The 1 Ingredient That Will Transform Your Kitchen or Bath
The 1 Ingredient That Will Transform Your Kitchen or Bath
See how different applications of wood can warm up these spaces
Kitchen
Generous wood detailing. You won’t believe this kitchen transformation when you see it. One of my favorite design decisions is that the island and refrigerator surround have been wrapped in rich, amber-colored wood to bring some warmth to the blue cabinets and slate-colored floor tile.
Wood wall niche. Sometimes while cooking, you have a few minutes while you’re waiting around for something. I love the idea of having a comfortable spot close by to get off your feet for a moment. And this wall niche smack dab in this Minnesota kitchen seems like the perfect solution. Wrapping the area in wood brought some additional coziness to the niche and the mostly white kitchen.
Wood floor and furnishings. Weaving in wood accents is a relatively quick and easy way to add warmth to an already established kitchen, such as a rental unit in which you’re not allowed to extensively remodel. That was the case in this Oakland, California, studio loft. To warm up the stainless steel appliances, black cabinetry and concrete ceiling, the homeowner introduced a rich wood dining table, wood stools and a wood shelf unit to join the honey-colored wood flooring.
Similarly, in this London kitchen, the light wood floor, stools and dining table take some of the coldness out of the gray laminate cabinets, blue backsplash and granite countertop.
Wood countertop. For an even subtler but still effective approach, take a cue from this light and airy Kansas City, Missouri, kitchen. Blonde birch butcher block countertops soften the crisp white cabinets and subway tile.
Wood all over. OK, moderation is sometimes overrated. That’s especially true when it comes to a gorgeous selection of wood like that in this Australian kitchen. The all-over approach establishes a light, soothing backdrop for more sumptuous materials, like the dark, graphic backsplash tile, charcoal-colored Caesarstone countertops and glossy jet-black cabinetry.
Bathroom
Wood storage components. Wood can bring warmth to bathrooms as well. Here, I love the decision to use wood just on the storage components. Hard surfaces and materials cover almost every inch of the rest of the space, yet the large blocks of flat-paneled maple cabinetry calm the eye.
