I looked at this very kitchen but instead went for the Wren equivalent which is also timber framed....the designer range Shaker kitchen. My builder commented how it was more solidly constructed than the Howden kitchen and it came ready to fit (not flat pack) so was easy to install. Pic below. The island is green but the rest is off white. They will match or better any other quote. Their designs were also better than Howdens.

As a professional decorator, most durable paints will perform well. The anti-bacterial I wouldn't worry too much about. Any durable will wash down well. I wouldn't bother with Farrow and Ball, too expensive for what it is. I work for an interior designer from time and that's all they use. Clever marketing for very average paint. I use Tikkurila Optiva 5 or Optiva 3 ceramic for proper durables in kitchens and bathrooms. Just beware that water based paints take up to a month to fully cure. So if you get any marks, do not rub off until the month is up. Off the shelf retail purchase use v700 Valspar premium range or Dulux Easycare.

Would be good to see a photo the kitchen units and doors but as a general rule of thumb when painting kitchen cabinets is not to skip on the prep. Thoroughly clean and degrease the surfaces with sugar soap first then rinse off with lint free cloth and warm water. If the doors are wood are they waxed? unlikely in a kitchen but you can test by scraping with your fingernail, if so then they’ll need a rub with methylated spirits in the direction of the grain to fetch the wax off then rinse with wet cloth. Wooden doors can be sanded but I don’t think melamine and foil veneers can in which case I’d use a special primer. Zinsser bullseye 123 is water based and good all rounder but for bare or sanded wood I’d go for a shellac primer such as Zinsser BIN. Use a good quality synthetic brush and microfibre roller for water based paints and natural bristle brush and foam roller for oil based paints. Out of interest I priced up the difference between one of the fancy furniture paints and others. So for example let’s say you need 2.5litre of your chosen colour and finish plus primer and prep. Fusion mineral paints which I believe are very good but I’ve never tested them, recommend using there TSP for cleaning £10 approx, Ultra grip 500ml £18.95, and 2.5 litre of paint is a whopping £109.95. Total £138.90. For oil based finish, sugar soap £1.99, Zinsser BIN 2.5lt £39.99, Little Greene eggshell 2.5lt £67.00. Total £108.98. For water based (less smelly), sugar soap £1.99, Zinsser bullseye 123 2.5lt £27.99, Little Greene or F&B water based eggshell 2.5lt £64. Total £93.98 Of course there are different brands and a trade decorating centre can mix colours to whatever you want and recommend what paints and prep to use but hope this helps a little. X P.S. don’t use chalk paint unless you’re after the shabby chic look. Unsure on colour advice but Slaked Lime gets my vote too👍.

Thanks to everyone who made suggestions and gave advice here, and sorry for the massive delay (baby, building site, 9 weeks...we're finally home!). I actually took the risk and painted after further research on good tile paint, and after every stockist in the UK of those bar/finger tiles sold out with a massive backlog and months to wait (yes, I should have ordered at the time). So I thought I'd share the before and after and the paint I used... I bought the rather naff coloured tile from Tiles Direct for £3.99 sqm, painted with V33 wall tile and panelling paint using a mohair roller. It took 4 coats but the result is great (I think) and although there were times I was like 'ugh, why didn't I just order the damn white ones', it did come out well for a fraction of the cost, and at the right time without waiting for deliveries in to the UK. The finish is matt and quite 'acrylicy' and tough, if that's even a thing, apparently all good with kitchens, heat, water etc. so easy to clean and robust. On a totally separate note, we used engineered cork flooring and they are FAB, would highly recommend and designed for kitchens and bathrooms. Got them from www.corkflooring.co.uk Bear with the work in progress of the photos, and sadly the only delay we did suffer was to our worktops, which are thankfully being delivered this week... Before... After... In situ...