As much as we admire a crisp white kitchen, there are many other appealing options—like my sister’s wood cabinets paired with white appliances and the popular “tuxedo” kitchens that mix dark and light cabinetry. When Rita sent in photos of her renovation, we were impressed by how much the space improved, especially her striking two-tone cabinets. Here’s her note about the project:
Hi Sherry and John, we recently finished renovating our kitchen. Our primary challenge was creating a kosher kitchen with separate sinks and distinct meat and dairy areas, while keeping the space looking clean and uncluttered and staying within budget. The original kitchen was beige-on-beige laminate with very little counter space.
The only thing that wasn’t removed was the window above the sink. We opened up the wall between the dining room and kitchen, removed the dinette area, and installed a breakfast bar in its place. The large picture window was shortened to allow for a long counter that includes a second sink.
This kitchen is all about contrasts: white upper cabinets with dark gray lower cabinets, a reclaimed wood dining table paired with a shimmering capiz light fixture, sleek white countertops alongside a dark limestone tile backsplash.
The cabinets are shaker-style Diamond cabinets from Lowe’s, and I’m very pleased with the quality. The brass pulls are from Martha Stewart’s line at Home Depot and the counters are quartz. The light fixtures above the breakfast bar and sink are from Schoolhouse Electric. Natural light floods the kitchen for much of the day, though I’m still considering window treatments—likely roman shades.
The new pantry now occupies the spot where the original refrigerator used to be, giving us much-needed storage and a cleaner layout.
There are two dedicated “sides” flanking the stove—one for meat and one for dairy—so the kosher workflow is efficient and organized.
One of my favorite touches came from Pinterest; it was a simple idea that made a big visual impact.
The months of plaster dust and living without a sink or stove were worth it. Our new kitchen is not only beautiful but also a joy to cook in, and I feel fortunate to use it every day. Thank you, Rita.
Thank you, Rita! Beyond the great cabinet color pairing, you’ve even won over those of us who didn’t expect to like gold hardware. Sherry especially loves every detail—she’s smitten with the gold fixture over the sink. Thanks again for sharing your renovation with us. What do you think—do you have a favorite element? Are you into the two-tone cabinets or the hidden TV?