabinet colors blend together, and it might actually end up looking like a mistake. Studio McGee has combined dramatic forest green with light wood floating shelves in this vintage kitchen. The deep green is toned down by the contrasting light wood and provides an unexpected pop when you walk into this small kitchen. Anyone else feeling brave enough to pick out a bold color for their kitchen?
2. USE A DARK COLOR FOR YOUR BASE CABINETS
In your two toned kitchen I suggest you use the darker of the two colors for your base cabinets. This will help ground your kitchen while creating balance in the space. The gorgeous sage and white kitchen bellow by Sara Sherman Samuel has done just that. Sage, the darker of the two colors, is painted on the base cabinets and is complemented by white uppers. This proves that you can still have a successful two toned kitchen without going too dark.
3. ACCENT YOUR KITCHEN ISLAND
Another great way to incorporate the two toned trend in your kitchen is by accenting your kitchen island. If all of your cabinets are one finish, switch things up with a bold color for your island. The island is the heart of the kitchen and a contrasting color will highlight that. This kitchen below by Z + Interiors is a great example of how using a bold color for the Island really creates a focal point in the room.
4. STAY CONSISTENT WITH HARDWARE
The hardware you choose for your two toned kitchen is going to be the thing that ties the whole space together. Make sure you choose complementary or matching door pulls and knobs for your base and upper kitchen cabinets. Rachel of Mason de Pax seamlessly tied the white and grey cabinets in her mothers home by staying consistent with hardware. She has used the brass hardware throughout this kitchen, along with the brass wall sconce and marble subway tile to tie the whole space together.
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10 Comments
Jayne
Thanks for this post! I am doing a kitchen reno and planning to do two-tone cabinets. The top cabinets are white in high gloss with marble countertops and backsplash, similar to Kitchen #2. Any suggestions for the base cabinets? What finish/color would look best?
Brianna
Kitchen #2 is by Sarah Sherman. The paint colour she used is Pigeon by Farrow & Ball. Its a quite luxurious paint brand, but if you go into your local paint store they should be able to match it for you! If you want more information about the kitchen check out Sarah’s blog post https://sarahshermansamuel.com/home-progress-kitchen-update/
Michelle
Hi, I would like to try the two tone look in my small kitchen. I have black granite countertops with specs of gold and brass, and a light gray LVP floor. Any recommendations for two tone cabinetry? I’m not afraid of color.
Brianna
Hi Michelle! A classic white and black two tone is always a sure winner, but if you’re not afraid of color you should explore some navy/dark green options paired with a contrasting white.
Samantha
I am going to be doing a midnight blue bottom cabinet and white upper. My small kitchen only has 1 counter. Lame I know. So only the cabinets under it and above it. But the people we bought it from put a 4 door tall pantry(ceiling to floor) next to the fridge. So it’s not right against the cabinets. So do I do the blue or the white for it?
Brianna
Hi Samantha,
First of all congratulations on deciding to re-do your kitchen. How exciting! I would try to take the rest of the space into consideration before deciding. Does the kitchen get any natural light? Is it open to other spaces like a dinning room? My only concern would be that a tall navy blue pantry would overpower the space and create a dark looking kitchen. However if there is ample natural light or if the kitchen is open and has room to visually ‘breathe’ then I would go for dark!
Meghan
Love the kitchen featured in #2. How were you able to match the countertops with the backsplash?
Brianna
Hey Meghan! To get your counter top to match the backsplash exactly, you would purchase both stone from the same marble/granite store. They will most likely have large blocks of stone that they cut the counter tops out of and you’ll get an exact match.
Abby Fields
Obsessed with the accent kitchen island!! Do you think it still flows as nice as the full accent? I know N-Hance of Gainesville does beautiful cabinet refinishing, and I think I am going to commit to the accent island!
Brianna
Yes Abby! I think there is always a place for an accent kitchen island. It gives the kitchen a bit more character!