Traditional Kitchen Makeover Before and After: 29 Ai Transformations
A traditional kitchen can feel welcoming and inviting, as it is still sought after by millions of people today. But, for many, they wonder what my kitchen would look like with a different design style, countertop finishes, and colors. Well, thanks to advanced AI image software, it’s now easier than ever to find out. In this before-and-after gallery, we start with the same classic kitchen with an island, and transform it into another popular style. We give the traditional kitchen a makeover, transforming it into designs such as modern farmhouse, coastal, Japandi, moody luxe, and more. The traditional kitchen shown in the before shot for each of these keeps it classic with warm oak wood tones and brushed nickel hardware. Each before and after picture shares the paint colors, finishes, and material swaps that make up the style, so you can copy the look for your own home.
Transitional Kitchen With Warm White Cabinets, Navy Island and Brass Hardware
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The transitional style above is a blending of the old with the new. It works best when you go with warm white cabinets using paint like Sherwin-Williams Alabaster or BM White Dove. Then you’ll want to pair it with a navy island hue like SW Naval or BM Hale Navy. For hardware finishes, go with brushed brass, use white quartz on the counters, and a handmade-look zellige backsplash for that Pinterest “updated classic” look.
Crisp Update With Creamy Off-White Cabinets, Greige Island and Matte Black Hardware
To avoid looking too blah, you’ll want to use a creamy cabinet color like SW Creamy or BM Simply White. Then pair this with a greige island tone such as SW Agreeable Gray or BM Edgecomb Gray. Add matte black pulls, a subtle-vein quartz for counters, and a subway tile for an inviting vibe that hides everyday messes.
Modern Farmhouse With White Cupboards, Charcoal Island and Butcher Block Countertop
I love a modern farmhouse when it’s not overly themed, as it can look too cliché and out of date fast if you’re not careful. To make it work, pick a warm white like SW Alabaster or BM White Dove, and combine it with a charcoal island like SW Iron Ore or BM Kendall Charcoal. Add a butcher block top for the island’s surface, sealed matte, black lantern pendants above it, and a simple white subway backsplash for a cozy, farmhouse design.
Scandinavian Kitchen with Warm White Flat Panel Cabinets
A Scandinavian kitchen often looks best when it goes for low contrast mixed with natural texture. To get something like pictured above, use a soft white like SW Snowbound or BM Chantilly Lace, then bring in pale oak accents and slim stainless pulls. Keep all of the counters a no-vein bright white quartz and do a full-height matte white backsplash for an airy, bright, and uncluttered look.
Japandi Kitchen with Warm Greige and Natural Oak Island
Japandi styles are all about matte finishes and a calm environment. Try to get the look above by going with an SW Accessible Beige or BM Pale Oak for the cabinetry, with a natural oak island and minimal or no hardware. Choose a creamy quartz and a simple slab backsplash to help keep things calm, matte, and earthy.
Ultra Modern Kitchen with White Handleless Cabinets and Waterfall Quartz Island
This one keeps it streamlined and simple. To get a kitchen like this, go with a clean white like BM Chantilly Lace or SW Pure White in a smooth finish. Add a waterfall quartz island and either extend the same material for a large-format slab backsplash to reduce grout lines and make it feel higher-end. Keep lighting sleek and minimal and replace the standard pendants with something more modern to really nail the style.
Contemporary Two-Tone Kitchen with White and Forest Green Cabinets
For a more contemporary look, keep the greens somewhat muted, or they will read more traditional. Use BM White Dove or SW Alabaster for the uppers, and a muted sage like SW Evergreen Fog or BM Saybrook Sage for lowers, and a deeper island hue like SW Ripe Olive. Finish the hardware selection with brushed brass and install a stacked vertical tile for a more modern and trendy look.
Coastal Kitchen with White Cabinetry and Seafoam Island with Polished Nickel Hardware
Coastal kitchens look their best when they are bright, reflective, and avoid heavy, dark accents. To get something like this, use crisp white cabinets, maybe a SW Pure White or BM Chantilly Lace. For the seafoam island, try a SW Sea Salt or BM Palladian Blue to nail the beachy vibe. Choose polished nickel hardware, and pair this with bright white quartz and a light blue glass tile backsplash for that reflective sparkle.
Mediterranean Kitchen with Warm Ivory Cabinets and Terracotta Island with Aged Brass Hardware
Mediterranean kitchens have a sun-kissed ambiance with a few rustic touches thrown in. To get something similar, try an ivory like BM Swiss Coffee or SW Natural Choice for the main cabinetry. Then pair that with a terracotta island, such as SW Cavern Clay if you want muted, or BM Terra Cotta Tile. For hardware, consider using aged brass, and materials like stone-look quartz for countertops, and tumbled stone backsplash for warmth and Old World texture.
Industrial Kitchen with Matte Charcoal Cabinets and Concrete Look Quartz Counters
An industrial-style space needs lots of texture so it doesn’t feel flat. For the color palette, use a deep charcoal like SW Iron Ore or BM Wrought Iron, with black steel hardware and concrete-look quartz counters. Installing a brick-look backsplash and metal pendants gives it a loft feel and a little edge.
Mid-Century Modern Kitchen with Walnut Cabinets and White Island
Mid-century Modern is known for combining clean geometry with warm wood accents and minimal accessories. Choose a walnut tone with a stained or slab-style front, and keep the island bright with white quartz. Adding globe pendants, slimmer brass pulls, and a geometric backsplash will help you target the style. For paint accents, consider SW Shoji White and partner this with brass lighting to keep it warm.
Art Deco Kitchen with White High-Gloss Cabinets, Black Island and Gold Hardware
To make it feel Deco without too much random Glam, think about the contrast and patterns you use. Go bold with glossy white like BM Chantilly Lace in a higher sheen, and a black island using something like SW Tricorn Black. Add gold hardware, dramatic veined quartz, and a graphic black-and-white backsplash that offers a glam, high-contrast background statement.
Cottagecore Kitchen with Soft Cream Cabinets and Dusty Blue Island
Cottagecore goes for a softness that targets the rural European lifestyle. For this style, pick a soft cream like SW Creamy or BM Swiss Coffee, and a dusty blue island like SW Smoky Blue or BM Smoke. Additional elements like antique brass knobs, warm marble-look quartz, and handmade-style tile with slight variations can help you add that extra cozy charm.
French Country Kitchen with Warm Cream Cabinetry and Muted Sage Island
The French Country ambiance gives a sense of refined rustic with a slight touch of Old World details thrown in. Try SW Alabaster or BM White Dove on cabinetry, with a muted sage island like BM October Mist or SW Evergreen Fog for some contrast. Use hardware in ornate brass, honed stone-look counters, and rustic stone backsplash texture to give it an elevated “old cottage” feel.
English Kitchen with Deep Olive Cabinets and Unlacquered Brass Hardware
English kitchens are often known for their deep and complex paint colors. To get a similar appearance, use deep olive paints like Farrow & Ball Pigeon, or SW Pewter Green, or BM Backwoods for a beautiful backdrop. Pair this with unlacquered brass hardware, soapstone-look countertops, and classic subway tile for a timeless look.
Modern Organic Kitchen with Warm-White Cabinetry and Natural Oak Island
Modern Organic spaces generally use layered neutrals with natural textures, greenery, and warm, soft lighting. Cabinetry in SW Alabaster or BM White Dove looks best with a natural oak island and combined with brushed brass pulls. Use creamy quartz with subtle veining for your counters, and a textured ceramic backsplash to keep things brighter. As a finishing touch, add greenery and natural woven accents to soften the hard surfaces.
All-Black Luxury Kitchen with Matte Black Cabinets and Champagne Bronze Hardware
Going all-black can give you a luxurious vibe if done right in a large space with abundant natural light. Choose a rich matte black, like SW Tricorn Black or BM Black Beauty, and pair it with champagne bronze hardware for an appealing combo. Add black marble-look quartz and a slab backsplash to further make it feel expensive and dramatic.
Pinterest Clean Kitchen with Bright White and Light Oak Cabinetry
For those who love Pinterest, you know that bright, inviting kitchens get a lot of interest. For a look like this, use a bright white like SW Pure White or BM Chantilly Lace, with a light oak island, and matte black hardware. You’ll want to keep the counters bright with a white quartz and backsplash of simple white tile, as this look photographs insanely well in natural light.
Soft Sage Kitchen with Off-White Island
Try a pale sage like SW Sea Salt or BM October Mist on cupboards, with a warm white island painted in SW Alabaster. Add brushed brass and a scalloped backsplash tile for that subtle “contemporary detail moment” that Pinterest & Instagram love. Make sure to use warm lighting to avoid the sage from looking gray.
Classic Black & White Kitchen with Chrome Hardware
A black-and-white combination is a timeless style that always stays crisp and simple. Try BM Chantilly Lace or SW Pure White on the cabinets with a black island like SW Tricorn Black. Use polished chrome hardware to reinforce that timeless appeal, with white quartz and classic subway tile for a look that won’t date quickly.
Southwestern Boho Kitchen With Patterned Backsplash and Terracotta Island
Southwestern Boho is an eclectic mix that certainly has a lot of personality. Use warm white cabinets such as SW Alabaster, and a clay/terracotta island like SW Cavern Clay or BM Potters Clay. For other finishes, pair this with an antique brass, warm quartz countertop, and a patterned tile backsplash with natural wood and woven textures for balance.
Modern Rustic With Walnut Island and Stone Backsplash
For this modern rustic style, go with an SW Alabaster or BM White Dove for cabinets, and stain the island with a medium walnut. Add iron hardware, rugged stone-look counters, and a stacked stone backsplash for texture without any clutter. Keep the stacked stone a neutral tone so it doesn’t compete with the wood elements.
Pastel Kitchen with Pale Blue-Gray Cabinets and Soft White Island
Pastel kitchens that use a soft and muted undertone tend to look the best. For something like this, try a pale blue-gray such as SW Misty or BM Silver Marlin, with a soft white island in SW Snowbound. I find that brushed nickel keeps it subtle, while white quartz and a glossy backsplash bounce light around and keep it looking fresh.
Ultra-Modern Luxe Kitchen with Matte-White Cabinets and Champagne Beige Island
An ultra-modern style needs everything to be smooth and seamless. For your colors, go matte white in a SW Pure White or BM Chantilly Lace, with a champagne-beige island like BM Muslin or SW Accessible Beige. Use minimal brass pulls for hardware, a waterfall quartz island, and a large-format slab backsplash that keeps it sleek, seamless, and high-end.
Luxe Marble Kitchen With Soft-White Cabinetry and Calacatta Quartz Countertops & Backsplash
Calactta marble looks stunning, and it pairs well with warm white cabinets in BM White Dove, with a pale greige island in BM Edgecomb Gray. This combo pairs perfectly with Calacatta-look quartz. Go full-height on the backsplash to reduce the amount of visual seams, and pair with satin brass hardware and elegant pendants to promote the “luxury remodel” look.
California Casual Kitchen with Cream Cabinetry and Natural Wood Island
Think bright, warm, and relaxed, where nothing is too stark. Use a creamy cabinet white like Sherwin-Williams Alabaster or Benjamin Moore White Dove. For the island, go with a light oak or natural wood finish for added warmth. Finish the look with brushed brass hardware, warm white quartz that has soft cream veining, and an imperfect handmade tile backsplash like a zellige-style or lightly varied ceramic. For an added natural appeal, use woven stools, linen shades, and a few wood accents to make it feel stylish, yet effortlessly lived-in.
Wabi-Sabi Kitchen Design with Plaster and Limewash Finishes
Wabi-sabi is all about using soft, earthy tones and texture, with matte finishes and few, if any, hard edges. Go with warm greige cabinets like SW Accessible Beige or BM Pale Oak. For the island, go with a deeper “mushroom” taupe hue, such as BM Pashmina or SW Tony Taupe. Choose aged brass in simple, minimal pulls, and keep counters grounded with travertine or limestone-look quartz or a quiet cream stone. For the backsplash, look into plaster or microcement, or a tile that mimics it to reduce grout lines and create that calm, seamless backdrop the style calls for.
Modern Traditional Grandmillennial Kitchen
This look is classic and tailored, but updated, and is perfect if you want “timeless” but with extra personality. Try soft, warm white cabinets like BM Simply White or SW Alabaster, paired with a muted blue-gray island such as SW Smoky Blue or BM Boothbay Gray. Hardware looks best in polished nickel or unlacquered brass. For counters, try a marble-look quartz with gentle gray veining and use a subway tile backsplash with a stacked or traditional running bond orientation for that clean finish.
Contemporary Kitchen with Light and Dark Two-Tone Cabinets
A two-tone kitchen can provide a warm, modern, contemporary makeover. For the lower cabinets and island use matte black, and for the upper cabinets use a natural white oak tone. Hardware can be matte black or brushed brass, with counters in bright white quartz, and a backsplash of simple matte white tile or slab. Hang modern pendant lights to brighten the space and give it a more modern design.
Which of these kitchen designs would you choose? Leave your thoughts below in the comments to let us know what you would pick.
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