With their three boys 'sorta moved out,' these homeowners had the time to give their dated kitchen a complete renovation. They enlisted designer Jennifer Grey to help them renovate while staying within the kitchen’s original footprint.Their request for something bolder and brighter, as well as the dining room’s black-and-white wallpaper (back left), inspired the color palette. The largest swath of black comes in on the island’s base. The dark finishes on the light fixtures pick up on the color from above.The tones of the gray grout between the herringbone tiles and the veining in the marble-like quartz countertops fall somewhere between black and white.It’s not all stark contrast, however. In addition to the wood counter stool seats, matchstick blinds add warmth and texture. And clear-glass cabinets allow the homeowners to switch up the accent colors with their personal collections.Takeaway: Use a big swath of black for a graphic punch. The size of the island base makes it a powerful modern element.
