The two-tone kitchen cabinet trend is showing no signs of slowing down since it offers a fresh way to add depth and personality to a cookie-cutter kitchen.
The two-tone cabinet trend, or tuxedo kitchen, involves breaking away from an all-white kitchen using two different colours or finishes on kitchen cabinets. This can be achieved with painted cabinets, stained or natural wood tones, textured laminates and inverted colour schemes offering a customized look without spending a fortune on a complete kitchen remodel. It’s a trend that’s morphed from the standard black lower cabinets mixed with white or lighter upper cabinetry, to versatile designs using creative colour combinations and contemporary finishes offering a fresh take.
New colour combos and contrasting finishes
Modern interpretations of the two-tone kitchen look offer diverse options. There really isn’t any right or wrong way to incorporate this trend. Just try not to go too bold or use super-bright colours.
You can’t go wrong using nature-inspired hues. Green paint alongside stained wood is a very hot trend right now. Green tones like sage or laurel combined with stained wood infuse the kitchen with hues found in nature, producing a calm vibe.
Using wood and other biophilic elements in decor and exposing the natural grain of wood remains a popular trend from last fall. What prevents it from looking boring or dated when used on both upper and lower cabinets in a kitchen is combining it imaginatively with colour, and that’s where the two-tone option really shines. A few options include:
• White uppers with caramel, charcoal, or walnut-stained lowers for a mix of modern and traditional;
• Sage green uppers paired with natural oak lowers
• Textured black base cabinets with dark matte laminate uppers so that the contrast is in cabinet finishes more than the colours for a striking monochromatic look.
• Soft off-white perimeter cabinetry with a darker, contrasting island in navy, charcoal or forest green.
• Wood lower cabinets with painted upper cabinets in hues like in soft white, light green, taupe or beige.
• Stained wood on the cabinets or countertops paired with nature-inspired colours.
• Instead of a long bank of the same colour cabinets, try mixing the lower cabinet colours with the uppers. So if you have dark wood lowers and a black island,
incorporate both into your upper cabinet colour scheme. Strategically adding open shelving also helps break up a long, uninterrupted line of cabinets.
Mixed finish treatments on cabinetry
Homeowners are starting to opt into mixing the finish treatments they apply to their cabinetry. Cabinetry manufacturers are offering a wider choice of stain, paint and sheen options as a result. So it’s possible to combine a textured lower wood cabinet with a high-gloss upper cabinet in any colour you prefer, from white to moss green to navy blue or black. Or you can change the appearance of an all one-colour kitchen by applying a gloss to the lower cabinets and a matte finish to the uppers, or vice versa. This is a great way to add visual texture to your update.
Make the island the focal point
Another option is to change only the colour of the island and make it the focal point of your kitchen. Painting the island in a bolder colour, like deep blue, olive or a muted terracotta, while keeping the surrounding cabinetry more neutral, can liven up the kitchen without overwhelming it.
You could also consider pairing white perimeter cabinetry with dark countertops and an inverse island colour scheme. For example, if your perimeter cabinetry features white paint with a dark countertop, the island will feature a dark cabinet topped by a white countertop. Or contrast white stone countertops on white cabinets with a natural wood butcher-block on a dark island. This is also an economical way to update an older kitchen with existing wooden cabinets that you want to salvage. Change the countertops and hardware, and suddenly you have an of-the-moment and trending kitchen!
Two-tone kitchen cabinets can add resale value
If you’re thinking of selling your home now or in the near future, two-tone kitchens can add resale value. Buyers are proving very receptive to the combination, if the appearance of the latest showhomes is any indication. The two-tone design of a kitchen allows your home to stand out from all the others, while giving it a luxe look. If your home isn’t cookie-cutter, people will remember it. The two-tone design also has a more expensive feel than an all-white or all-grey kitchen. Buyers notice things like that.
Keep in mind that colour matters in marketability and resale value. While going bold is fun, soft neutrals and natural finishes tend to be safer bets than high-contrast black and white or other trendy colours.
Tried-and-true colour families — like whites, grays, blacks, greens, and blues — tend to feel current and have long-term appeal that adds resale value to your home, instead of detracting from it.
How to make this refresh work for your home
There are five designer-approved ways to help make this refreshed trend work for you home.
1. Balance two-tone colours with the rest of the home Consider the lighting, the kitchen space, and your overall home style. The two-tone combos should be cohesive with the rest of the home.
Flooring also plays a role. Choose tones that complement existing surfaces and feel inviting.
2. Factor kitchen size into two-tone colours Smaller kitchens benefit from lighter wall cabinet colours, like off-white. In larger kitchens, it’s easier to get away with upper cabinets in darker colours.
3. Use unmatched hardware finishes and styles with two-tone cabinetry Matching all of your knobs and pulls isn’t necessary with this trend. Using different finishes or styles entirely on different coloured cabinetry makes sense.
4. Consider the cost of two-tone painting Even though painting half the cabinetry for a two-tone kitchen would cost less than remodelling or painting all of them, you’ll have to decide if it makes sense for your budget. If you do choose to paint, remember that latex-based paint is more affordable and doesn’t yellow as much as oil-based paint.
5. Get pro advice about two-tone cabinet kitchen options Consulting a professional designer can prevent buyer’s remorse. Seeking professional advice about your two-tone colour selections is a smart move that will save you money. A REALTOR® can often recommend reliable contractors.
More homeowners are realizing they don’t need to overhaul their kitchen to create a big impact. Two-tone kitchens let you add personality to your home without fully committing to a bold design. That may be the secret behind this trend’s long-term appeal.
— Houselogic.com