Gwyneth Paltrow's textured twist on the classic white kitchen is a design formula that will stand the test of time

Every inch of Gwyneth Paltrow's Montecito mansion is a holistic paradise – created as the actress' 'forever home' by celebrated interior designer Brigette Romanek. Naturally, in a space designed to stand the test of time, the color choices are vital – not least in the most used room of all: the kitchen. 

Academy Award-winning actress Gwyneth may have gained international fame for her roles in Iron Man and Shakespeare in Love – but she is also the figure behind the wellness brand Goop – and with her role comes knowledge of nutritious recipes that she often shares from the space in question.  

Most recently, she shared a glimpse behind her paleo quiche cooking process – seen atop her Monogram Appliances cooker. And while we were inevitably envious of her healthy dinner, we couldn't help but be distracted by her white kitchen backdrop – complete with a fluted wooden fireplace and enviable plate storage ideas. 

'The focal point of our home is always the kitchen. Whether it's a dinner or an afternoon snack for the kids, the happiest moments of the day are centered around food,' Gwyneth says via Instagram. And it's easy to see why she's so attracted to the space. The room offers much to be admired, from the custom benches that pull up to her antique trestle table – to the monochromatic sconces (she chose these lights designed by Allied Maker). 

If we were to pick two stand-out features, however, it would be a running tie between the fluted white millwork and cabinetry – both created by New York designers Roman and Williams.

Gwyneth's kitchen exhibits a mostly-white color palette – but the actress uses pockets of color to interrupt the otherwise seamless scheme. In the case of her cabinetry, she has filled the shelves with blue cutlery from Hermès' Bleus d'Ailleurs collection. 

It's a look that hasn't gone unnoticed by expert Jackie Schagen, who says this way of styling will ensure white kitchens will evolve with time. 

Jackie Schagen

Ontario-based designer Jackie Schagen has worked as an interior designer since 2004. She is known to create functional solutions that are as good-looking as they are functional – drawing from international inspirations and influences that can change how we live our daily lives. 

'White kitchens will always be around – which is why they are timeless. In most cases, the trim in the house is all painted white, so the color will always have a place,' Jackie says. However, while the color will always have its place, the expert says that, like Gwyneth, we need to be careful when adding pieces of color – to avoid going over the top. 

For inspiration, we could look towards cutlery and accessories (as the actress demonstrates) or, in some cases, look to paint some cabinetry a suitable color. 

'Too much of one texture or color can be too much – but adding complementary colors into the space adds sophistication,' Jackie comments.

'How are we doing this? That depends on the space. Sometimes it's a contrasting island to achieve a furniture look. Sometimes, it's the lower cabinets painted in a different tone. Or, sometimes, it will only be a few carefully chosen pieces' – whether through your accessories, kitchen window treatments, or furnishings.

Though we can't all recreate Gwyneth Paltrow's fluted fireplace (or pick up an array of her Hermès plates, sadly) – we can still pick up some similar picks from her kitchen below.