Having a difficult time choosing a color palette for upcoming Chicago kitchen and bath remodeling projects? Why not give yourself a break and choose white. It continues to trend as one of the most popular foundation colors for interior design, and Benjamin Moore even named Simply White its color of the year 2016.

White Isn't Going Anywhere Anytime Soon

Andrea Mango, manager of the Benjamin Moore Color Design Studio has the enviable mission of traveling all over the globe for color inspiration. In a February post on Kitchen & Bath Design News, Mango was quoted, "Through our global travels and research, we were struck by the strong use of the color white – whether white on its own or white used to frame and highlight other (at times bold) colors."

She also reflected that Americans are increasingly looking for a way to retreat and get away from the hectic pace of everyday life. White palettes provide an opportunity to transform even the highest-traffic areas of our homes into spaces that remind us to breathe deep and enjoy a few quiet moments in time.

Farmhouse to Modern: White Works With Any Design Motif

Another bonus of choosing white as the base color for your Chicago kitchen or bathroom remodeling project? It's incredibly versatile. A white palette is just at home in a country or farmhouse kitchen as it is in a mid-century modern kitchen design.

If you plan to put your house on the market in the near future, choosing other versatile features - like Shaker-style cabinets - will make it easy for new homeowners to transition the kitchen to their liking without having to reinvent the wheel.

With a white foundation you have the opportunity to:

• Create a bit of contrast using dark stains or colors on the kitchen island or on upper- or lower-cabinets.
  
  
• Continue a calm and neutral palette by adding grey tones. Grey trends picked up last year, and the trend continues. You can use a graduated palette that moves from white to dark grey, using a transitional backsplash to help blend the colors together.
  
  
• Add a splash of color or interest using glass or texture tiles tiles for the backsplash, adding an accent wall or choosing colorful accessories for countertops or open shelving.
  
  
• Provide a blank canvas that allows you to easily change and alter other kitchen accents as color trends and personal tastes evolve - without having to replace major kitchen finishes.

Using White in the Kitchen

In the kitchen, white cabinetry is still very popular, as is the use of white or off-white countertops and subway backsplash tiles. For those who love the look of marble, talk to your Chicago kitchen and bath remodeling team about quartz slabs, which have patterns that closely resemble marble.

Using White in the Bathroom

White is everywhere in the bathroom, from cabinets and tiles to sinks and toilets. Contemporary resin materials allow freestanding tubs to have a more matte finish, and white tiles are available in more textured and patterned finishes.

With the right approach, all-white kitchen and bathroom remodels are anything but boring. Schedule an appointment with Kitchens & Baths Unlimited to learn more about how you can use a white palette as the foundation for a stunning finished kitchen or bathroom design.