Need help with feature wall in kitchen

9 years ago

We have a recent kitchen extension and it is all painted white which works because we have a wood kitchen painted a soft grey green. However on the dining side of the kitchen the white wall is too boring. Because the dining chairs end up knocking the wall it also looks grubby. We don't know whether to paint the one wall behind the table or maybe paper it. Any ideas? Colours? Papers? All ideas very gratefully received! First photo shows the wall I am talking about (behind the table) . Second photo shows the other side of the room.

Featured Answer

big_gb

9 years ago

use brick slip tiles to form an exposed brick wall..brings the room to life!

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Comments (42)

headers13
9 years ago
Looks lovely where is that kitchen from ? I would resist paper as may mark with the chairs & easier to touch up paint than wallpaper that is a bit shredded in places. What about a pale grey ? Or Farrow & Ball London Stone is nice & would tie in. I can't tell with the light what colour the kitchen is grey or white ?
Matthew Decorator
9 years ago
Paint it
Dark green or bright red
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Rebecca
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks headers13. Good point about the paper. Kitchen is from Kit Stone (we adore it and highly recommend). It is painted a grey-greeny colour and the rest of the walls are white. We thought a grey might work on the feature wall too. Or maybe navy?
LTS
9 years ago
I can't see what shade of green/grey the units are - could you add a closer photo? I'm wondering if olive green would work well? Can i ask how long the kitchen/diner is from the kitchen end to the diner? Just planning ours & thinking of knocking through from kitchen to dining room & ours would be similar to yours. Thanks :)
headers13
9 years ago
I think grey would work not sure about navy.
Rebecca
Original Author
9 years ago
I think you're right headers13 about the navy. I also looked up London stone and think that could work really well - warmer than grey.
SSH - the whole width of the kitchen is about 5.8m. I have attached photos showing the width and also a closer pic of a cabinet for colour (it is Dove Grey which is the standard Kit Stone colour for the Suffolk range of kitchen). Def has a green undertone so olive might work too.
PRO
Home By Design Ltd
9 years ago
I would also recommend using wall tiles that look like wallpaper. We do a Laura Ashley range which is beautiful. That way it's harder wearing wipe clean and definitely a feature :)
LTS
9 years ago
Did you decide on a colour? It's a lovely room. Ours will be slightly shorter at 5.71m but we are wondering if we can use part of the playroom & utility to gain a bit more. But that's a whole new post! LOL.
Rebecca
Original Author
9 years ago
Thinking London Stone might be the way to go. Will post an "after" pic once we find the time to paint it!
minnie101
9 years ago
If you were still thinking of wallpaper a typography one may work well. B and Q do a grey bus tour one. I have also seen similar with types of coffee and food on but can't remember where I saw them at the moment.
Rebecca thanked minnie101
minnie101
9 years ago
Or a large stencil may work. This stencil is about 120cm wide so it livens up a white wall quite well.
Rebecca thanked minnie101
rosmidaroslan
9 years ago
Hi rak5a, I really love the colour of your kitchen cabinet. Do they come in that colour or did you get them painted? I have wooden kitchen units and thinking of painting them, however I'm unsure if I should because they are of good quality, don't want to ruin them. But yours look so good !!
sonnyboy66
9 years ago
Just a suggestion. How would a dado rail look along that section of wall combined with wallpaper. This would protect the paper. Even MDF tongue & groove panels stuck on under the dado to keep the country chic thing going, and painted the same as kitchen cupboards. This would have the effect of making the empty wall space smaller. Then just hang a picture or mirror.
Rebecca thanked sonnyboy66
sonnyboy66
9 years ago
Another thought. The panels under the dado could be made to emulate the Shaker style doors of the kitchen. Some 6mm MDF and 60X12mm batten and Bob's yer mum's bruvver!
Rebecca thanked sonnyboy66
teenytinyhouse
9 years ago
Did you see this story?

https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/decorating-8-ways-to-incorporate-dado-and-picture-rails-stsetivw-vs~34712544

A dado rail could look fabulous, check out the ideas here! And post us an "after" update and picture? :)
Rebecca thanked teenytinyhouse
headers13
9 years ago
where do you get brick slip tiles from Big_gb ?
Rebecca
Original Author
9 years ago
rosmidaroslan - the units came painted but we bought extra paint from Kit Stone/Neptune. It is called Dove Grey and I'm sure you can buy it from them without buying a kitchen. I think a natural wood kitchen could look really fresh painted but you just need to be sure it is done completely properly as it would ruin good cabinets if not. I personally wouldn't have the patience for all that sanding, priming and painting!!
safai
9 years ago
I like it the way it is. If you want a splash of colour, maybe consider a bigger colourful artwork?
Rebecca thanked safai
mrsmcee74
9 years ago
You could go for something with a bit more depth but still keep it in the grey/green family e.g F&B Pigeon.
Rebecca thanked mrsmcee74
Pete Mcanenny
9 years ago
I used some lovely red brick work wall paper on one wall and looks fantastic
Rebecca thanked Pete Mcanenny
ysgf24
9 years ago
Have some fun with it! A huge wall map, a place you love, a beach or mountain scene perhaps? Create a false frame or panel six inches in from floor/ceiling to contain print if you don't want to extend it behind the cupboard. But it must be supersize. Or some brick effect wallpaper, as you obviously like natural textures. A roll of wallpaper doesn't cost much and can be replaced whenever you like or if it does get damaged. Check out wallpaperdirect.com for some ideas. If the room is very light and bright, go with deep indigo or teal paint. Soft grey would perhaps be rather mehhh ... Not striking, and a bit safe
Rebecca thanked ysgf24
Barry Higgs
9 years ago
I like the dado idea with gently washed white or grey vertical match boarding under. Very economic from B & Q and easy to do with concealed fixing. Standard boards are 1 metre long which just makes the panel high enough to absorb the furniture knocks. Try a mural from 1Wall above the dado, they do a very extensive range and are easy to put on.
Rebecca thanked Barry Higgs
kaphili
9 years ago
how about a glass art, have a look at Jo Downs website
Rebecca thanked kaphili
balmsy
9 years ago
I think a wall of framed prints, pictures, keepsakes quirky things would look amazing and interesting viewing things that have meaning to you. Or a set of pictures 4 or 6 with colour to compliment your cupboards.
Rebecca thanked balmsy
cavgirl
9 years ago
If you go for panelling try the easyclick stuff from homebase-not b&q. It gets five star reviews and having put it in my kitchen AND living room, it's fantastic. Complete pain to paint but looks amazing when done and it would fit the aesthetic of your kitchen.
Rebecca thanked cavgirl
whiteleghorn
9 years ago
I like it the way it is. White paint is cheap.
Rebecca thanked whiteleghorn
PRO
Violet & Rose Vintage Emporium
9 years ago
I know what one of the comments were about paper but B&Q do a "paper" that looks like white washed wood and its thicker than normal paper so that might be an idea. I'd love it if I had somewhere like your wall.
Rebecca thanked Violet & Rose Vintage Emporium
balmsy
9 years ago
Hi, I think roman blinds in a complimentary fabric would be lovely to add colour and curtains on the doors. You don't need to close the but they will soften and finish it and give some other colour. My kitchen I'd F&B Elephants breath with very neutral walls so I added blinds with neutral background with birds and birdcages on and some french writing. They look amazing as the bird has the same colour on chest as my cupboards, ties everything together with no bare windows either.
Rebecca thanked balmsy
PRO
User
9 years ago
And I would, first of all, paint the table and chairs the same color as the kitchen cabinets and add some wallpaper on that wall, probably some striped one, maybe something like this... http://www.wallpaperdirect.com/products/albany/refresher-stripe/99614 but with the stripes going horizontally....just a thought :)
Rebecca thanked User
Barry Higgs
9 years ago
1Wall do a mural of white bleached wood which I used horizontally on a feature wall in my dining room to widen it( see my project on Houzz earlier). You could use this, I think it was about £40 and put one real piece of boarding at chair back level to take the knocks.
Rebecca thanked Barry Higgs
LTS
9 years ago
brick slip tiles - is it a wallpaper or similar to make it look like an exposed wall?....off to investigate as have a chimney in the kitchen that this may benefit...
LTS
9 years ago
I didn't say wallpaper. Honest!
Edel Moran
9 years ago
Why not put in a dado/chair rail, which would take the impact of the chairs. Would suggest using 2 different tones of the same colour, darker below.
Rebecca thanked Edel Moran
Emmanuelle
9 years ago
I would put a wallpapered map of the area you live in! You can have it made for the size of your wall £180 ish indicating your post code. Or brick tiles for an industrial look. And what about a striking wallpaper like trees from Cole &son? In any case, you would need a little oak baton on the floor to stop chairs touching the walls! X
Rebecca thanked Emmanuelle
Natalie Davies
9 years ago
I think bold blue of the high chair in the photo would look stunning on that back wall - or perhaps a shade darker of the same tone. It would add a pop of colour the the lovely neutral scheme you already have
Rebecca thanked Natalie Davies
bridgendrd
9 years ago
I love this kitchen. Total kitchen envy!!!
I like the exposed brick idea.
Can I just ask how long the kitchen is front to back? we are rennovating our house & the kitchen planning is driving me mad. This would help me visualise. TIA.
crowningfashion
9 years ago
Wow, you have done a great job already with your kitchen. You have had so many great ideas re. the wall there isn't anything on that I could add. To solve the problem of the chairs hitting the wall I would either opt for a huge floor to ceiling mirror which would encourage one and all to be careful when leaving their seat or my preferred option would be to replace the chairs on that side with a bench. I'd cover the bench in either shabby chic cushions or a deer or sheepskin rug for comfort and I'd play with table decor. Get chair covers for the redundant chairs and use them in the bedrooms - one in each corner. Then for formal dinner parties or for when the table is extended you simply remove the covers and add them to the table and you can still use the bench if the table is extended.
Rebecca thanked crowningfashion
Rebecca
Original Author
9 years ago
Hi bridgendrd, the kitchen is 5.7m wide and 4.65m from the French doors to the entryway of the connecting lounge. You might be able to see the exact floor plan with this Rightmove link (we briefly put it on the market and then couldn't bear to leave!). http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-46735970.html
bridgendrd
9 years ago
Thank you so much for that. I know exactly how I want our kitchen to look (not disimilar to yours) but just can't visualise the size. Our dimensions are about the same I believe. If the kitchen is anything to go by I'm sure it's a beautiful house x
crowningfashion
9 years ago
Now I've seen the room leading to the kitchen diner I would think about picking up a colour from the family room and painting the wall behind the table that colour. I particularly liked the colours in the painting (olive green or grey?)
mrshste
8 years ago
Lovely kitchen/dining room. Can I be super cheeky and ask how much your tall radiator cost? We are looking to get one of those soon for our dining room when we replace the window with French doors.