They say that kitchens and bathrooms sell the home. (I know I’m an agent and bias but as someone who’s purchased a home I would have to agree.) Why, you ask? Because they’re big ticket items. Aside from other major house components - think roof and foundation, or plumbing and electric - next in line are your bathrooms and kitchen. The average buyer just doesn’t want to take on that monstrosity of a project.
So maybe you’re like so many other American’s this year, stuck inside the same four walls and deciding it’s time for a change. If you’re thinking of updating your kitchen you can’t go wrong… well, you can. But that’s for another post ;) You’ve scoured Pinterest for inspiration and other home decor magazines. I bet you’ve come across the two-toned kitchen. If you haven’t, I’ll explain.
Cabinets that have been painted a color other than white have also gained popularity in recent years but to take that trend a bit further, going two-toned is next level. What is a two-toned kitchen you ask? It’s when you have two different colors of cabinets or features in the kitchen. For example, your kitchen island base is one color and the remaining cabinets are another. Or your base cabinets are one color and the uppers are another. It could be mixing a color with natural wood, a darker base color (blue is having a great year, by the way) and lighter uppers.
This is just my opinion (and I have A TON) but some color combinations you can’t go wrong with:
+Walnut and white
+Natural wood and white
+Grey and white
+Blue and white
+Really anything and white…
+Darker colors and light greys or creams
Other trending kitchen colors
+charcoal/almost black and white
+jewel tones and white or jewel tones alone
+cabinet and drawer pulls in gold or rose gold
How do you execute this trend properly? Again, this is just my opinion but as someone with a little bit of design acumin here’s my two cents.
+With the exception of wood grain stains, if you opt for a darker color with white, the darker color should be applied to your base cabinets or island. Why? Weight. Darker colors read heavier. Using darker colors on the bottom will make the room feel appropriately weighted and grounded. Then go for your lighter color on top. Using a dark color on your uppers could make the room feel lopsided.
+Do not, for the love of everything holy, do not pick out a color at the store and say “that’s it!”. Please bring color samples home and test them out in YOUR lighting in YOUR home. All light is not created equal. Different types of bulbs, the sun at different times of day cast different hues. Bring it home, try it in different areas, look at it in different lights BEFORE you decide on a final color.
+You also need to make sure it works with your countertops if you’re not changing those. Floors, existing wall colors, etc. Make sure it works with what you’ve got going on.
+Keep it simple - if you opt for two-tone, let that be your focal point. Stay away from a busy backsplash or flooring, i.e. other trends. Too many trends in one room cancel eachother out and not in a positive way. Save the cool floor project for another room and the awesome tile for a bathroom. I used to say this to my event clients and the same rings true in home staging and decor: LESS IS MORE. (Unless you know you’re living in this home for 15-30 years then do whatever you want.)
+Lastly, higher a professional. Unless you’re super duper crafty and capable - as an avid DIYer myself, I’m all for projects - but please don’t be afraid to ask for help!
So there you have it - my two cents on two-toned kitchens. It could do the trick to freshen up your home and make it feel current. Or it could just be the perfect weekend project because, let’s face it, there isn’t much else to do right now.
In the spirit of full disclosure I am an FPG agent and our Social Media Coordinator. One of my side hustles is photography and in my former life I was a meeting and event planner. I’m a boy mom for life and constantly chasing messes (when I’m not breaking up fights!) and truly love serving my community by way of real estate. I get to meet and help so many amazing people around town! It has been an awesome career. Now as the brokerage’s Social Media Coordinator, I get to brag about how awesome our city and people are. Win win.
My husband and I were referred to FPG when we returned home to Indiana. I was drawn to their way of doing business and when I was offered an opportunity to join them the choice was easy! If you’re thinking of a career in real estate, or one with Ferris Property Group, we’d love to talk.
- Kate Sowles