Check out these awesome white kitchens...Pics taken from Houzz.

It turns out that "white kitchen" is one of the most sought-after design terms on the internet. Much as I love a white kitchen, there is one word that sums up why one would never function for me: Cabernet. It would leave a pattern of rings all over that gorgeous Carerra marble in my dream white kitchen. However, for those of you who drink and eat only white food and imbibe only clear drinks, this ideabook is for you.

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This is about as all-white as a kitchen can be. With the exception of the floor, these people have totally gone for it.

by Chelsea Atelier Architect, PC  

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White is definitely the way to go if you want an uber-contemporary look. It also makes the space feel larger.

by Elad Gonen & Zeev Beech

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Here the white expanse is broken up only by stainless steel appliances, fruit, drawer pulls and skylights. Because the skylights are the only sources of natural light, this scheme helps brighten the room immensely.

by William V. Noval

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Here the white kitchen lives up to its glamorous potential, thanks to the well-placed chandelier.

by KITCHENS BY DESIGN  

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This mostly-white kitchen has a few vintage touches, like the schoolhouse pendant lights, drawer pulls and Tolix stools, which keeps it from being cold and sterile.

by Rebekah Zaveloff, KitchenLab & Design in a Bag.com  

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Here the same designer used some more fanciful touches, like that fabulous spherical pendant, the S-scroll door pull, the patterned floor and the details on the glass cabinet doors to add personality to a white slate.

by Rebekah Zaveloff, KitchenLab & Design in a Bag.com

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This island's warm brown wood provides the big accent color and texture. It's a wonderful contrast in an otherwise all-white kitchen.

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Here's another great example of a contemporary kitchen with a warm wood accent.

by Elad Gonen & Zeev Beech

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Another way to add some contrast is via the backsplash. This black backsplash underneath the range hood provides depth in this light kitchen.

by Shannon Poe

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White is a great place to start when designing a kitchen. The other colors and textures that stand out against the white background in this kitchen are wonderful—the warm wood dining table, the eclectic chairs, the barstools, the window trim, the beams.

by Abbott Moon  

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I have a sneaking suspicion these counters were picked with Cabernet lovers in mind! This is how we can do a white kitchen!

Step 3 -How Much will it Really Cost?

Once you have figured out the home price range you can afford and the type of mortgage you qualify for, you will need to calculate all of the associated costs of the transaction to make sure you are financially ready.

Upfront Costs

You will need to plan ahead to cover the many up-front costs of buying a home. Timing is important to help make sure things go smoothly.

• Mortgage Loan Insurance Premium. If yours is a high-ratio mortgage (less than 20% down payment), your lender may need mortgage loan insurance. Your lender may add the mortgage insurance premium to your mortgage or ask you to pay it in full upon closing. (Refer to Step 2 for details)
• Appraisal Fee. Your mortgage lender may require that the property be appraised at your expense. An appraisal is an estimate of the value of the home. The cost is usuallybetween $250 and $350 and must be paid when you contract for those services. (Refer to Step 5 for details.)
• Deposit. This is part of your down payment and must be paid when you make an Offer to Purchase. The cost varies depending on the area, but it may be up to 5% of the purchase price. If you wish to make a down payment of 5% and you give a deposit of 5%, then your down payment is considered to be made.
• Down Payment. With mortgage loan insurance from CMHC you can own your home with a minimum down payment of 5%. At least 20% of the purchase price is usually required for a conventional mortgage.
• Estoppel Certificate Fee (does not apply in Quebec). This applies if you are buying a condominium or strata unit and could cost up to $100.
• Home Inspection Fee. CMHC recommends that you make a home inspection a condition of your Offer to Purchase. A home inspection is a report on the condition of the home and generally costs around $500, depending on the complexities of the inspection. For example, it may be more costly to inspect a large home or one where issues such as moisture problems, pyrite, radon gas or urea-formaldehyde are suspected. (Refer to Step 5 for details.)
• Land Registration Fees (sometimes called a Land Transfer Tax, Deed Registration Fee, Tariff or Property Purchases Tax). You may have to pay this provincial or municipal charge upon closing in some provinces and territories. The cost is a percentage of the property’s purchase price and may vary. Check with your lawyer/notary to see what the current rates are.
• Prepaid Property Taxes and/or Utility Bills. To reimburse the vendor for prepaid costs such as property taxes, filling the oil tank and so on.
• Property Insurance. The mortgage lender requires this because the home is security for the mortgage. This insurance covers the cost of replacing your home and its contents. Property insurance must be in place on closing day. (Refer to Step 5 for details.)
• Survey or Certificate of Location Cost. The mortgage lender may ask for an up-to-date survey or certificate of location prior to finalizing the mortgage loan. If the seller does not have one or does not agree to get one, you will have to pay for it yourself. It can cost in the $1,000 to $2,000 range.
• Water Tests. If the home has a well, you will want to have the quality of the water tested to ensure that the water supply is adequate and the water is potable. You can negotiate these costs with the vendor and list them in your Offer to Purchase.
• Septic tank. If the house has a septic tank, it should be checked to make sure it is in good working order. You can negotiate the cost with the vendor and list it in your Offer to Purchase.
• Legal Fees and Disbursements. Must be paid upon closing and cost a minimum of$500 (plus GST/HST).Your lawyer/notary will also bill you direct costs to check on the legal status of your property. (Refer to Step 5 for details.)
• Title Insurance. Your lender or lawyer/notary may suggest title insurance to cover loss caused by defects of title to the property.

If you feel you cannot cover all of the up-front costs, you can ask your lender for a loan. Remember that payment for this loan amount, based on a 12-month repayment period, will have to be included in your Total Debt Service ratio calculation. 

Other Costs

Besides up-front costs, there are other expenses to consider:

1. Appliances. Check to see what comes with the house, if anything.
2. Gardening equipment.
3. Snow-clearing equipment.
4. Window treatments. Check to see what comes with the house.
5. Decorating materials. Paint, wallpaper, flooring and tools for redecorating.
6. Hand tools. You will need some basic hand tools for your new home.
7. Dehumidifier. May be required to control moisture levels, especially in older homes.
8. Moving Expenses.
9. Renovations or Repairs.
10. Service connection fees. Charged for utilities — telephone, gas, electricity, cable TV, satellite TV, Internet and so on. You may be asked to pay a deposit for some utilities.
11. Condominium Fees. You may have to make the initial payment for these monthly fees

Step 2 - Are you Financially Ready?

Net worth: Your financial worth, calculated by subtracting your total liabilities from your total assets. Mortgage: A mortgage is a security for a loan on the property you own. It is repaid in regular mortgage payments, which are usually blended payments. This means that the payment includes the principal (amount borrowed) plus the interest (the charge for borrowing money). The payment may also include a portion of the property taxes. So, you’ve decided that homeownership is right for you. Now you need to determine if you are financially ready to buy a house. In this Step, you will find a number of simple calculations that you can do to evaluate your current financial situation, how much house you can afford and the maximum home price that you should be considering. Test Yourself To avoid any future surprises, you can do some financial exercises to see where you stand. They include calculating your net worth, determining your current monthly expenses and what your current monthly debt payments are. Knowing your net worth is important because you will need this information when you discuss a mortgage with your mortgage professional. Your net worth is the amount left over once you’ve subtracted your total liabilities from your total assets. It will also give you a snapshot of your current financial situation and show you how much you can afford to put as adown payment. Calculate your Net Worth Next, use the tables below to determine your current expenses and debt payments. This will help you see what your actual monthly obligations are and what kind of mortgage paymentyou can comfortably fit into your budget. Calculate your Current Household Budget Monthly Debt Payments

How Much Can You Afford? Now that you have a clear picture of your current financial situation, it's time to find out what you can afford in monthly housing costs. Lenders follow two simple affordability rules to determine how much you can pay. The first affordability rule is that your monthly housing costs shouldn't be more than 32% of your gross household monthly income. Housing costs include monthly mortgage principal and interest, taxes and heating expenses — known as P.I.T.H. for short. For a condominium, P.I.T.H. also includes half of the monthly condominium fees. For leasehold tenure, P.I.T.H. includes the entire annual site lease. Lenders add up these housing costs to determine what percentage they are of your gross monthly income. This figure is known as your Gross Debt Service (GDS) ratio. Remember, it must be 32% or less of your gross household monthly income. The second affordability rule is that your entire monthly debt load shouldn't be more than 40% of your gross monthly income. This includes housing costs and other debts, such as car loans and credit card payments. Lenders add up these debts to determine what percentage they are of your gross household monthly income. This figure is your Total Debt Service (TDS) ratio. Use the table below to calculate your TDS ratio and to determine the monthly housing costs you can afford after making other monthly debt payments Use the table below to calculate your GDS ratio.

Your Maximum Home Price The maximum home price that you can afford depends on a number of factors but the most important are your gross household income, your down payment and the mortgage interest rate. This table gives you an idea of the maximum home price you can afford. Income, Home Price and Down Payment Guide Household Income 5% Down Payment Maximum Home Price 10% Down Payment Maximum Home Price 25% Down Payment Maximum Home Price $25,000 $3,000 $60,000 $6,300 $63,000 $18,900 $75,600 $30,000 $3,900 $78,000 $8,200 $82,000 $24,700 $98,800 $35,000 $4,800 $96,000 $10,100 $101,000 $30,300 $121,200 $40,000 $5,700 $114,000 $12,000 $120,000 $36,000 $144,000 $45,000 $6,600 $132,000 $13,900 $139,000 $41,700 $166,800 $50,000 $7,500 $150,000 $15,800 $158,000 $47,400 $189,600 $60,000 $9,300 $186,000 $19,600 $196,000 $58,800 $235,200 $70,000 $11,050 $221,000 $23,400 $234,000 $70,100 $280,400 $80,000 $12,500 $250,000 $27,200 $272,000 $81,500 $326,000 $90,000 $14,400 $288,000 $31,000 $310,000 $92,800 $371,200 $100,000 $16,275 $325,500 $34,800 $348,000 $104,300 $417,200 Figures are rounded to the nearest $100. The Income, Home Price and Down Payment Guide table assumes a mortgage interest rate of 8%; average tax and heating costs in Canada; and the mortgage an average Canadian would qualify for based on a 32% debt/service ratio. For most people the hardest part of buying a home — especially the first one — is saving the necessary down payment. Many people will not have 20% of the purchase price to put down. With mortgage loan insurance, you can purchase a home with a minimum down payment of 5%. Mortgage loan insurance protects the lender and, by law, most Canadian lending institutions require it. The way it works is if the borrower defaults (fails to pay) on the mortgage, the lender is paid back by the insurer. The cost for this type of insurance is in the form of a premium and can be paid in a single lump sum or it can be added to your mortgage and included in your monthly payments. Most mortgage loan insurance products require homebuyers to provide the down payment from their own resources, such as savings and RRSPs. Gift down payments from immediate relatives are also acceptable. For down payments of less then 10%, CMHC enables lenders to offer homebuyers the flexibility to use additional sources of down payment such as borrowed funds or lender incentives. Financing Required Premium % of Loan Amount Up to and including 65% 0.50 Up to and including 75% 0.65 Up to and including 80% 1.00 Up to and including 85% 1.75 Up to and including 90% 2.00 Up to and including 95%      Traditional Down Payment      Non-traditional Down Payment   2.75 2.90 Extended Amortization Surcharges      Greater than 25 years, up to and including 30 years      Greater than 30 years, up to and including 35 years    0.20 0.40 *Premiums in Ontario and Quebec are subject to provincial sales tax. The provincial sales tax cannot be added to the loan amount. Other important factors to consider when determining your maximum home price are your personal preferences and your calculations from earlier on in Step 2. Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval   Amortization: The period of time required to reduce the mortgage debt to zero when all regular blended payments are made on time and provided the terms (payment and interest rate) remain the same. Interest: The cost of borrowing money. Interest is usually paid to the lender in regular payments along with the repayment of the principal (loan amount). Once you've made the necessary calculations and feel that you are ready to obtain a mortgage, it's a good idea to select a lender to get pre-approved. This means that the lender will look at your finances to establish the amount of mortgage you can afford. At that time, the lender will give you a written confirmation or certificate for a fixed interest rate good for a specific period of time. Some buyers may not wish to pursue a mortgage pre-approval until they have found the home they want to buy. However, having a pre-approved mortgage amount makes the search for your new home much easier and less time-consuming because you have a good price range in mind. Some of the things you will need to have with you the first time you meet with a lender are: Your personal information, including identification such as your driver's license Details on your job, including confirmation of salary in the form of a letter from your employer Your sources of income Information and details on all bank accounts, loans and other debts Proof of financial assets Source and amount of down payment and deposit Proof of source of funds for the closing costs (these are usually between 1.5% and 4% of the purchase price) Principal: The amount that you borrow for a loan. Each monthly mortgage payment consists of a portion of the principal that must be repaid plus the interest that the lender is charging you on the outstanding loan balance. During the early years of your mortgage, the interest portion is usually larger than the principal portion. Mortgage payment: A regularly scheduled payment that is often blended to include both principal and interest. Will You Have Trouble Qualifying for a Mortgage? Your calculations may show that you will have trouble meeting monthly debt payment and that you will likely have trouble getting approved for a mortgage. Here are some things you can do: Pay off some loans first Save for a larger down payment Revise your target house price Other Helpful Strategies Meet with a credit counsellor who can help you minimize your debts. Buy your home through a rent-to-own program provided by the builder, a non-profit sponsor or a government sponsor. Find out about programs through which you can help build your own home. Ask the housing department of your municipality about any special programs available. The Importance of Your Credit Rating Before approving you for a mortgage, lenders will want to see how well you have paid your debts and bills in the past. To do this, they simply get a copy of your credit history (credit report) from a credit bureau. This provides them with information on your financial past and use of credit. Before your lender sees your credit history, you should get a copy for yourself to make sure the information is complete and accurate. Simply contact one of the two main credit-reporting agencies (Equifax Canada Inc. or TransUnion of Canada) to get a copy of your credit report. There is often a fee for this service. Credit report: The main report a lender uses to determine your credit worthiness. It includes information about your ability to handle your debt obligations and your current outstanding obligations. Lack of Credit History If you have no credit history, it is important to start building one by, for example, applying for a standard credit card with good interest rates and terms, making small purchases and paying them as soon as the bill comes in. Fixing a Credit Record If you have bad credit, lenders might not want to give you a mortgage loan until you can re-establish a good credit history by making debt payments regularly and on time. Most unfavourable credit information, including bankruptcy, is dropped from your credit file after seven years. If you have bad credit, you may want to consider credit counselling. Despite your poor credit history, you might still be able to get a mortgage loan if you have a relative such as a family member willing to be a guarantor or co-signer on the loan. This person must meet the lender's borrowing criteria, including good credit history, and is legally obligated to make the mortgage payments if you do not.