All black cabinetry in the kitchen is one of the easiest ways to brighten your home and make it feel more open. Even if you have other materials like wood, stainless steel, tile or metal, black cabinets help open up space and make it feel more modern and clean.

There are some kitchens designs that, upon first glance, create a wow factor because its elements are so visually striking, yet still fit together. Contrast is the key ingredient that makes these rooms memorable. When done right, this foundational design principle can add a huge impact to your interiors while simultaneously pulling it together. High contrast tile and countertops, two-toned cabinets and boldly painted islands are exciting ways to mix up your colors and tones to create a kitchen you’ll never want to leave.

Whether design is a passion, a hobby, or even just a passing fancy, chances are you’ve heard of Scandinavian style. In fact, you’ve probably heard the term used so many times that you’ve started wondering what exactly it refers to. Some of it is pretty easy to pick up – the white walls, wood floors, and modern furniture, but there’s got to be more to the story, right? Well as it happens, there is – a lot more.

The path that led to Scandinavian design becoming one of the preeminent interior styles in the world in the beginning of the 21st century actually began during the end of the 19th. Along the way, empires rose and fell, worldviews shifted, the world went to war twice and art, philosophy, and furniture all changed the ways in which they viewed themselves and each other.