Timeless Kitchen Design: 6 Essential Tips to Make Your Space Stand Out

In the last article of this series, we covered six elements that can make a kitchen feel dated - like the remnants of a passing trend.

Today, we’re diving into six design elements that will help your kitchen stand out while remaining timeless.

I’ll share three tips from an appliance perspective, while Mark Tobin, the cabinet guru from Canada, will contribute three insights from a cabinetry standpoint.

Oddly enough, neither of us sells what we both agree is the most overlooked yet essential element in any kitchen.

Let’s get started.

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Timeless Kitchen Design: 6 Essential Tips to Make Your Space Stand Out

My Timeless Tip #1: Add a Pop of Color

For more than 20 years (and counting), kitchen design has been dominated by a familiar trio: white cabinets, gray counters, and stainless steel appliances.

The white cabinets might be glossy or a classic shaker style, while the gray counters could be granite or a more modern composite material.

And let’s not forget subway tile - a staple so ubiquitous that you have to wonder who first walked into a subway and thought, “Yes, I want this in my kitchen.”

As for appliances? No matter the brand - Wolf, Miele, Thermador, Bosch, or Café - they all share that same stainless steel look.

While this combination is common, it’s also timeless - and will continue to be.

But how do you make your kitchen stand out while keeping it classic?

Add a pop of color.

There are plenty of ways to do this:

Refrigerators: Adding Color to a Timeless Kitchen

True: 14 Color Options + Glass Door Styles

True offers 14 colors and six accent options, allowing for a completely unique look—including glass door options.

Note: Visit their website - it’s fun to play around with all the possibilities.

BlueStar: 1,000 Custom Colors & Trims

BlueStar takes customization to the next level with 1,000 color options and 10 trims. They’ll even match a specific color if you send in a sample.

Viking: 17 Classic Color Options

Viking offers 17 Sherwin-Williams-inspired colors.

Why a Colorful Range Creates a Bigger Impact

While colored refrigerators can be striking, I find that adding color to a range makes an even stronger statement.

As the focal point of the kitchen, a bold range naturally draws attention - especially in a predominantly white space.

Top Colorful Ranges for a Standout Kitchen

La Cornue: Luxury Ranges in 50+ Colors

These ranges are stunning, with over 50 colors and six trim options. They offer both the high-end Château series and the more affordable CornuFé line.

BlueStar: 1,000 Color Choices for Ultimate Customization

BlueStar offers six series of professional ranges, each available in over 1,000 colors.

Café: Stylish and Affordable Black, White, and Green Ranges

Café provides an accessible way to introduce black, white, or emerald green ranges with six customizable handle styles.

Viking & Italian Brands: Bold Colors, Mixed Functionality

Viking offers vibrant color options, while brands like Bertazzoni, Ilve, and Verona also feature colorful ranges.

However, we don’t typically recommend Italian ranges for functionality and reliability - though they certainly look great.

A Word of Caution: How to Use Color Without Overdoing It

Adding a pop of color to a classic white kitchen can make it feel both unique and timeless.

But don’t overdo it - avoid adding color to every appliance.

Read More: Best Alternatives to Stainless Steel Appliances for Your Kitchen

Mark's Timeless Tip #2: Personalize Your Layout

Designing a kitchen involves hours of selecting the perfect colors, textures, materials, appliances, and accessories.

However, as Mark often says, if a kitchen doesn’t function properly, it becomes what he calls "A Beautiful Mess."

This must be avoided at all costs.

Mark says to start by focusing on the layout and unique design to make sure the kitchen functions well for its user - whether that’s you or someone else.

This includes key considerations like layout clearances, work zones, appliance placement, storage, counter space, accessibility, movement efficiency, lighting, and more.

Once the design is both practical and efficient, pops of color - whether from a bold range or a custom range hood - will elevate the space and bring the dream kitchen together.

For those unsure about committing to a green range, Mark suggests considering the next idea from Steve as a great alternative for incorporating color into appliances.

Steve’s Timeless Tip #3: How Custom Panels Can Elevate Your Kitchen Design

So, maybe a bold color isn’t your style.

Then, panelize your appliances.

Mark smiled when I mentioned this in the video because this option looks even better with high-quality cabinetry.

I panelized the appliances in my own white kitchen (with gray counters and white subway tile), and the result was seamless.

Panel-Ready Refrigerators

Many refrigerators across a variety of brands are designed to accept custom panels.

Pro Refrigerators: The Professional-Grade Option

These refrigerators have a top-mounted compressor, with Sub-Zero being the most well-known brand.

A pro refrigerator is counter-depth, meaning the door will protrude slightly.

Integrated Refrigerators: The Fully Built-In Choice

An integrated refrigerator sits completely flush with the surrounding cabinetry, creating a built-in look.

I chose an integrated refrigerator for my kitchen, and the difference is night and day.

You have plenty of options from brands like Thermador, SKS, Fisher & Paykel, and Sub-Zero, available in various styles and configurations.

Panel-Ready Wine Coolers, Refrigerator Drawers & Under-Counter Options

You can fully customize your refrigeration setup with panel-ready beverage centers, wine coolers, refrigerator drawers, and even ice makers.

Mark’s Timeless Tip #4: How Wood and Stone Can Elevate Your Kitchen

Mark recommends adding wood, stone, or - ideally - both to create a more natural and timeless kitchen design. Natural elements work in almost any kitchen.

Some additions can be temporary, while others, like a stone countertop, offer a more permanent upgrade.

He notes that wooden shelves can be a great temporary addition in the right context, while a wooden island provides long-lasting warmth and character.

According to Mark, an interior designer can help mix different wood tones for visual interest, pairing warm and cool tones to add depth.

It doesn’t have to be complicated - even something as simple as layering in a few cutting boards or adding a potted plant can enhance the overall look and feel of a kitchen.

Mark has also observed a growing trend in cladding cabinets with thin stone slabs, creating a sleek, natural aesthetic.

He has worked with Dekton as well as natural stones, both of which create a striking effect.

For a more subtle, high-end touch, he suggests adding stone to the back of cabinets or even the bottom of drawer boxes.

It’s a really beautiful look, Mark says, and he encourages homeowners not to overlook these materials when designing their next kitchen.

Steve and Mark’s Timeless Kitchen Tips #5 & #6: Lighting

Mark and I don’t share notes before our webinars.

Yet, lighting made it onto both our lists - despite neither of us selling lighting.

Fun fact: We were Yale Appliance and Lighting until five years ago, but Mark was never involved in the lighting side.

Why Lighting Matters in Kitchen Design

Lighting is deeply personal, and when executed properly, it enhances the entire look of your kitchen.

The bad news? Lighting is rarely well-executed.

The good news? It’s easier than ever with high-powered LED lights.

The 4 Essential Types of Kitchen Lighting (And How to Use Them)

Every kitchen lighting plan should include four key elements:

1. Task Lighting: The Foundation of Your Kitchen Lighting Plan

Task lighting is the backbone of your kitchen lighting. Recessed or track lighting is the most common, but under-cabinet lighting is just as important.

Think of task lighting as the skeleton - it makes up most of your lighting and provides the visibility you need.

2. Accent Lighting: Adding Depth and Interest

Accent lighting is used to highlight an object of interest.

Ever walked into a high-end hotel and noticed a big bouquet of flowers in the lobby? Look up - you’ll see lights shining on them, making the colors pop.

In your kitchen, recessed lights, track heads, and even under-cabinet lighting can be used to highlight key areas.

3. Ambient Lighting: Creating a Warm, Inviting Space

Ambient lighting illuminates the ceiling to create a more welcoming atmosphere.

Most kitchens don’t use much ambient lighting, even though it’s simple to incorporate.

A few easy ways to add it:

• Install under-cabinet lighting on top of your cabinets for an indirect glow.
• Choose decorative fixtures that also provide uplighting.

4. Decorative Lighting: The Jewelry of Your Kitchen

Pendants, sconces, chandeliers - you have endless decorative lighting options.

But don’t be tempted to rely on a single source of light, especially decorative lighting alone.

Common Kitchen Lighting Mistakes to Avoid

• The “Glare Bomb” Effect: One big light in the center of the ceiling, leaving dimly lit corners.
• The “Night Club” Effect: Too much accent lighting, where objects are well-lit but people are not.

Choosing the Right Color Temperature for Your Kitchen

Lighting temperature matters.

For kitchens, stick to 2500K–3000K on the Kelvin scale for a warm, inviting glow.

For closets, go higher on the scale to distinguish between navy and black.

Timeless Kitchen Design: Key Takeaways

First, it’s perfectly fine to choose an all-white kitchen. It has been the definition of "timeless" for at least the last 35 years.

However, you can make it unique by adding a pop of color, wood tones, or stone to introduce warmth and contrast.

Panel-ready appliances offer a subtle yet sophisticated way to distinguish your kitchen while maintaining a classic look.

Prioritize a layout that works for you. Personalization is key to both function and longevity.

And finally, lighting will define the atmosphere - both of us agree that great lighting makes all the difference.

Additional Resources

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