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Original poster

What do you think of this kitchen? Would you prefer darker?

92 replies

Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 11:39

Just that really, dp prefers dark and wants to change doors and worktops…I think if we change handles it might be fine.i love the idea of dark too, but i like the bright and airy feel too so im a bit torn. But obviously we both need to be happy. Just looking for opinions. Thank you.

What do you think of this kitchen? Would you prefer darker?
What do you think of this kitchen? Would you prefer darker?
OP posts:
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7
Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 14:39

ifIwerenotanandroid · 11/05/2025 14:16

OK, that does look nice. It also looks twice as big as yours - gotta love those estate agent/developer photographs!

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Yes they really know the good angles 🤣😅

OP posts:
ghani735 · 11/05/2025 14:35

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AnchorWHAT · 11/05/2025 14:24

This is my choice

What do you think of this kitchen? Would you prefer darker?
TheSandgroper · 11/05/2025 14:20

Haven’t read the full thread. Your colour is similar to mine. I chose it because with an 8 x 8m verandah outside, I need to make the most of every skerrick of light that comes in the window.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 11/05/2025 14:16

Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:25

The third picture I posted of the kitchen I like is the exact same house, ❤️

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OK, that does look nice. It also looks twice as big as yours - gotta love those estate agent/developer photographs!

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:38

Embarrassinglyuseless · 11/05/2025 13:36

Warm it up with as much natural material as possible. Before changing anything expensive I would…

add a big wooden butchers block and planter to the peninsula

paint the walls with a warm darker - but not super dark colour - an apple toned medium green maybe.

replace that extremely sterile over head bulb with a nice brass light fitting - look at the pooky website - maybe one of their ceramic ‘ted’ shades with a brass rise and fall light fitting.

change the handles for a brass - something that feels touchable and will patina with age nicely.

no floor laid yet - hopefully either a warm stone or wood? That will lift things a lot. Add a rug or two - local Auctions and second hand furniture shops often have super cheap wool rugs that will stand a thrice weekly hoovering (and feel nice underfoot when cooking)

wooden or rattan bar stools

I won’t be able to do any of that until the house is complete unfortunately so if I finish and decorate and don’t like it, the it will cost me more to get the company back, the house is still not complete, still has bathroom tiling to do and snag list

OP posts:
Embarrassinglyuseless · 11/05/2025 13:36

Warm it up with as much natural material as possible. Before changing anything expensive I would…

add a big wooden butchers block and planter to the peninsula

paint the walls with a warm darker - but not super dark colour - an apple toned medium green maybe.

replace that extremely sterile over head bulb with a nice brass light fitting - look at the pooky website - maybe one of their ceramic ‘ted’ shades with a brass rise and fall light fitting.

change the handles for a brass - something that feels touchable and will patina with age nicely.

no floor laid yet - hopefully either a warm stone or wood? That will lift things a lot. Add a rug or two - local Auctions and second hand furniture shops often have super cheap wool rugs that will stand a thrice weekly hoovering (and feel nice underfoot when cooking)

wooden or rattan bar stools

intrepidpanda · 11/05/2025 13:35

Are you renting it out?
Looks like a cheap white makeover that people do on homes under the hammer for the rental market.

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:35

TheSilentSister · 11/05/2025 13:34

It's all too white/surgical, every thing.
I've got dark green doors and white marble tops with very pale green walls and a black sink. Floor tiles are a mottled green/stone/grey colour.
I used a company who fit new doors to the existing units and the tops are fitted over the existing ones - you'd never tell. Lot less upheaval and expense than stripping the whole kitchen out.

Yes we’re sticking with the same comps they will just replace doors and worktops and then they will put the hob in on the bar area too.

OP posts:
TheSilentSister · 11/05/2025 13:34

It's all too white/surgical, every thing.
I've got dark green doors and white marble tops with very pale green walls and a black sink. Floor tiles are a mottled green/stone/grey colour.
I used a company who fit new doors to the existing units and the tops are fitted over the existing ones - you'd never tell. Lot less upheaval and expense than stripping the whole kitchen out.

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:33

Although the black sink is already there…😅 so that would be another expense if we changed that.

OP posts:
Hocuspocus99 · 11/05/2025 13:32

Black sinks tend to fade in patches. Just think you will tend to hate it after a year or so .

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:32

Thanks all for the options on sinks…dp seems set on black so I may have to work on that 🤣

OP posts:
CromartyForth · 11/05/2025 13:28

@Pandimoanymum is 100% correct. Do not have dark worktops!

anonymousanonymouse · 11/05/2025 13:26

Paint the walls dark as they’re easier to change!

autumn1610 · 11/05/2025 13:26

Don’t do a black sink my biggest regret it Marks so bad! I’m in a soft water area so it does not have an effect! It’s an absolute nightmare but looks nice from a distance! If it’s a new build I would leave it till your fully settled in and maybe paint it dark and change the work tops. Personally I like the handles but I like brass. The style you linked is very overdone and imagine it’s on its way out, just like super white ones a few years ago

Fimat · 11/05/2025 13:26

Another option would be for black peninsula and white cabinets?

What do you think of this kitchen? Would you prefer darker?
Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:25

ifIwerenotanandroid · 11/05/2025 13:21

But no window or patio doors in the actual kitchen?

Perhaps you could see the effect of darkening the units by draping farbic, e.g. a dark duvet cover or sheets over them, & see if you like it. Or try digital manipulation of your photos. I think you could turn that space gloomy very easily.

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The third picture I posted of the kitchen I like is the exact same house, ❤️

OP posts:
Gustavo77 · 11/05/2025 13:23

Ah I'm sorry I missed that bit. I'd probably go for something fairly neutral in that case and use accents to change it up. I have a sun room off my kitchen too and we're south facing so it's bright. Whatever units and decor you go for, you can graduate a change through to the other spaces. You don't need to use the same wall colours in the whole area, there is a natural divide by the look of your picture so your kitchen can have one colour scheme and change it into something that compliments it as you go forward to the living space. 😊

Historyofwolves · 11/05/2025 13:22

Black is going to date so badly IMO and include black taps in that. You will instantly be able to tell that a bathroom or kitchen and was put in between 2021 and 2026. They're the next copper pineapple IMO!

Keep it light, airy and classic.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 11/05/2025 13:21

Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:14

There’s actually lots of natural light which is why it throws me, it’s just a bad photo. There’s double doors to the right of where I’m stood in the full pic and a sunroom room to the right of me in the second pic

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But no window or patio doors in the actual kitchen?

Perhaps you could see the effect of darkening the units by draping farbic, e.g. a dark duvet cover or sheets over them, & see if you like it. Or try digital manipulation of your photos. I think you could turn that space gloomy very easily.

Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:18

Aria999 · 11/05/2025 13:16

Personally I like real wood cabinets though they're not very fashionable at the moment. They look beautiful with a white stone countertop. It would be cheaper to change or paint the cupboard doors than to replace the work surface.

My last two house have had all wood…I just can’t do it, I’m traumatised 🤣🤣

OP posts:
Original poster
Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 13:16

Gustavo77 · 11/05/2025 13:15

There are actually loads of differently coloured kitchens out there. Navy cupboards are quite common but nowhere near as common as the dark grey, I honestly dream about them I see them so often 🤯😄

Have a look a look at The Kitchen Depot website for ideas, they might not be close to you although I think they might travel but they do have the best range out of all the companies I visited and I visited a lot! 😂 They were also really helpful with the design. We got out kitchen there about a year and a half ago, they do all sorts from baby blue to dark/sage green units and they have a fantastic range of splashbacks and worktops along with a variety of colours of unusual taps, sinks etc.

I agree completely with others that have said about avoiding dark worktops and sinks. That also goes for black/dark taps which are a nightmare.
Also get your taps from Ebay. There are usually brilliant taps on there for a fraction of the cost from a kitchen supplier, b&q etc.

My kitchen is light because my old one was dark and I wanted a complete change but I used the lights I put in to put a splash of colour. You'd no doubt hate it, but using things like that to your own taste can be really effective 😊

The kitchen come as part of the build through a local company so I’ll stick with them (although I’m sure I don’t HAVE to)

OP posts:
Aria999 · 11/05/2025 13:16

Personally I like real wood cabinets though they're not very fashionable at the moment. They look beautiful with a white stone countertop. It would be cheaper to change or paint the cupboard doors than to replace the work surface.

Panamacatinahat · 11/05/2025 13:15

Kitchenbattle · 11/05/2025 12:03

What colour handles do you have? Similar or darker?

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We have dark metal coloured knob handles.