Kitchen

10. Au natural. Flat-panel rift-cut white oak cabinets in a natural stain join backsplashes and countertops made from large slabs of Bianco Carrara marble to establish a weightless palette that enhances sunlight from rear sliding doors.

Q

7. Get the baby blues. Light blue is perhaps the most effective color for creating a bright, neutral look that seems as though it has a lot of color to it. Plus, warmth goes a long way to making a space feel welcoming, and the rich woods featured here get the job done nicely.

Q

2. Marvelous at midnight. This rich cabinet color (Midnight Oil by Benjamin Moore) might make some spaces feel dark and heavy. But with a soaring ceiling (painted crisp white), light wood flooring, a generous amount of smoky gray wall and backsplash tile, and an expansive floor plan, the look comes off as nothing but bright and open.Read more about this kitchen

Q

5. Paint it black. Going with black cabinets can be quite daunting — but I wish people did it more. Because, boy, does it pay off in some cases. This Toronto kitchen is a fitting example. Black cabinets (Off-Black by Farrow & Ball) get offset by natural light and doses of white on the countertops, backsplash, walls and range.

Q

Floor color

Q