what is your best timeless colour for kitchen cabinets

8 years ago

picking kitchen ....ammoinite is a little to grey for me ... i like creams but cant get light worktop to match .......fancy railings or moles breath for island but light for rest of kitchen ....help please so undecided and kitchen place wants it picked as its only 5 weeks to intall date

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sb99

8 years ago

Hi Michelle

I really feel for you, going through the same process myself!

Strong white will be easy to live with, a very light grey. The kitchen below (not mine!) is strong white cabinets with a Purbeck stone island. The worktop is silestone lagoon. Personally I think cornforth white doesn't create enough contrast so for me Purbeck stone would be the minimum. I sought advice from farrow and ball and they also say that paint in eggshell comes up very slightly lighter than emulsion tester pots.

Clearly moles breath or railings would give much greater contrast. If these contrasts are too strong for you (after much though I realise that they are for me), F&B also suggested Lamp Room Gray - it's grey with a hint of blue, easy to live with but more contrast that Purbeck.

What flooring are you having? I think pale kitchens can look really great teamed with the warmth offered by wood, as in this kitchen, or warmer toned floor tiles.

However if you feel comfortable with strong white and cornforth, then you should probably go with your gut feeling - look at any pics you've saved and try to see if there is a common theme of what you like - you can then paint the surrounding wall in a darker colour to create more drama - easier and cheaper to change in the future. Or add darker tones in pendant lights or bar stools or fabrics.

Good luck with your decision. So hard isn't it.

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Comments (26)

house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
Strong white it is. Do u think cornforth is enough of a contrast for island ??
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minnie101
8 years ago
Hi michelle. I agree with sb99 re cornforth if you look at it painted on kitchen cabinets, I don't think you'll see much contrast. Have you thought of plummet or Manor House gray? (I also love the purbeck). Or if you want something fairly light maybe have a look at little greene inox. Have you gone off of the railings or are you worried it will date or make the room dark? Are you after a more pure grey as Little Greene also have some lovely greys with a blue undertone. Have you bought any testers yet as that may make your mind up!
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you for coming to my aid !
I love the kitchen in that pic. That's perfect everything from floor to doors .. Island. Is the island purpeck ? Yes testers every were ha. Lagoon is working out £1000 dearer than any other. But I do love it :(. Again great advise. Railings might be hard to keep clean ... Finger prints etc. ??
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
That's skimming stone ... But to cream as I want white tops. Other door is ammonite. I think I love strong white...... Easy to live with in west room ......
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
Tho I love this island but mine only 1.1 x2.1 metres. Might be to small to be dark as railings x
sb99
8 years ago
Yes, the island in the picture is Purbeck stone, other units were strong white
mrsmcee74
8 years ago
I recently saw a kitchen painted in F&B Dove Tail and it was absolutely gorgeous. I think it would work really well with the strong white units, there's a bit of a lilac undertone but it adds warmth. It would give a greater contrast than some of the other colours you've mentioned - there's a danger of the difference in colour being not particularly noticeable if you go too light. Otherwise I think Minnie's suggestion of Plummet is a good one.
house mad thanked mrsmcee74
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
What colour would go on walls then ? I'm trying to keep it so I can have any colour x
sb99
8 years ago
if you want to keep the wall colour open, then I would go for light cabinets (off white, light grey), with a darker floor or darker work tops - I think you'll need some darker tones somewhere otherwise the room will look too bland. Unfortunately once you start adding colour to units you're obviously limiting wall colour, not that that is a bad thing.

I think you need to go with what feels right to you, as fashions come and go. If you really like it then its likely to be in keeping with the rest of your home and you're more likely to still like it in years to come.
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
Think your right. Strong white on main kitchen and railings on island. Lagoon tops. Means I'm not restricted to wall colour.
Thank you. You have been great help.
Monica
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hi Michelle Roe, late to the party but I wanted to say I love railings paired with strong white so I think you will be pleased. It's going to be a fabulous kitchen cannot wait to see more pictures :)

Sb99 hello to you as well :), I hope you don't mind me mithering you, I saw one of your mood boards on one other thread and wondered what make was the textured wall covering (at least I think that's what it was sort of bubbles on beige/taupe colour way? Thank you
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you. Can wait to see it. X
sb99
8 years ago
Hi Monica

I don't mind at all :) It's wallpaper by Harlequin called Anthology 1 Coral 110766 (rose quartz - but isn't pink!!) It's got a slight raised texture in parts that catches the light. The background is taupy. I am planning on using it for part of a north facing sitting room to add interest and a bit of warmth too. I've seen it on a wall and it isn't busy when seen on mass.

I will use it with F&B Ammonite or F&B Skimming Stone.

It comes in different colourways too.

https://www.harlequin.uk.com/shop/wallpaper/anthology-01/coral/?code=EREE110766I
Monica
8 years ago
You are very kind thank you, I really appreciate it :) I will order a sample as scale might be a bit small for what I want. :)
LTS
8 years ago
I've just painted skimming stone on cardboard and 2 places in the kitchen for ideas for my cabinets. It's amazing how much the colour changes depending on the light. Like it by the window but feel it's too dark on the far wall. Have been looking at Lagoon work top too.
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
Can u post pick please
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
I feel the skimming stone is to creamy for lagoon as lagoon has lot of grey ?? What's others fews??
Victoria
8 years ago
When I was choosing colours it became apparent that paint on paper or card is not at all close to the finished colour on a cabinet. It's really worth trying to get an off cut or panel to try colours out on. Also paint looks different on vertical surfaces from horizontal ones.
charlie_bill
8 years ago
House mad - what did you do in the end?
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
Cornforth white and stuffy blue.
I love it. It changes with light.
charlie_bill
8 years ago
Oh it's lovely - what worktops did you go with in the end?
house mad
Original Author
8 years ago
Silestone White. Love it. Very plain X
PRO
Caldicot Kitchen & Bathroom Centre
8 years ago
Pumice and Duck Egg Blues are timeless. Personally I love some of the darker grey-blue tones which are so popular at the moment and, I'm sure, will stand the test of time.

Remember colour is a curious and complex thing. A swatch will never really do it justice, and one colour will look very different depending on how matte/glossy it is. The same paint will also look very different depending on the surface it is painted on! And the choice of colours/textures used in worktops and accessories can also change the whole feel of a colour scheme without changing unit colours.

John @ Caldicot Kitchen & Bathroom Centre
Michelle
8 years ago
Housemad, is this stiff key blue? Have you photos in any other light? I think railings is too dark for me.
Michelle
8 years ago
Your layout is quite like mine

what is your best timeless colour for kitchen cabinets

sb99

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