Fifty shades of Grey ?

As most of the kitchens we manufacture here in Harrogate are painted kitchens we watch closely the colour trends and what people are choosing for their kitchens,furniture and interiors. Over the past few years, the notable colour trend has been the many shades of gray, and 2015 is no exception to this. There are  many shades of gray which are now available from paint manufacturers such as Farrow and Ball, or Little Greene, and even Dulux and Crown are following this trend towards neutrals. Farrow and Ball offer a fantastic pallette for painted kitchens or painted furniture and interior design schemes. Inglish Design of Harrogate make Hand painted kitchens which are always finished using the very best paint, which is generally why we opt for Farrow and Ball. Our bespoke kitchens and bespoke furniture are known for their high quality and hand painted finish, as well as their excellent design. Helping our clients select the right colour for thier handpainted kitchen or bedrooms furniture is something we enjoy. We are not just kitchen manufacturers, we are also qualified interior designers, and design and can manufacture furniture for every room in your home. Our experience has involved us in full house projects, as well as single rooms and kitchens. As a result when we design your kitchen we see the whole picture, the concept, the end result, and can advise on the overall interior scheme. Often it is the colour which makes a plain shaker kitchen or furniture have the wow factor, so we understand that colour selection is very important. This blog discusses the grey colour pallette available from Farrow and Ball – at first glance you may think grey is the most boring colour in the world for your kitchen, furniture or interior – but read on and see how by careful selction you can create elegant modern interiors by using this colour.

Gray is a sophisticated colour which can  give a crisp clean, graphic look. It also has the ability as a colour to work well when in more muted tones to suit all types of properties from Georgian houses, to country cottages or even seaside retreats. As with any successful interior, the use of colour and how well it works depends on the depth of tone, the accompanying wall colours and the amount of light within the space.

The Paler Shades of Gray

Farrow and Ball Ammonite is a light versatile gray which takes on the properties of the colours around it. Beautiful elegant almot white greys such as Blackened, Dimpse and Cornforth White provide an airy elegance to any painted kitchen, and also look great on our painted bookcases.  Common selections from the Farrow and Ball charts for painted shaker kitchens are Blue Gray, Pigeon, Manor Houe Gray, Lamp Room Gray, and Pavillion Gray. These give a fantastic look when coupled with marble effect worktops or light coloured granite worktops. The very light greys can sometimesgive a very modern perhaps cold, clinincal effect, but by simply adding some elements in timbers such as oak 0r walnut you can add warmth and depth back into your kitchen, and soften the overall feeling.

Greige not Beige !

Within the mid pallette of Gray, and what would be expected to be termed the neutral shades, there is also a growing trend to what we would term warm grays. These paint colours work very well on all painted furniture and kitchens, and when combined with nuetral and muted wall colours give a classical and timeless look to an interior. Shaded White No.201 is sandy grey very Georgian in style. While Elephant’s Breath No.229 has a rich contemporary feel, as it discreetly presents a slight purple undertone. Dovetail  and Skimming Stone also fall into this category which is best described as Greige! – its neither biege nor gray – but a classical mixture of both providing a little warmth to an otherwise cool tone yet  in a very delicate way.

On trend for interiors and painted furniture in 2015 are the warmer slightly bolder shades of Grey. Look at Farrow and Ball colours Charleston Grey, Skimming Stone, Purbeck Stone, and Dovetail. Thes have warm hues which are fantastic for large open plan kitchens. They sit beautifully with worktops in Lennon or Bainco Antique, or indeed with many Quartz colours.

The Darker side of Grey

Kitchen Islands and kitchen worktables often feature bolder grays such as Downpipe, Moles Breath, Plummett and Manor House Gray. Cool greys such as Cornforth White No.228 and Blackened No.2011 are particularly good with stainless steel and can be used to great effect in kitchens. Darker shades of gray can be used exceptionally well on large statement pieces of furniture, such as bookcases, wardrobes or study furniture. Don’t forget that because you have selected a shade of grey for your furniture or kitchen, does not mean that you have to stick to a monochromatic interior scheme. Warm colours can be added via upholstery, accessories or even other furniture. Bold colours such as aubergine, and berry shades give a contemporary look, or adding a flash of a citrus shade such as lime green can zest up an interior scheme. Dark blues and charcoal shades can steer the overall look towards a more masculine look. Remember you can have a bold paint colour for your kitchen island, and lighter shades of grey on the surrounding cabinets and door.

If you are interested in our interior design services, a painted kitchen or painted furniture why not call us and we can arrange a meeting to discuss things further. All of our bespoke kitchens and bespoke furniture is made in Yorkshire. We have a showroom in Knaresborough where you can see examples of our kitchens and furniture, and hand painted finish.