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Black and white kitchen is a classic that never loses popularity. Almost all modern trends in design can be implemented in this range: the design of Scandinavian, Dutch style kitchens, Provence and some others.
Features of black and white
Black and white interiors are win-win: they do not lose popularity over time – this is the main plus. The second plus is that with the help of color additions it is easy to change the mood, and sometimes the style.
There are also disadvantages. The first – when using high-quality (read – expensive) materials, everything looks “five”. Save will not work. The second is that these colors do not have the best effect on the psyche. Black provokes a bad mood, white is associated with medical institutions, sometimes contributes to increased anxiety.
In addition, their combination in its pure form is too contrasting, which causes psychological discomfort. To reduce the contrast, “diluted” colors are used, details of “warm” color shades are added.
Let’s discuss the various approaches next. Let’s talk about styles first.
What styles are suitable for
Black and white gamma is suitable for almost all strict styles: hi-tech, modern and other fashion trends in interior design. White and black solutions look interesting in the industrial direction and in the loft design.
With all the differences, they are united by clear, concise forms that emphasize the contrast. Used furniture with a glossy or semi-gloss surface, shiny or metallized fittings.
Furniture, decoration, additions choose geometrically strict shapes (rectangle or square) and, as a rule, without a pattern. If there is an ornament, then it is a geometric composition, lines or strokes that emphasize simple geometry.
Glass inserts matt or mirror-coated, in a metal or metallized frame. In more “soft” versions, glass is inserted into the doors without additional framing.
Using a black and white combination in ethnic styles is more difficult, but possible. More often these are variations of the Provence style or the Scandinavian group.
The difference between the ethnic group is that the furniture is matte, with finishing elements characteristic of these styles. The luxury kitchens use bleached wood. In the most expensive – solid wood, in the middle price range – furniture boards, in the economy class – veneer or film with imitation of a wooden surface (MDF and HDF). Fittings of the same color as the facades or contrasting. Brilliant in these areas is almost never used. Glass inserts in furniture facades are often transparent, rounded.
Since the styles are ethnic, they are usually softened with wooden floors, colored additions, textiles.
How to distribute colors
Despite all the shortcomings, white (usually its shades) often prevails in interiors. Black is added little by little. In order not to feel “pressure” on the psyche, it can be no more than 30%. Even in a relaxed way. Otherwise, you want to escape from such a room, it is difficult to relax in it.
Next, we will discuss the most popular kitchen design options in black and white.
How to make a kitchen set
Let’s say right away: pure black furniture in the kitchen is not an option for everyone. If there is not much furniture, the kitchen is large and bright, with high ceilings – this is possible. This option is acceptable in a kitchen-living room or a kitchen combined with a dining room. In general, where it is spacious and light.
Even under these conditions, everything else (walls, floor, ceiling) is white or very light. In addition, you will have to develop multi-level lighting to dispel the gloomy impression.
To compensate for the “cold”, take the lamps with a warm, yellowish glow spectrum.
Much more popular (feels better) combined facades. This is when only the top or bottom of the kitchen set is dark. And dark, often make the bottom. This option allows you to visually “raise” the ceiling. It also looks good in small kitchens.
In the photo above, an interesting solution for the upper part is that there are no handles. Doors open when pressed. Built-in spring-loaded openers are used.
In island-type kitchen sets, the design of the “island” repeats the “wall” part. This is a more traditional solution, but not the only one.
Sometimes they use the reverse option (as in the photo below). In this case, “blackness” is added using a table located in the center.
Please note: despite the abundance of windows, the lighting is multi-level. This is typical for all interiors in this color scheme.
Walls and kitchen apron
It is also worth discussing the color of the walls and the apron. With their help, you can change the feeling of the interior. If the furniture is not white, then the walls are white. And it’s almost without options. The ceiling, by the way, too.
So that everything does not look too cold, a little warm shade is added to the paint. It may be slightly yellowish or pinkish in color. When adding beige and pink, we get the color of coffee with milk.
The kitchen backsplash is part of the wall, but that doesn’t mean they have to be the same color. Usually the opposite happens. Most often, the color of the apron is chosen to match the countertop. If you look at the photos, this is the technique used most often. It is very rare to see a black and white apron. He attracts too much attention, shifting emphasis.
Variegation is useful if you need to distract your eyes from imperfections.
How to beat the white headset
After reflection, we usually come to the conclusion that it is better to make the furniture light. Or, at least, its upper part. But not everyone likes black furniture, we don’t want colored furniture. And white walls, ceiling, furniture – it’s boring and “cold”. Let’s discuss techniques to dispel boredom and the “hospital” impression.
dark wall
White furniture will not be massive even in a small kitchen. It is truth. But the abundance of white resembles a hospital, does not give comfort. You can dispel this impression if you make one wall or apron dark.
If the furniture is glossy, it is better if the walls and backsplash are matte. Busting with glitter, glare negatively affects the mood. The worst thing is that you can’t relax.
A matte apron is made from MDF, porcelain stoneware or ceramic tiles, but with a matte surface. The glass apron can also be frosted. What is better not to use? Plastic and photo printing. In principle, there are such options, but they are at the junction of styles. Harmony is not always achieved.
If the facades are matte, the apron can be shiny. It’s not required, but it looks interesting. You can see another one in the photo above. A brick tile with a contrasting finish enlivens well and, at the same time, is not very colorful.
Black technology as accents
We get a revitalizing effect if we build black household appliances into a white set. You don’t have to look for a black refrigerator. Even if you find it, it will look too massive. As an option – find a refrigerator with blued steel doors or install a built-in one with false facades. The rest of the equipment with black doors is not a problem to find.
Often the problem of equipment selection is solved by choosing combined facades – black glass in a metal frame. It’s almost a classic design.
What should be the countertop
One of the common solutions is to install a black countertop to white furniture. Visually, it looks interesting. There is not too much dark, the interior turns out to be balanced, bright, not “loading”.
A few words about what to do with a kitchen sink. Ideally, it matches the color of the countertop. The second suitable type of sinks is stainless steel. If there are no other shiny details so that the sink does not stand out from the picture, give preference to brushed or blackened steel.
Contrary to popular belief, white facades are not that hard to maintain. With dark or colored hassle more. From whites, it is only necessary to immediately remove streaks and stains. In emergency cases, “colored” stains can be bleached with bleach or bleach.
Effectively enlivens white kitchen furniture with a wooden countertop. This will work if you want to get a cozy atmosphere. Suitable dark or light. Wood of any color gives that warmth that black and white design lacks.
In order not to spoil the impression, make the floor the same “wooden” color. If you want, find the same chairs. In fact, the wooden details bring an additional color that diffuses, softens the monochrome. Other color accents will be discussed later.
What to add: colors and accents
The idea of using two pure colors appeals to many, but does not suit the “sterility” of the interior. In this case, add colored details. Since both primary colors are neutral, the choice of secondary colors is not limited. But if you want comfort, choose a warm shade. Above is an example of a monochrome kitchen with wooden details. Often add more red or green, as in the photo below.
Red enlivens even blackness, but not cold tones. Clean, warm colors. This is not the case when using pastel colors or a color with a gray coating. To add energy, warmth, pure tones in the warm part of the spectrum are required.
Another color that is often “diluted” with this combination is green. Use dark green or grassy. Light shades do not give heat. For our purpose, saturated, pure colors are better.
The next color to liven up the decor of the kitchen is the warm tones of purple. But be careful with them: it is easy to darken the interior, especially if the furniture is black. There is a lot of light in the photo above and the impression is pleasant. In the photo below we see a characteristic mistake – it is too dark, which creates a gloomy impression.
Here the error is that the color used is dark. Besides, there are a lot of them. Even a light headset does not save the situation. If glossy material were used on the facades, the impression would be different. And for this particular case, salvation is in repainting the wall by the window in white. Alternatively, add a small amount of color to get a pinkish tint.
Curtains for a monochrome interior
The choice of type of curtains depends on the chosen style. In minimalism, the direction of techno, most modern styles use:
- roller blinds,
- horizontal or vertical blinds.
A slightly more “softer” option is Roman blinds with varieties. For ethnic styles, any type is possible, including flounces, ruffles, frills. It’s a matter of taste and preference.
Now a little about color. If you do not use any color additions, then the curtains can be in the same range. Solid color or patterned, your choice.
The nature of the drawing depends on the style. For discreet interiors and modern trends, graphic and geometric motifs are suitable. For others – any, including floral or vegetable prints.