Contemporary white kitchen with rail and stile doors, subway tiles, modern lighting

White cabinetry is enlivened with colorful accessories and sculptural designer light fixtures in this kitchen by interior designer Renae Keller

The island in this kitchen designed by Renae cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, room, gray, white — The island in this kitchen designed by Renae Keller features a square-edged quartz countertop with waterfall sides. The front of the island is painted in the same warm gray shade as the walls.

Convention takes a back seat in this all-white cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, dining room, floor, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray

Sculptural light pendants and bright blue and green countertop, interior design, kitchen, product design, room, gray

Putty-colored subway tiles with a crackle glaze offer countertop, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, white

This kitchen designed by Renae Keller is at countertop, cuisine classique, home, interior design, kitchen, room, gray

A sea-blue F Schumacher and Co wallpaper with chair, dining room, furniture, home, interior design, living room, real estate, room, table, gray

White kitchens are always popular - but they don’t have to be stark and clinical.

White kitchens help to create a crisp, clean look for a family living area. But that's often where any similarity between white kitchens ends.

And the reason is simple white is the perfect backdrop for a variety of color accents that may be introduced through materials, products or accessories.

For example, this family kitchen by designer Renae Keller avoids a sterile, all-white look through the innovative use of color and form. Keller says the kitchen, which is in a new house, needed to have a modern, clean-lined look to complement the contemporary architecture.

"An all-white kitchen would have been too stark, however," the designer says. "So we introduced a subway tile backsplash in a warm putty color, with a crackle glaze. This has a little more of a traditional feel, yet it works with the classic, square-edged design of the cabinetry."

Keller says rail and stile doors on the cabinets also help to soften the look, so it is neither too clinical nor too ornate.

But it is the finishing touches that really raise the kitchen out of the ordinary. Two sculptural LZF light fixtures featuring a ribbon-like wood veneer pigmented in a gray shade are suspended above the island. The dining table is also highlighted by a Bocci pendant light comprising 14 borosilicate glass globes.

"The lighting creates a focal point within the large, open-plan living space, which has 9ft ceilings," says Keller. "The pendants have a round, organic feel that is another nice contrast to the crisp, square lines of the cabinetry."

Bright pops of color also enliven the kitchen. The owners' collection of blue and green ceramic and glass pieces are displayed throughout the space, adding another organic touch.

"Several of these pieces are displayed in a contemporary built-in sideboard, which features a fun wallpaper in a turquoise color with a traditional trellis pattern," says Keller. "The shelves are glass, with white-painted wood edges. The glass enables the light to travel right down through all the shelves."

The designer custom designed an oval dining table with a wood and stainless steel base, and teamed this with Eames moulded plastic dining chairs.

"Again, the softer shape of the oval ensures the table does not compete with the island. It is always about achieving a visual balance."

Functionality is also assured. As well as the ample storage in the kitchen, there is a separate walk-in pantry. Small appliances are hidden from sight in a cabinet to the right of the refrigerator.