Kitchen Design Blends Natural Light and Dark Finishes

Bruce Gingrich, owner and president of GlennGingrich Inc., based in New Holland, Pa., was tasked with remodeling a kitchen that had white painted cabinets and dark granite countertops. Remodeling's Sean Wallisch says the homeowners wanted the new design to combine the open, airy feel typically found in a white-painted space with the comfort of dark, stained wood.

To resolve this dynamic, Bruce used white marble on the backsplash, white Silestone on the counters, and glass doors and sides on the cabinets next to the window. He also made the window bigger and brought it all the way down to the counter, something Bruce says he does in 75% of the kitchens he remodels.

The large window and glass doors help bring in light to complement the wooden cabinets. The idea for the white interiors, which help balance the dark, stained wood, was inspired by a photo of a butler’s pantry Bruce saw in a book by designer Mick De Giulio. He also cites the stainless steel cabinet above the fridge as a nice component. He says that instead of simply installing a wooden door, he used the cabinet to clean up the shapes and balance the design.