Painted kitchen for 2017

[theAntsareMyFriends]

I’m so terrible at making decisions so hoping that some Mumsnet wisdom can help me.

I should finally be getting my new kitchen this year after about 3 years of planning. I’m planning on a country kitchen look rather than a modern look. It will probably end up looking a bit homemade and eclectic due to our budget and style but I do want it to look nice and like it all works together.

We will have an l-shaped row of base cabinets and a straight line on one wall of wall cabinets probably with shaker style doors. I’m definitely going with engineered oak floors and a wooden worktop and painted cupboards. I had my heart set on green but after one little comment on a blog about green being passé I’m now all undecided. I’m not really worried about being on-trend/ahead of the curve but don’t want to look dated before I’ve even put it in.

So now I’m undecided on colour. I defintely want a colour rather than white or anything too whiteish (cream, pale beige) and everyone I know has a grey Howdens kitchen so would like to avoid grey. DP mentioned going for blue and I like the idea but can’t seem to find any pictures of a blue painted kitchen that don’t look a bit childish – sort of too ‘baby boys bedroom’ if that makes sense. We prefer the blue/green/grey spectrum rather than orange/yellow/red and, while I know the new trend seems to be very dark painted cabinets, I’d rather avoid anything too dark.

Can anyone suggest any colours or colour combinations that would look good? Any pictures would be also be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[blueskyinmarch]

I have a painted kitchen. I had a local Capri tee make mine so I could have it any colour I wanted. I must have bought every Farrow and Ball sample pot going as I wanted green/ blue. I couldn't really settle on a colour so I went for boring White Tie and did Pavilion Blue on the walls. I have since had it repainted and just went for the same colour but had a dark grey colour under the breakfast bar as it got very dirty. I will go take some pictures in a minute. I have granite tops and a tiled floor though so maybe not the look you are after.

[blueskyinmarch]

Carpenter not Capri tee!

[blueskyinmarch]

Here are some pictures. My brief for the design was modern country kitchen and I absolutely love it. It was exactly what I wanted.

[wowfudge]

Sorry to hijack OP, but what is your flooring bluesky?

[Graceymac]

Have a look on Houzz website for ideas, they have thousands of examples.
Just ensure you get good quality paint. I have a white painted kitchen and a grey island. The kitchen has had to be respected (for free) three times due to the crap quality paint the kitchen maker used.

[Graceymac]

Resprayed!!

[SorrelForbes]

I always mention them but have you looked at Units On-line? We've just bought the Second Nature Fitzroy Painted shaker kitchen from them. It's a smooth painted style but they do others too.

[SorrelForbes]

Meant to say that we've gone for Hartford Blue.

[blueskyinmarch]

They are some sort of Italian ones which are almost indestructible! Can't give you any forger information as I can't actually remember. We brought home about a million samples and having originally thought we wanted black slate we went for these and we have not been disappointed. They are fab. Easy to clean and the dog hair hardly shows up! We have it all through our hall and dining room too

[minipie]

I'd go for a blue/grey. Something like Little Greene Bone China or James. Note these look very grey on the website colour sample but much bluer if you look at the pictures of it actually on a wall.

If you want hand painted cabinets I'd suggest choosing something which is available in oil based eggshell rather than water based - so for example Little Greene, Sanderson and Paint & paper library all do oil based eggshell, F&B don't. Oil based is hardier. You can choose a colour and get it colour matched in oil based but the colour may change a bit.

Don't suppose I can steer you away from a wood worksurface can I? At least not around the sink... nightmare!

[Eclecticmama]

I know you said you don't fancy dark colours, but this is the look I am shamelessly copying trying to emulate. Work starts in two weeks! Joy!

freshome.com/2015/03/12/affordable-handmade-cupboards-for-distinctive-kitchens-by-british-standard/

[daffodilbaby]

we are having our kitchen done and looking at exactly the same colour spectrum - contemplated grey but really prefer blue/green- have you looked at mizzle (a greeny grey), or if going darker, something like oval room blue?

[Graceymac]

I had a timber work surface once. It needs annual maintenance, to be reoiled or it absorbs water and swells up as mine did. House was rented at the time so it wasn't my responsibility to maintain it. It really put me off ever using timber.

[blueskyinmarch]

I went for granite as the kitchen was previously in this house was wooden and it was absolutely ruined by water around the sink and stains. It put me right off wood.

[theAntsareMyFriends]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I didn't expect so many replies so quickly. I'm going to be painting myself (a decision I will probably regret) so was thinking of going with Little Greene as its oil based.

graceymac do you know what paint your builders used. I will avoid as hoping not to have to touch-up too often.

minipie thanks for steering me in the direction of those colours. I would have dismissed them if looking online as they do look quite grey but if they are a bit bluer in real life they might be perfect.

bluesky your kitchen is lovely. Thanks for the pics. Interesting that you were thinking of blue/green too.

That is a lovely kitchen eclecticmama. I don't think I'm quite brave enough but love the style. Good luck with your kitchen build!

daffodil mizzle was high on my list when I was thinking of green. I'm still so tempted to go for green. Oval room blue is nice. That would probably be the darkest I would go but tempted.

Thanks for the recommendation sorrel. I think the Harthford Blue is a bit dark for me but I'm going to have a good look on the site for ideas/colours.

On the timber work surfaces side of things. I had them in the my last house. I got bored with the constant oiling and coated with matt varnish and then never really had problems. The only issue I had was round the sink as turning taps off with wet hands meant there was a regular pool of water in one place which went a bit black. I've got a sink that goes all the way to the back and the tap hole in within the sink so hopefully should solve this problem. I'm not too worried about the lived in look - little scratches and dents are fine although obviously want to avoid full on warping or rotting.

[jumpingcold]

Mizzle is a gorgeous colour. It's green but mainly a blue-green-grey hue - I don't think it's dated yet!!

[minipie]

Yes Mizzle is a kind of duck egg blue. It's very nice. But I'd call it more greeny than bluey personally.

[Graceymac]

I think it was colour trend, the last respray was different paint I am not sure what that was .

[theAntsareMyFriends]

Also, should have said. Any more suggestions greatly appreciated. Its nice to talk to people who are interested in kitchens. DP is more concerned with the plumbing, gas pipes and the practical stuff rather than the look.

Also, any tips on tiles? I know they are a bit contentious and that up-stands and painted walls are the thing at the moment but I don't think you can beat tiles for wipeability so was thinking of at least using them around the sink and in the main food prep area (I have a toddler who loves cooking so splattered walls are a daily occurrence).

[TheKingAndI]

I love this pale blue island, but I have no idea what the colour is unfortunately.

[jumpingcold]

Oh yes mizzle is definitely more green than anything else but it doesn't feel "green" to me. (Although it obviously is green!)

[daffodilssoon]

Have you considered F&B Light Blue 22? Its blue/ green/ grey depending on the light. I have the base units in it with the wall units in Skylight.

[dynevoran]

I'm having green (like the top colour on this pic) but a laminated plywood style not shaker so avoids the country cottage effect. I think this dark green (in the bottom pics) is amazing if you like green and can be bold enough to go dark.

[Jellyshoeshurtmyfeet]

Our units were washed in sugar soap, then we used easy surface primer then F&B Manor House Grey in eggshell. It took days to do it but it looks fab. It also hasn't chipped. My top tip is the primer, it really holds the paint to the doors.

[Beckyt80]

We have a kitchen painted in f&b light blue. It is blue/grey/green depending on the light.