This kitchen trend has been popping up all over online blogs as well as interior design magazines. Creating a contrasting island is a fun and low-risk way of injecting some interest and excitement into your kitchen, while also creating a designer finished look.
Contrasting Options
There are a few different ways you can accomplish this look on your island: 1) With a contrasting cabinet color to your wall cabinets, 2) with a contrasting countertop color to the rest of the kitchen, or 3) doing both 1 & 2 – contrasting both finishes on your island so that it’s the direct opposite of your main cabinets. This ends up giving your kitchen a kind of two-toned scheme, while still creating an overall blended look.


Contrasting Countertops
If you would like to create some interest, but don’t like the idea of too much contrast, you can keep it simple and just change the countertop color for your island, but use the same material you’ve used on your main countertops. For example, if you have a white or light neutral quartz or granite, you could try a grey or black quartz or granite on your island for a nice little pop. You can tie the whole look together by installing stainless or black hardware on your cabinets.
Contrasting Cabinets
Along these same lines, you can keep the countertops all one color, but put different colored cabinets on just your island. With a gorgeous wood finish and details like turned legs, the island can end up looking like an elegant piece of custom made furniture in your kitchen. In the kitchen below, the main white cabinets in the kitchen become even more elegant with a beautiful dark-stained wood island. You can also create a similar look with grey or black colored cabinets on the island.


Contrasting Both
To take this look even further, contrast both your cabinets and countertops. The finished look will be very stylish and elegant while breaking up the monotony of single-toned cabinetry and character to your kitchen.
For information on how you can easily change your island cabinet style and color, without buying a brand new island, check out our page on cabinet refacing. And please contact us here with any questions.