Leamington Spa KitchenTraditional Kitchen, West Midlands
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Showcase an islandIf you’re looking for an unusual colour to highlight your kitchen island, but want a subtle feel, try lavender. The large unit in the centre of this kitchen is painted in a soft, yet bold shade of mauve that separates it from the white perimeter units and tones beautifully with the wooden shelves.
The colour: PurpleWhy it’s a contender: It’s on trend for 2018Pantone, standards provider to the design industry, picked Ultra Violet, aka PANTONE 18-3838, as its colour of the year for 2018. Set that alongside its recent unveiling of a standardised purple to represent rock icon Prince, and you can be sure this shade is going to be a big deal next year. Ultra Violet is a purple as punchy as they come, but it’s not to everyone’s taste, so how about a softer take on the colour as shown here? It’s a complement to grey – check out the splashback tiles – so you could introduce it to update a painted kitchen without having to change every element of your scheme. Alternatively, follow this example and use it to differentiate an island from the surrounding cabinetry.
This island also stands apart from its neutral kitchen partner. A dark lavender (this is Farrow & Ball’s Brassica) is a sophisticated companion for the divider between cooking and eating zones.
Consider refreshing tilesYou can give old tiles a new lease of life with specialist tile paint. The result won’t be as tough as the original surface, so treat it with care. “Expect slightly less and treat the tiles more gently,” advises Shillingford. Your tiles may be greasy or dirty, so give them a good clean before you start painting. Lesicki suggests using mould cleaner and sugar soap.
Inject extra colourInteriors decorated in neutral hues, such as white, black, cream and grey, are ever popular, but these days we’re becoming braver with colour. You may hesitate to go overboard with bright and vibrant kitchen cabinetry, but muted shades, such as the lilac used here, can be just as striking. Or you can simply opt for bright accessories to create dashes of colour.Discover how to be inventive with colour
What Houzz users are commenting on:
Island lighting 32” above counter. Three too many?
Christopher Peters Kitchens and Interiors