There's a reason this kitchen stops you mid-scroll. Designed by Chris Leach of Elevated Spaces, with interior design by Toni Mays Designs, it pairs two Shiloh Cabinetry finishes to beautiful effect — and it's a clean lesson in how to use a two-finish kitchen to keep a big room from feeling flat.
The two finishes
- Perimeter: beaded inset maple in Polar. Crisp and bright, with the bead detail giving the painted runs real craftsmanship up close.
- Accent: rift cut white oak in Whitewash. Used on the oversized island and the glass-front tall cabinet, the warm, linear rift grain grounds the room.
The mix of painted and natural wood keeps the room bright but layered — classic inset craftsmanship with a fresh, current feel.
Why the combination works
- The wood goes where the eye lands. The island is the center of the room and the glass tall is the display piece, so that's where the warmth is. The perimeter stays quiet.
- Rift grain reads modern next to traditional inset. Straight, linear rift oak keeps beaded inset from tipping into farmhouse.
- Both finishes are top sellers. Maple Polar and Rift White Oak finishes are both on W.W. Wood's Top 10 lists — clients already like each one on its own, so the pairing is an easy yes.
- Brass ties them together. Warm brass hardware and faucets bridge the white paint and the whitewashed oak.
Steal this for your next presentation
When a client can't decide between a white kitchen and a wood kitchen, show them this one. Spec the perimeter in a painted inset and put one wood finish on the island and a single feature cabinet. It's also a strong showroom vignette: a painted inset run with a rift oak island lets you demonstrate two of the most-ordered looks in one display. Read more on Shiloh's inset options.
Have a project like this?
We feature dealer work in our newsletter's Design Showcase and here in the Playbook. Send finished-project photos to your Pinnacle Sales rep, or through Submit a Request.