06 Aug 19

Colourful kitchens

I think we are all agreed that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Just consider how much time we spend it and how no matter how lovely all the other rooms in your home are, whenever you have people over, they always flock around the kitchen like bee’s around a honey pot! However, anyone who has renovated a property knows, that when it comes to a complete kitchen refit, the cost can be it can be eye-watering. So, here’s the thing. If you are going to spend a massive wedge of your budget, on the room that you and your family use the most, wouldn’t you really want to smash it out of the park in terms of the design? Surely you’d really want to invest the time and energy to really investigate how you want the room to look and feel. And I know only too well that the most powerful way to get the good feel vibes in your home is through colour! Sure you want to be 100% confident that you are making a choice you are going to love for a significant time but it really doesn’t have to be forever. And no one really loves white or grey or cream forever anyway, so stop right there if you are thinking that that’s the safe option!

The fabulous kitchen in the home of illustrator Jennie Maizels. Made by John Lewis of Hungerford, Jenny chose all her cupboard colours

Good news is that coloured kitchens have never been more fashionable and easy to choose from as there are lots of companies offering bespoke designs so you can literally choose any colour your heart desires. But the DIY sheds are keeping up too. Howdens do their classic shaker Burford range in a paintable finish, meaning you can choose whatever colour you like, just tat you need to paint it yourself. Which I’d urge is well worth experimenting with! Kitchen giants like Ikea have a selection of greens and blues to choose from when it comes to door fronts, which proves that these colours have been widely accepted when it comes to investing in colour in the kitchen. You can also get door fronts that fit Ikea carcases from a growing number of companies. The image at the top of this post is by Plykea who supply plywood doors and worktops for Ikea kitchens in a wide choice of colourful finishes. A great affordable way to update and add a splash of colour.

My kitchen is a Howdens carcass with bespoke door fronts made by our carpenter. I had them painted in Hunters Green by Zoffany and bought the handles off the internet

In my country kitchen, we fitted a bog-standard Howdens kitchen and had the door fronts made bespoke by our carpenter. I then painted them in my choice of colour, which was Huntsmans green by Zoffany. I like a painted door front, as it means if I change my mind in the future, it’s not hard to repaint them in a new colour or replace the door fronts again. You might even be able to paint your existing kitchen units. If you have laminate doors, you can prep them with Zinsser 123 primer, and then use an acrylic eggshell on top.

The ever-so chic new deVOL Bond Street kitchen, as seen in the New York showroom

Synonymous with luxury, bespoke kitchen design company deVOL know a thing or two about creating the perfect made to measure kitchen. The simplicity and elegance of their designs will stand the test of time, but they don’t have to be in bland beige or neutral tones. I love the combination of the bold pink wall cupboards that really pops out against the varying tones of green in the wall tiles and deep base units all set off by the quirky little yellow chair.

A modern colour block kitchen design by Extreme

As we know interior design trends come and go and whilst you can interpret them into kitchen design it is a major investment, so if you are a fan of a recent trend, think about the elements that resonate with you and have fun incorporating these in your kitchen design. I love this graphic door front mural by Extreme which I think would work particularly well in a small kitchen, where it’s hard to get the design elements and personality elsewhere.

The Pluck installation for Clerkenwell Design Week

If you want an up to the minute, contemporary look then new brand on the block Pluck is worth checking out. They offer fuss-free designs featuring clean lines and a multitude of interesting surfaces and finishes to choose from. A kid in a sweetie shop springs to mind! I’m loving the yellow and lilac combination here which feels deliciously retro.

The sleek handle-less detail highlights the Long Acre by Naked Kitchens

It’s not all just about the colour on cabinets. It’s worth experimenting with worktops and splashbacks too. You can add so much depth and interest with different surfaces, from tiles, laminates to metals. I’m a fan of the simple yet sleek designs from Naked Kitchens who often dream up beautiful combinations of materials. I like the fact that in terms of door fronts it’s still a very bespoke service and you can specify the exact colour to go with their off the shelf carcasses.

So no excuse, whatever your budget you can inject some colour, style and personality and truly make your kitchen the most fashionable in the house!

CREDITS: Words by Sophie Robinson. Research and picture sourcing by Luisa Ferdenzi-Rouse