With knowledge and expertise of creating bespoke, handmade kitchens for more than 20 years, we got the inside scoop from Jayne at Eternal Kitchens on the latest trends, the importance of balanced colour and how your kitchen can have a complete make-over with just a few simple furnishing finishes.
“The colour grey in both interiors and more specifically the kitchen is definitely still bang on trend and here to stay for the foreseeable future. I think the reason for its appeal and longevity can be found in the key words that designers use to describe the colour grey; elegance, humility, respect, stability and wisdom. All these words evoke a sense of calm and wellbeing which we would all welcome in our homes.
The first thing any interior designer will understand is the importance of colour. The right choice of colour is a vital element of any interior design project. When choosing a colour scheme for your home or kitchen it is important to consider how all the colours and their shades you use complement each other – from the kitchen cabinets, work surfaces, to flooring and furnishings. This is another reason why grey is so versatile, it goes with pretty much any colour. This, I believe, is in part due to the fact that wonderful shades of grey are derived from mixing the three primary colours of red, yellow and blue.
Grey falls into the ‘neutral’ colour category, making it’s shades easy to be mixed and matched. The right shade of grey can add drama to a room, but it can also be laid back, cool and subtle”.
Selecting the right ‘grey’
“Your choice of grey should depend on the space you are working with. Be sure to consider the effect of natural and artificial light carefully. It’s a good idea to paint large sample boards which can be placed in the chosen space so you can observe how the colour changes at different stages of the day and night”.
Freshen up the kitchen
“If you didn’t want to replace the whole kitchen, there are lots of ways you could introduce grey into your kitchen. You could start with painting the walls in a shade that compliments the existing kitchen. A very ‘pretty’ soft grey that we often work with is Farrow & Ball ‘Cornforth White’ or for more impact or use on a feature wall you could try Farrow & Ball ‘Worsted’”.
Make a statement
“For more of a bold new look, why not invest in a new floor for your kitchen. There is an abundance of ‘grey’ options; everything from natural stone to vinyl. Alternatively, grab the latest trend with two hands and consider one of the many graphic design tiles on the market”.
Accessorising with grey
“For minimal effort with maximum impact, how about exploring beautiful grey accessories available on the market to give your kitchen a new feel. From tea towels to crockery, placemats to work-top appliances, grey is a particularly popular tone when it comes to kitchen furnishings. Although you must always keep your shades in mind, accessorising allows you to incorporate a wide range of shades into your kitchen”.