
Contemporary Shaker KitchenTransitional Kitchen, Manchester
This bright and light shaker style kitchen is painted in bespoke Tom Howley paint colour; Chicory, the light Ivory Spice granite worktops and Mazzano Tumbled marble flooring create a heightened sense of space.
What Houzz contributors are saying:

Try to enjoy the experienceAim to stay positive throughout. Remi suggests having a decent contingency fund will help to keep stress levels down. “We recommend you ringfence a 20% contingency finance fund, as you’re likely to need it – not necessarily to pay your builder for ‘extras’, but for expenditure that could not have been foreseen, but for which you should be prepared,” he says. “This will help you relax, as you can deal with any issues that arise – and if there are no issues, then you’ll be better off!”Tell us…Have you had a positive experience with builders? How did you help to create a good relationship? Share your tips in the Comments.

How disruptive is it to retrofit lighting?While a small amount of retrofitting is feasible, the consensus from our experts is that lighting is best installed while you’re renovating. “If you’re moving or adding a few downlights, for example, it can be done without much disruption,” Anatoly says. “However, if you’re changing the lighting system altogether, it needs to be done as part of the bigger renovation project, which may cause disruption.”“However, it depends on the project and make-up of the walls, floor and ceiling,” Luke adds. “If walls and ceilings are being replaced or replastered, then rewiring may not be much of an issue.”

Opt for timeless greyA classic choice for your kitchen cabinets is a pale shade of grey. A colour like this is also a great option if you don’t want to overwhelm a space, but crave something more inviting than brilliant white. If you’re worried it might feel bland, layer up different greys as they’ve done here. The designers chose a very pale hue for the outer cabinets and a slightly darker one for the island, which gives an added depth to the room.Discover how to layer shades of grey for depth and harmony

Plump for a pale greyThis kitchen really got Houzzers talking. It was saved more than 280,000 times and can you guess the most frequently asked question? ‘What paint colour did you use for the cabinets?’ Happily, the designer responded to all your queries, providing extra information on everything from the lighting to the worktop material. You can click on the image for more information. In case you’re wondering, the island is painted in Chicory and the cabinets in Meadowsweet, both bespoke colours by Tom Howley.
Tom Howley
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