There’s no doubt this colour scheme is perfect for your kitchen
Forget its checkered past as diner décor. A black and white colour scheme is the ideal monochromatic look for a bold, yet timeless kitchen décor. However, how do you make use of it in a way that is more classic than kitschy?
A black and white colour scheme is the ideal monochromatic look for a bold, yet timeless kitchen décor.
Balance/Imbalance
While a completely balanced black and white colour scheme is attractive, in today’s kitchens it is even more compelling to explore décor that is imbalanced. This can be achieved through the use of different shades of black and white, as well as the incorporation of unique design materials and furniture. For example, a kitchen that merges well with a light-filled living space can be achieved with walls of white shaker cabinets on a pale grey background and featuring a jet-black kitchen island. A dramatic space however, can also be achieved with cabinets made of unembellished black cabinetry, broken up by the white apron of a farmer’s sink.
Balance, or imbalance, can also be achieved with elements other than design materials and cabinets. Lighting for instance is particularly important in a black and white kitchen space. While clear glass pendants provide shining pops of lightness in a dark space, cast iron bracket lights diffuse a soft glow in a white space.
A dramatic space can also be achieved with cabinets made of unembellished black cabinetry, broken up by the white apron of a farmer’s sink. (c) nakedkitchens.com
Natural/Artificial
There’s something about the “natural artifice” of a black and white colour scheme that makes it the ideal backdrop for natural materials to shine. Not convinced? Consider the charm of a traditional black and white tiled floor topped with a pine table and chairs. White cabinetry with black quartz countertops is offset marvellously with a light hardwood floor in a light, to honey finish. Moving away from wood, white marble with dove grey veining is not only a naturally occurring white building material, but glows in the colour scheme.
Black cabinetry with black quartz countertops show off the brilliant usage of a monochromatic theme.
The appeal of a monochromatic colour scheme like black and white is that it also creates a great environment for colour accents. Feature walls and backsplashes are key ways to bring a big pop of colour into a space. A robin’s egg blue wall behind the hob is both classic and on-trend for spring. A glass backsplash is a bold statement if done in an eye-catching colour like vermillion. If you are a dedicated trend follower, you can always spend a little money each season on eye-catching accessories to enhance the colour scheme. In spring 2016, trends to watch are graphic pedestals in primary colours, blue and white Delft pottery and vibrant Guatemalan fabrics.
Finally, the stark classicism of black and white is the perfect backdrop for premium appliances. Black and white coupled with the stainless steel and gleaming black glass of Grundig. Can you think of anything better?
