Timeless Style: White Kitchens

White is the perfect background color for almost any other color, says designer Jim Sandell. White is also easier to keep clean because dirt is more visible than with other colors.

The turn to white kitchens came during the Victorian period, when homeowners began to spend more time in the kitchen. The materials available at the time also lent themselves to white, such as the porcelain for tiles and sinks, and milk-based paints for cabinetry.

White works well for small kitchens because it is light and bright, which makes the space appear larger.

In a contemporary kitchen, white helps create shadows and contrasts that emphasize planes and surfaces.