Please help with overly white kitchen

[xtine14]

We just bought a house with a kitchen that has white tile floors (lined up, not staggered), with white cabinets, a white corian countertop, backsplash is 2 inch white tiles also all in rows. It looks so sterile I keep expecting a surgeon to show up! Because of all the work we need to do elsewhere in the house, I can't afford to do anything major to the kitchen for a couple of years. I want to keep the cabinets white, but does anyone have any ideas to help? I'd love to do something to the backsplash, but don't know, if anything, what can be done to the tile.

[magenta]

I believe Michael's has paint for ceramic tile that you could use to maybe stencil a design on some of the tiles to break it up. Also, you might want to break up the white with accent pieces on the counters. For instance, I use a large (think Tom's from the 1950's) canister type glass jar from a country store to put snacks for lunch boxes in on the counter. But rather than something that is a clear glass, instead use bright colors in the color scheme of your choice to break it up. Such as a large ceramic canister and maybe a nice cutting board. Also, some platters in coordinating colors propped up against the backsplash might break that up.

Do you have an island? If so, some colorful cushions on barstools perhaps?

Those things are what come to mind for me. Maybe someone else will be along that really has a decorating gene (I don't!) and can come up with some good ideas.

[Licia]

A white kitchen can be charming. The kitchen at the farm is white and we use vibrant window curtains, colored pottery, canisters, etc. One thing I like about a white kitchen is that it is so easy to do over and usually quite cheaply.

[scarlettdouble]

I agree that a white kitchen can be very versatile. I am guessing that any walls that are in the kitchen are white, too. Could you possible paint them?

[brianna]

The accent ideas are great. White can be a wonderful thing to work with and allows your imagination to run free. If there are walls that can be painted, what about a strong vibrant color? Since we don't have have pictures maybe you can get some help from these suggestions. Good luck.

[ncgigi]

Accent pieces will really liven up the space. But I found this website about painting your ceramac tile backsplash. http://www.doityourself.com/stry/paintceramictile

And here's a website about the possibility of painting your corian countertops.
http://www.paintcenter.org/rj/aug04g.cfm
Might be something to think about if you aren't ready to replace them.

There are plenty of other websites out there that can give you some great ideas.

ncgigi

www.gigisramblings-gso.blogspot.com

[ncgigi]

I was reading a blog that is written by an interior designer this morning and the title was White Kitchens I Love; naturally I thought of your dilemma. So I've posted the link for you - maybe it'll give you some ideas. Good luck!

ncgigi

http://theinspiredroom.net/2009/07/2...tchens-i-love/