What are the Top Timeless Finishes for a Kitchen Remodel?

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel, chances are you would like it to look and feel timeless. After all, any renovation is an investment of time and funds — if you’re putting in the effort, it should look good and last as long into the future as possible.

This is precisely why Steve and I are not only committed to helping you find the most timeless and beautiful finishes for your home — we’ve also done the same for ourselves!

I recently shared The Waterfront Renovation, an 80s ranch home that took a beating during Hurricane Ivan back in 2004. We bought it in 2017 and spent the last 2 years restoring it and making it our own. 

Today I want to share our thought process behind the materials and finishes we selected. As we go, I’ll also include some of the information and advice we share with all of our clients when these decisions are being made. 

If you want a timeless kitchen that you’ll love long into the future, this post is for you. 

Timeless Cabinet Finishes

The cabinet finishes were a huge part of the aesthetic of this kitchen. Steve got his start in the home industry as a cabinet installer and fabricator. His in-depth knowledge of materials and construction inspires him to use cabinetry creatively in all of our kitchen designs.

For our kitchen renovation, we used a combination of cabinet finishes to create interest and focal points.  

We chose a natural Knotty Alder on the upper wall cabinets, the drawer base for the cooktop and the sink and center island storage. This gorgeous wood adds texture and an earthy element that we just love.

We paired these with classic white cabinets. White cabinets are always in style, and for us, they provide a clean, open feel to the rest of the kitchen and helped our Knotty Alder pop!

For this kitchen renovation we completed last year, our clients preferred white cabinets for a similarly open and airy feel. We were able to use white in this space because the kitchen gets plenty of natural light, which reflects sunlight. These cabinets also help our clients’ gorgeous backsplash pop!

That said, white doesn’t work in every space. This kitchen had smaller windows and less natural lighting available, so we chose a light grey to help the space visually recede and feel larger. 

Every space is just a bit different, so once we can see yours and hear your preferences, we can find a timeless and winning combination that works. 

Best Countertop Materials for a Kitchen Remodel

Let’s talk about countertops. Personally, Steve and I LOVE natural stone—it is never the same look twice. Nature always puts a twist to the coloration, and we regard the stone as a unique work of art. Any variations of colors within the stone are simply part of the beauty.

When it comes to choosing a stone for your kitchen remodel, there are a lot of options out there. There’s granite, soapstone, quartzite, quartz (which is man-made), marble, even concrete. 

We chose quartzite for our home. It’s a bit on the higher investment end, but that’s because it excels in look and performance. It’s extremely heat resistant, so Steve can set hot pans right down on the stone with no worries. The stone resists staining, scratches, or damage from acids. Plus, it cleans easily and looks incredible! (Some even look like marble.)

The countertop material we chose is called Fantasy Blue Quartzite. We loved the colors of this stone in particular—grays, blue and bronze (a balance of warm and cool)—and we made many of the final color choices based on this stone.

Timeless Kitchen Colors

If you love color but are a little hesitant to “go big” with it, there are plenty of tasteful, timeless hues that won’t be going out of style anytime soon.

Blues and whites are particularly timeless, and if you like blue, it’s usually what we suggest for any fixed elements that will have color. 

In our Waterfront Renovation, we finished our beverage area cabinets in Sherwin Williams “Naval” — another personal favorite of mine. I love how it’s a deep, soothing color but isn’t too bright. 

Paired with the warm, rich tones of the Knotty Alder, the navy looks timelessly classic but far from boring. 

However, if accent colors aren’t your cup of tea, you can always stick to neutrals (like grays or beiges) and introduce other colors through accessories. Then you can swap them out with the seasons or as your preferences change. 

For this kitchen renovation, our clients preferred a neutral palette of soothing white and gray. The varying shades in the backsplash and countertop add texture and interest, and we used a floral patterned valance to add a splash of color. Our clients could easily swap out the valance for a different colorful pattern whenever they choose!

Timeless Backsplashes

When it comes to backsplashes, there are two ways to proceed. One is classic and unassuming, so that the rest of the kitchen really stands out. The other is to create a focal point.

In our home, we wanted to go the unassuming route, with white subway tile that is clean, simple, and timeless. It doesn’t compete with the movement of the stone countertops or the variations of color in the cabinets. And in fact, keeping it white helps the veins of the quartzite and the Knotty Alder stand out!

The beverage center of this kitchen takes the other approach, with a backsplash that grabs your attention and looks stunning! This is a fun take on marble mosaic tiles in a timeless herringbone layout. It’s very different from the white subway tile, but equally effective. 

As you can see from each of these finishes I’ve shared, there is no one right finish. There are several options for achieving a timeless look that you personally love. Part of our process at CKD is discovering which colors, materials, and finishes resonate most with you and will work for how you and your family use the space. In other words, it’s personal!

If you’ve been dreaming of a kitchen remodel that feels timeless, effortless, and blissfully fresh, and you’re ready to take action on it, let’s chat. 

If not, be sure to grab our complementary guide below for the 9 Essential Steps You’ll Need to Prepare for Your Kitchen Renovation. It will help you plan a little bit more for when that exciting day comes!

Until then, stay well and dream big,
Sarah