Colour and Finish Options For Your Kitchen

Green Kitchen Design Trends: Timeless Elegance with a Luxurious Touch

Green kitchens are taking centre stage in design trends, offering a versatile palette that bridges classic charm with contemporary style. Shades of green—ranging from soft, muted tones to rich, dramatic hues—are perfect for creating a connection between your home and the natural world. At The Essex Kitchen Design Company, we’ve seen a surge in popularity for green-painted shaker and shaker in-frame kitchens, showcasing their enduring appeal in both traditional and modern interiors.

For a fresh and tranquil aesthetic, consider greens like “Breakfast Room Green” by Farrow & Ball or “Sage Green” by Little Greene, which bring a subtle, calming energy to your kitchen. Alternatively, deeper tones such as Farrow & Ball’s “Green Smoke” or Little Greene’s “Mid Azure Green” add drama and sophistication, making a striking statement when paired with shaker in-frame cabinetry. These hand-painted finishes highlight the craftsmanship of bespoke designs, ensuring a refined and luxurious look.

Pair green cabinetry with natural materials like marble-effect quartz or oak worktops for added warmth and texture. Complement the look with antique brass or brushed gold hardware to elevate the richness of the palette. A green kitchen, enhanced with premium paints from Farrow & Ball or Little Greene, is both timeless and on-trend, offering a sophisticated focal point for your home.

 

Embracing Corten Steel, Copper, and Slate Textured Doors in Contemporary Kitchen Design

Textured doors are transforming contemporary kitchen design, offering a bold yet refined way to introduce depth, character, and individuality. Materials like corten steel, copper, and slate have become standout options for those seeking a modern, industrial-inspired aesthetic. At The Essex Kitchen Design Company, we love incorporating these finishes into bespoke designs, as they blend cutting-edge style with practical durability.

Corten steel doors deliver a striking, industrial edge, with their distinctive rust-like patina and warm, earthy undertones. They pair beautifully with concrete-effect worktops and black or anthracite accents, creating a dramatic yet balanced look. Copper-textured doors bring a touch of sophistication and opulence to a kitchen, offering a warm metallic finish that works seamlessly with natural woodgrain cabinetry or brushed brass fixtures. For a more understated and grounded approach, slate-textured doors provide an organic, tactile quality, evoking the rugged elegance of stone surfaces. Their neutral tones make them incredibly versatile, complementing a wide range of palettes and materials.

These textured finishes work particularly well in handleless cabinetry designs, enhancing their minimalist appeal while adding dynamic visual interest. Whether used across an entire kitchen or as a feature on an island or tall bank, corten steel, copper, and slate doors elevate contemporary kitchens, making them uniquely stylish and functional.

 

Grey Kitchen Design Trends: Timeless Elegance with a Modern Twist

Grey kitchens continue to dominate interior design trends, offering a sophisticated and versatile palette that suits both traditional and contemporary styles. At The Essex Kitchen Design Company, we’ve seen an increasing demand for shaker painted and shaker in-frame kitchens in beautiful grey tones, combining classic craftsmanship with modern refinement.

Farrow & Ball’s “Cornforth White” and “Pavilion Gray” are timeless choices for shaker painted kitchens, providing a soft, neutral foundation that complements a variety of worktop materials, from marble-effect quartz to natural wood. For those seeking a more dramatic and contemporary look, Little Greene’s “Dark Lead Colour” or “Urbane Grey” deliver a bold, grounding effect that pairs beautifully with brass or matte black hardware.

Shaker in-frame kitchens are ideal for showcasing these luxurious finishes, as the hand-painted detailing enhances their depth and texture. Whether you choose light grey for a fresh, airy feel or deep charcoal for a striking, elegant statement, grey tones are remarkably adaptable.

To complete the look, consider layering textures such as polished tiles, natural stone flooring, or brushed metallic accents. Grey kitchens are not only timeless but also offer endless design possibilities, making them a stylish and enduring choice for any home.

 

Two-Tone Kitchen Design Trends: A Stylish Approach to Modern and Traditional Kitchens

Two-tone kitchens are a timeless design trend that continues to grow in popularity, offering the perfect blend of contrast and harmony. At The Essex Kitchen Design Company, we find two-tone colour schemes work beautifully in shaker painted and shaker in-frame kitchens, allowing homeowners to combine traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary flair.

For a light and airy look, pairing soft shades like Farrow & Ball’s “Cornforth White” for upper cabinets with Little Greene’s “French Grey Mid” on lower cabinetry creates a subtle contrast while maintaining an elegant, cohesive aesthetic. This combination works particularly well in smaller kitchens, as it enhances the sense of space and brightness.

For a more dramatic and sophisticated design, consider deeper tones for the base cabinets, such as Farrow & Ball’s “Hague Blue” or Little Greene’s “Obsidian Green”, complemented by lighter hues like “Ammonite” or “Slaked Lime” on the upper cabinetry. The dark tones ground the design, while the lighter shades keep the space balanced and welcoming.

Two-tone kitchens also lend themselves to adding depth to shaker in-frame cabinetry, as the contrasting tones highlight the detailed craftsmanship. Paired with brushed brass or matte black hardware, this design trend brings elegance and personality to both traditional and contemporary homes.

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