Erin Napier Ditches The All-White Kitchen Trend For Something More Unique

At this point, you are probably used to the all-white kitchen. The design has been going in and out of style for several decades, without ever really disappearing. This is probably because all-white kitchens bring a brightness and clean aesthetic to your home while being easily adaptable — which is why many homeowners and designers have leaned heavily on this trend as a classic choice. However, Erin Napier, the host of HGTV's Home Town, said goodbye to all-white kitchens in one of her recent renovations. Instead of staying true to this design trend, she took a kitchen that already incorporated the all-white trend and added more personality and contrast to the room. It was more than a simple modernizing of the space, Napier wanted to add character to a trend that may be losing its appeal with some designers.

As you can see in the video, the before images show a kitchen that was dominated by the white-on-white aesthetic. Napier even points out that there were "a lot of white tiles." You can easily see how surfaces blended together to be quite boring and flat. The pale white tones enveloped walls, countertops, and backsplashes — a style that may help with a cohesive look but adds little spark. However, Napier did not throw out the neutral pallet all together; instead, she added more depth to the room by blending classic and dramatic touches that brought more warmth to the space. The end result was a timeless and elegant kitchen that was livable with a deliberate and less predictable approach.

One of the major additions Napier brought to the space was a luxury black granite countertop, something that she explains in the video she thought would be cool and dramatic. The decision almost immediately transformed the room, adding the luxury and richness Napier was going for, creating a visual contrast to the all-white kitchen. The elements she brought in were a bold new backsplash and refinished wood flooring. She installed a backsplash tile that brings subtle sophistication to the kitchen, while adding texture to the uniformity of the previous space. The tile became a bit of a focal point in the room, breaking up the neutral pallet that was there before. She also used a pale olive green color for the cabinets that added a very subtle pop of color while still embracing neutral tones.

The part of the room she says is her favorite are the wood floors. The original floors needed a ton of work, but the finished product added a cozy cottage feel to the kitchen. She states in the video that the original floors had a lot of rot and needed to be removed and new flooring had to be brought in. The end finish is a kitchen that has a ton of personality. While all-white kitchens are far from going completely out of style, this renovation proves that you can move away from certain trends without sacrificing timeless appeal. All you have to do is incorporate unique materials to add individuality to a respected design choice. Erin Napier reminds her viewers that a great home doesn't always mean following trends, and she does that by creating a luxurious and unique kitchen.