The combination of white and black colors is an eternal and unsurpassed classic. It has a special style, bright contrast, and moderate severity. For some rooms, a black and white palette may not be entirely acceptable, for example, a nursery or bedroom. However, it is perfect for the kitchen.
The black and white palette is suitable for the interior of any style and fits perfectly into both small and large kitchens
Pros and cons of a white kitchen with a black countertop
The harmony and effectiveness of the interior of a black and white kitchen depends largely on the proportion of colors and their shades. It is their correct use that guarantees a stylish and at the same time practical room.
A good balance of black and white helps to visually increase the space in a small kitchen
The black countertop is a universal component of the kitchen. It looks great in combination with a room of any color. However, black becomes the most contrasting and expressive in tandem with white. Such a bold design approach, namely a light kitchen with a dark countertop, has a number of positive and negative characteristics. This is explained, first of all, by the marginal contrast of the two colors. Let's look at them in more detail.
Advantages:
- Versatility. A black countertop is perfect for a kitchen in any style and color. It will also fit into any space shape: L-shaped, U-shaped or with an island surface.
- Visual increase in space. Due to the fact that the dark work surface is on a light (white, light beige or milky) base, it seems to float in the air. Such weightlessness looks very unusual. If the tabletop itself is also glossy, then the expansion effect becomes even more impressive.
- A bright accent in the interior. Whatever color the kitchen is made in, including the corner one, and especially if it is white, the black countertop will not go unnoticed. It will go perfectly with the decor of any shades and textures.
Flaws:
- Impracticality. As you know, on dark colors all dirt and damage become more noticeable. If the black countertop has a glossy finish, then maintaining it is even more difficult.
- Too much contrast. Not everyone will like the combination of a classic white kitchen set with a black countertop. The chosen colors are very contrasting. Therefore, you should carefully weigh all options, choosing between a spectacular and homely simple design.
- A fine line between harmony and dissonance. When working with black and white colors, you need to think about their quantity. A significant predominance of the first can negatively affect the perception of space: the room will seem smaller, the interior itself may look dull and uninviting. If the main role is played by white color, then the room will become somewhat cold.
Registration of details
As a rule, when choosing such a spectacular palette to decorate any room, difficulties arise with the selection of details. Given the richness of the contrasting duet, the accents should be harmonious:
- You can use opposite solutions: black details on white and vice versa.
- A white set will look organic not only with a black tabletop, but also with a graphite apron. The ideal option is identical material for both surfaces. This is a truly cosmic solution: it will seem as if there is nothing at all between the cabinets.
The photo shows a white set with a black countertop and a black apron.
- There will be little decor in such a room, since the interior already looks rich. It is advisable to use functional details as decorations. If you choose a classic design, then it is better to abandon other shades in favor of relief elements - overlays, moldings, stucco moldings.
White kitchen and black floor
An original design solution that can emphasize the individual style of a home is the use of black flooring. This approach is very popular and is one of the trends. The main feature of this flooring is its ability to transform any kitchen furniture. Both an expensive and a very simple set will look great on it.
Black self-leveling floor in a modern style kitchen
The dark color of the floor can visually reduce the space. To prevent this from happening, you need to choose a set of white or another light color. This will help balance the color ratio and make the room harmonious.
Like any other dark covering, a black floor, especially if it is glossy, needs constant thorough cleaning. Minor stains and small debris will be very noticeable on it. A solution to this problem can be the use of patterned or matte flooring.
An original approach would also be to use black and white or beige floor tiles in a checkerboard pattern. This option will allow you to diversify the color saturation and make the space not so monochromatic.
Diagonal laying of tiles will help visually increase the area of a small kitchen
What material is used?
First of all, it is important to understand that there are no exclusively good or bad materials; every solution has its own disadvantages. The basic selection rule: kitchen surfaces must be hygienic - that is, easy to clean and resistant to the absorption of fats.
Interesting article: Brown and beige aprons for the kitchen
Ceramics
Ceramic tiles are a fairly common solution for the backsplash area in the kitchen.
Advantages of ceramics:
- affordable price;
- aesthetics;
- large selection of shapes and sizes;
- hygiene of glossy and semi-matte decors.
Disadvantages of ceramics:
- applied only to prepared surfaces;
- difficult to use at the final stage of repair;
- grout joints “collect” dirt;
- Professional assistance is required for installation.
Tabletops lined with ceramics are more often found in ready-made proposals for dining groups. Only an experienced specialist can finish a kitchen countertop with ceramic tiles.
Stone
Not all stones are equally useful - if it is appropriate to choose natural granite for a kitchen countertop (marble and onyx are too soft materials), then the backsplash area with tiles made of black or dark granite will become a headache for the housewife.
The fact is that natural stones have pores, so the surfaces are polished with special compounds, which are washed out over time during wet cleaning. Therefore, a countertop made of natural granite will have to be waxed regularly . And if it is enough to simply treat a horizontal surface once a month, then on vertically laid apron tiles it will be difficult to avoid streaks without touching the kitchen body, for which waxing is contraindicated.
An equally popular proposal is cast or acrylic stones. Since all stone countertops are very heavy, they are transported in several segments, which are connected at the time of installation of the set. When using dark and black monochrome decors, it is impossible to make the joints completely invisible.
Advantages of black countertops made of artificial stone:
- unlimited design possibilities;
- maintainability and lack of edge materials;
- the ability to make an end with a “zero” chamfer.
Flaws:
- increase in project cost;
- if there are joints, it is necessary to choose decors with the effect of sand or crumbs;
- When using high polishing it is impossible to avoid scratches.
Advantages of an apron made of dark artificial stone:
- the ability to eliminate the water trap due to “seamless” docking;
- maintainability and absence of connecting strips and obvious seams.
Disadvantages of artificial stone aprons:
- high price;
- frequent “burns” of the surface.
Artificial stone can be used on a backsplash only in cases where the depth of the countertop is increased to avoid overheating of the surface in the area of the stove or hob.
Glass
Perhaps the only brand of glass that is appropriate to use for kitchen countertops is Lacobel lacquered glass. And even this material is more suitable for bar counters than for work surfaces, since any mechanical impact on polished glass will cause scratches.
Lacobel is more common for equipping aprons, although it will not be possible to simply drill a hole for a socket; only the laser burning method is acceptable to prevent cracks during operation.
Interesting article: Choosing an apron for a green kitchen!
Important! The glass must be mounted on a rigid substrate made of laminated chipboard or MDF to relieve stress on the part.
In addition to Lacobel, you can consider glass options with photo printing.
Advantages of photo printing for dark aprons:
- creating optical illusions through panoramic images;
- the possibility of tempering the glass before applying a film with a pattern on it.
Disadvantages of photo printing on a kitchen apron:
- complexity of color rendering, frequent tint of greenery;
- the need to increase the depth of the tabletop and use a substrate.
Plastic
As a rule, black and white kitchens have strict shapes, so straight ends of facades and countertops are preferable. Whereas postforming is carried out with the plastic being folded from the plane to the end, and therefore the edge of the tabletops will look rounded.
Advantages of postforming:
- affordable price;
- the ability to complete the apron to match;
- availability of glossy and matte decors;
- high hygiene.
Disadvantages of postforming:
- edging materials at the ends of the slabs;
- complete with connecting strips;
- limited design possibilities when creating patterns;
- If the plastic is damaged, the entire part must be replaced.
In addition to postforming, you can consider plastic tabletops with ends under the edge of ABS - unlike PVC, ABS allows you to avoid the “frame” effect, the surface looks like a single whole with an edged end.
Important! The absence of a frame effect is achieved on robotic lines; manual edging of a plastic countertop can ruin the appearance of the kitchen set.
Disadvantages: a high-quality product with an ABS edge will be comparable in cost to an artificial stone countertop.
Porcelain tiles
Due to the desire to create the perfect glossy black splashback with a minimum of grout joints, more and more attention is being paid to porcelain tiles. This is the biggest mistake you can make when choosing a kitchen. Glossy porcelain tiles should absolutely not be used on the apron area. The resulting greasy stains cannot be removed from this material. If there is no alternative, and you definitely want porcelain stoneware, then you should choose tiles with a lapped surface.
Other interior details in white kitchen design
All components of the kitchen space are important in the holistic perception of space. To make everything look harmonious and original, you need to consider a number of tricks.
Colored accents diversify the excessive severity of a black and white interior
- If the set is straight, without additional decorative elements, you need to make an accent apron. It can be made in any shade or be a white relief canvas.
- If the white set is complemented by dark household appliances, then a “roll call” should be made, that is, decorative elements or the facade itself, made in the same color, should be introduced into the interior.
- If the interior of a white kitchen with a black countertop seems too monotonous, you can “revive” it with the help of gold, copper or other patina (special coating to give items a vintage look).
- For those who prefer a more homely atmosphere, there is a very original solution: wooden surfaces. They can be a tabletop, shelves or floor. This approach will make the kitchen more cozy and warm.
- Lighting in a white kitchen should not be too cold. Lamps with yellow light are best. They are able to create a warming effect.
Wooden splashes make a black and white kitchen more cozy and warm
Despite the prevailing opinion that a white kitchen looks cold and uncomfortable, there is no need to immediately give up. You just need to add a few bright elements correctly, and it will surprise you with its sophistication.
A black and white kitchen is a place where you can realize your creative experiments. Different styles, complementary colors, and interesting decor can make it a work of art. All you have to do is not be afraid and give free rein to your imagination.
Combination with wallpaper and curtains
A white kitchen with a dark countertop looks harmonious against the background of plain canvases in calm shades - beige, light gray, milky, cream, ivory. This combination is universal and fits into different interiors.
To emphasize the uniqueness of the kitchen, use wallpaper with unobtrusive patterns. For example, these could be smooth lines or small geometric shapes. It is better to choose thick wallpaper, vinyl or non-woven backing. Otherwise, the canvas will peel off due to high humidity.
Interesting! Emphasize the uniqueness of the interior using a combination of several wallpapers. They should be the same in thickness and harmonize in color and pattern. For example, white and beige, gray and cream colors. If the room is large, then one wall is decorated with wallpaper with photo printing or a 3D effect.
Curtains come in a variety of designs and sizes. These can be short cafe curtains or long floor-length curtains, wooden blinds or plastic Japanese panels. If the window faces the north side, then it is decorated in light and warm colors - lemon, ocher, terracotta.
If to the south, then use more restrained ones, for example, white, light blue, the color of asphalt. To create a harmonious interior, kitchen textiles are selected to match the curtains - tablecloth, serving napkins, towels and potholders.
