Kitchen Guides
Two-Tone Ideas: One Kitchen With Two Cabinet Finishes
Why go for one cabinet finish when you can opt for two? Check out these schemes with two-tone units that work in harmony
There are many reasons to choose more than one finish for your kitchen cabinets. For instance, mixed surfaces can add interest to a room; pale units can lift a dark scheme, and a deep-toned feature can give a sophisticated feel to a neutral palette.
Check out these stunning spaces to find inspiration for designing a two-tone kitchen in your home.
Check out these stunning spaces to find inspiration for designing a two-tone kitchen in your home.
Complement light and dark
Want to add some dark tones while maintaining a light, airy feel in your kitchen? Use a deeper shade in just one area, and keep the rest of the units pale.
Here, a wall of light grey cabinets makes the room feel bright and spacious, while the dark blue island adds a sophisticated element. The two hues help to offset each other – one lightens the mood; the other gives the space some depth.
Here’s how to open up your home to light
Want to add some dark tones while maintaining a light, airy feel in your kitchen? Use a deeper shade in just one area, and keep the rest of the units pale.
Here, a wall of light grey cabinets makes the room feel bright and spacious, while the dark blue island adds a sophisticated element. The two hues help to offset each other – one lightens the mood; the other gives the space some depth.
Here’s how to open up your home to light
Space out
The monochrome scheme in this kitchen has been planned out to play with shape and form. The tall white cabinets match the rest of the walls perfectly, and are almost invisible at first glance.
The eye is immediately drawn to the black base units, which help to keep the kitchen grounded. At the same time, the white units merge into the background and the room appears more spacious.
The monochrome scheme in this kitchen has been planned out to play with shape and form. The tall white cabinets match the rest of the walls perfectly, and are almost invisible at first glance.
The eye is immediately drawn to the black base units, which help to keep the kitchen grounded. At the same time, the white units merge into the background and the room appears more spacious.
Mix design styles
The beauty of a two-tone kitchen is that you can combine two styles in one space.
Take the cabinets in this barn conversion, for instance. The cream units around the edge of the kitchen are quite traditional, which ties in well with the rustic feel of the space. But by adding another colour to the island, the designers have given the scheme a contemporary twist.
It helps that they’ve gone for a bright blue, which is enough of a modern contrast with the timeless cream to change the feel of the whole room.
See these winning kitchen colour combinations
The beauty of a two-tone kitchen is that you can combine two styles in one space.
Take the cabinets in this barn conversion, for instance. The cream units around the edge of the kitchen are quite traditional, which ties in well with the rustic feel of the space. But by adding another colour to the island, the designers have given the scheme a contemporary twist.
It helps that they’ve gone for a bright blue, which is enough of a modern contrast with the timeless cream to change the feel of the whole room.
See these winning kitchen colour combinations
Bring in a third dimension
Here, the designers have added three surface ideas to the kitchen cabinets. A wall of tall charcoal units recedes into the background, while a couple of white wall units form a bright contrast.
To warm up the monochrome scheme, they’ve added base units with beautiful wooden doors. The pattern of the grain provides an interesting, soft contrast to the smooth black and white surfaces elsewhere.
Here, the designers have added three surface ideas to the kitchen cabinets. A wall of tall charcoal units recedes into the background, while a couple of white wall units form a bright contrast.
To warm up the monochrome scheme, they’ve added base units with beautiful wooden doors. The pattern of the grain provides an interesting, soft contrast to the smooth black and white surfaces elsewhere.
Try some texture
Here’s an interesting idea – the designers have used a paint effect to change the tone and texture of some of the cabinets in this kitchen. Deep blue units take up the bulk of the room, but a row of wall units forms a contrasting feature.
A patinated matt metallic finish has been added to the French grey paint on the unit doors, giving a slightly industrial feel to the smart space.
Wondering how to choose between matte and gloss?
Here’s an interesting idea – the designers have used a paint effect to change the tone and texture of some of the cabinets in this kitchen. Deep blue units take up the bulk of the room, but a row of wall units forms a contrasting feature.
A patinated matt metallic finish has been added to the French grey paint on the unit doors, giving a slightly industrial feel to the smart space.
Wondering how to choose between matte and gloss?
Work with wood
A simple wood stain was enough to create a huge contrast between these kitchen cabinets. The timber on the wall units has been left bare, while a black wood stain has been added to the base units.
The cabinets have the same texture, but the difference in colour has made a striking visual contrast.
Read more:
11 Captivating Modular Kitchen Colour Combinations
Tell us:
Have you gone for two-tone kitchen cabinets? Or have any of these ideas inspired you to try it? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
A simple wood stain was enough to create a huge contrast between these kitchen cabinets. The timber on the wall units has been left bare, while a black wood stain has been added to the base units.
The cabinets have the same texture, but the difference in colour has made a striking visual contrast.
Read more:
11 Captivating Modular Kitchen Colour Combinations
Tell us:
Have you gone for two-tone kitchen cabinets? Or have any of these ideas inspired you to try it? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.
An interesting way to play with colour and shape in the kitchen is to use an asymmetrical design like this one. The matt, bare wood units contrast with shiny, glass-fronted charcoal cabinets – and the off-centre layout is just that little bit more interesting than a symmetrical design.
However, it still feels balanced, as the two tall cabinets either side of the sink are the same size. Although they have opposing designs, their matching height and width keep the space looking harmonious.