Let’s be honest – when someone asks you your favourite colour, ‘grey’ is very rarely going to be the first word on your lips. In fact, apart from a certain saucy series of novels, it’s fair to say the colour grey doesn’t hold a particularly cherished place in our national culture. That’s not the case for kitchen design though! With a little bit of forethought, the colour grey has a veritable ton of applications in kitchen design.
As a designer kitchen specialist, our designers often get plenty of questions about the best way to use grey in client projects. Far from looking drab, the colour grey can actually be essential to achieving some marvellously chic designs, and it can be easy to forget that the term ‘shades of grey’ actually has a very literal meaning! There are light greys and dark greys, grey glosses and grey matts – not to mention textured grey surfaces like putty concrete. On the whole, skilfully applied grey shades can give your kitchen a contemporary and sophisticated style, especially if you make use of recessed storage and straight, clean lines. Keeping a mostly neutral colour palette also gives you the freedom to play around with depth and textures, too. Basically what we’re trying to say is that if you keep an open mind, the colour grey opens up a whole world of design possibilities!
As you’ll know if you’ve even spent five minutes on any of our blogs – or with any of our staff! – we’re big on colour here at Kitchen Design Centre. After all, it’s one of the primary tools we use to express ourselves, and expressing ourselves is most of what interior design is all about. A well-chosen colour palette can completely alter the mood of a space. From cosy and inviting to powerful and impressive, formal to playful – colour has a lot to say in deciding the feel of a room.
When it comes to using grey, we’ve already talked about how used alone, it can project a sophisticated style, but it’s also an amazing supporting colour. With grey as a base colour, you can draw the eye to statement pieces in bolder shades of red, green or blue. The grey enhances the vibrancy of these colours, providing a neutral backdrop for them to really pop.
And it’s not just colours either – grey shades are a fantastic way to highlight materials and give texture to the space. When using warm wood species for example, too much bold colour around them can be distracting. Grey kitchen cabinetry can beautifully offset materials like wood, marble and stone. It gives them a chance to make their own impressions, helping your kitchen project its own distinct personality.
We talked last week about how to design the perfect industrial style kitchen, so we won’t repeat ourselves too much here – but basically, the colour grey is key to achieving that rough-around-the-edges industrial style. In the right context, it’s looks raw, powerful and imposing; exactly what you want for the perfect industrial kitchen.
We hope this blog has given you just a taste of the wonders that grey can do for your kitchen! If you’re still undecided, we’re only too happy to help – just pop into any one of our designer kitchen showrooms in Manchester, Blackburn or Colne, where you can feel free to have a chatter with us while browsing some of our magnificent designs.
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TRADITION MEETS MODERNITY IN OUR LIVERPOOL SHOWROOM
In our Liverpool showroom, we’ve masterfully blended the best of traditional and modern design elements to create a unique, timeless kitchen display. This space is a perfect mix of classic elegance with contemporary functionality, and the focal point is the stunning L-shaped island, which serves as both a practical workspace and a social hub. Its clever design seamlessly links into a media wall and presentation area, incorporating the essence of modern open-plan living.
The colour scheme is a sophisticated mix of Concept130 Roma Graphite shaker cabinets paired with Montreal light fine oak handleless units and taupe trim handles. This combination offers a perfect balance between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, perfect if you appreciate the classics but want something a little more updated.
Standout appliances:
Neff 30cm Wine Fridge
Neff 80cm Induction Hob
Neff Single Oven
Neff Tall Integrated Fridge
Neff Dishwasher
MODERN MINIMALISM AT ITS FINEST IN OUR URMSTON SHOWROOM
Our Urmston showroom display showcases a bold, modern kitchen design that effortlessly blends both form and function. The handleless units create a streamlined, uninterrupted flow throughout the space, perfectly complemented by the ultra-matt black finish on the worktops. This pairs beautifully with the elegant black ribbed-veneered door for the focal wall.
This minimalist design approach offers a chic, contemporary vibe, ideal if you love the clean, clutter-free aesthetic. To enhance this look, we’ve used warm accent colours that break up the monochrome palette, adding a sense of inviting depth and warmth to the overall space. The subtle, extravagant marble panels add a touch of quiet luxury, their natural veining providing visual interest and texture against the sleek black surfaces, especially when lit by warm LED lighting. This fusion of modern materials and timeless elements, such as marble, creates a display that is both stylish and practical!
Standout appliances:
Neff N90 Ovens with premium 6.8” touch screen display and Twist Pad Flex control
Neff Flex Induction Hob
Silgranit Blanco Sink
Quooker Tap
THE BARROWFORD SHOWROOM’S HARMONIOUS AND ELEGANT DISPLAY
In Barrowford, we’ve embraced a calming, earthy palette that combines functionality with elegance. The display features Hampton Ash wood doors painted in a Natural Umber shade, mixed with Scala Olive green flat doors, and completed with a mix of antique brass handles. The warm, neutral tones of the Natural Umber give this kitchen a wonderfully cosy feel, making it a welcoming space for both cooking and entertaining.
One of the key features of this display is the 30mm Vanilla Noir quartz worktop, which stands out with its dark, characterful design. The designer bench seating includes pullout storage to maximise space without sacrificing style. The bifold worktop unit and sliding doors on the island showcase smart storage solutions. Finally, the open shelves add a touch of rustic charm!
Standout appliances:
Neff Collection Oven
Neff XL Fridge Freezer
Quooker Classic Fusion Tap
Double Bowl Tartufo Sink
THE BLACKBURN SHOWROOM’S SLEEK AND MODERN MASTERPIECE
Our new Blackburn display is a testament to a modern, streamlined design. It features a bold black and oak colour scheme, seamlessly blending practicality and contemporary aesthetics. The tall units are clad in a Black Velvet Oak, adding depth and contrast to the sleek black wall units. The Toronto base units and matching worktops are finished in Natural Vintage Oak for a beautiful and cohesive end result.
One of the standout elements of this display is the quirky curved breakfast bar, a unique feature that blends functionality with style. Raised planters behind the bar add a touch of greenery; perfect if you love bringing natural elements into your kitchen.
Standout appliances:
Neff 60cm CombiZone Black Induction Hob
Integrated Design Hood
Neff Fully-integrated dishwasher
Neff Integrated Frost Free Under Counter Freezer
More from the team’s annual trip to Germany to the headquarters of Hacker Rodinghausen showroom.
Staff from all of our showrooms attended to view the new exciting ranges of kitchens and colours that are available from now. They were given a full factory tour & took part in product workshops. It was an intensive 2 x day trip however they had a fabulous time.
Head to our stories for more details or head over to our website to book your free design appointment
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