When it comes to the finish of the kitchen, choose what you love rather than following the latest trends. We hand-paint our bespoke cabinetry in colours from respected paint companies such as Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, Paint & Paper Library and Dulux, so no two of our kitchens are ever the same.
Below are the colour pairings and finishing details from our projects, with the exact paint colours used in each.
Kitchen Finishing Details at a Glance
Three finishing details make the biggest difference to a painted kitchen. First, a two-tone scheme, usually a darker colour on the island and a lighter one on the main runs, such as Card Room Green with Slipper Satin, Railings with Purbeck Stone, or Basalt with French Grey Mid. Second, brass hardware, which works especially well against navy, blue and white cabinetry. Third, a calm, light palette, such as Pointing, Strong White, Rolling Fog Light or RAL 9016 Traffic White, which makes a kitchen feel bright and restful. A contrasting colour can also be used on a single piece, such as a pantry cupboard or drinks cabinet, rather than the whole island. Handmade Kitchen Company build every kitchen at our workshop in Essex and hand-paint it on site in the colours of your choice.
Make the island a statement
Painting the island in a darker or contrasting colour anchors it in the room, and is the classic way to combine two colours. Choose a darker hue for the island and a lighter tone for the main cabinets to create a two-tone scheme. For more examples, see our post on the contrasting kitchen island.
Railings and Purbeck Stone, Barnet
In our Barnet kitchen, the island is the feature. We hand-painted the main units in Purbeck Stone, an understated stone grey, and the island in Railings, a soft black with blue undertones, both by Farrow & Ball.
Slate V and Hicks’ Blue, Hadley Wood
This Hadley Wood kitchen combines two paint companies. The main furniture, including the bookcase and dresser, is in Slate V (165) by Paint & Paper Library, and the island is in Hicks’ Blue (208) by Little Greene.
Chocolate Colour and Rolling Fog, Hadley Wood
In another Hadley Wood kitchen, our client wanted to accentuate the island base and pedestal table, so we painted them in Chocolate Colour by Little Greene, a deep, rich brown. The rest of the cabinetry is hand-painted in Rolling Fog, also by Little Greene, a soft neutral.
Slipper Satin and Card Room Green, Stock
Our client in Stock chose Card Room Green for the island and Slipper Satin for the main runs of furniture, both by Farrow & Ball. Card Room Green is a dark grey-green, and it comes alive against Slipper Satin, a chalky off-white.
Slipper Satin (No. 2004) works well on kitchen cabinets because it is soft rather than stark: it reads as a gentle off-white in daylight and warms up under artificial light. It sits a shade deeper and more muted than Pointing (No. 2003), a warmer, creamier white, and is noticeably softer than Strong White (No. 2001), which is cooler and greyer. Always test a large sample on the cabinetry in your own light before deciding.
Basalt and French Grey Mid, Hatfield Broad Oak
Our client in Hatfield Broad Oak also wanted to make the island the focal point. The island is in Basalt (221) and the rest of the kitchen in French Grey Mid (162), both by Little Greene.
Bold brass hardware
Brass hardware adds a bold finishing touch, especially against white, navy and blue cabinetry. See our post on kitchen finishing touches for more on handles, lighting and switches.
RAL 9016 Traffic White with brass, Chelsea
This Chelsea, London kitchen is a traditional lay-on shaker with large mouldings. The cabinets are hand-painted in RAL 9016 Traffic White, a clean, bright white, with sleek brass T-bar handles and round knobs.
Rich blue with brass, Saltby
In this rich blue hand-painted kitchen in Saltby, brass handles were the natural choice, as the other fittings our client chose were brass too.
Royal Navy with brass, Clayhall
Brass handles and knobs stand out against Royal Navy by Little Greene in our Clayhall, London kitchen, an L-shaped classic shaker design with a large central island and built-in dining table. A brass tap from Perrin & Rowe at the sink completes the look.
Railings with aged brass, Golders Green
Aged brass fills our Golders Green kitchen. Traditional Perrin & Rowe taps sit at both sinks, and matching shell-style pull handles and knobs complement the blue-black Railings cabinetry and the Carrara quartz worktops.
Calm and relaxing
Walking into a calm kitchen is one of the loveliest feelings, and a light, bright palette is the simplest way to create one.
Rolling Fog Light, London
Every cabinet in this London kitchen is hand-painted in Rolling Fog Light by Little Greene. Seen from the grand entrance hall, this pale neutral transforms the space, especially paired with Arabescato marble.
Two soft Farrow & Ball tones, Hatfield Heath
Our client in Hatfield Heath wanted a peaceful, calming kitchen. It is hand-painted in a two-tone palette, both colours from Farrow & Ball, with indoor plants and textured timber adding warmth.
Strong White, Islington
This Islington, London kitchen is a calm space in our handleless style with large mouldings. A large window looks onto the garden, and the cabinetry is hand-painted in Strong White by Farrow & Ball.
Pointing, Cuffley
Our client in Cuffley wanted a better layout and a kitchen that is both multi-functional and professional. The furniture is in Pointing by Farrow & Ball, a warm, delicate white that softens the room and complements the stainless steel Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances.
Cooking Apple Green and white, Broxbourne
A two-tone scheme can be calm too. Our client in Broxbourne chose a green and white kitchen using Cooking Apple Green by Farrow & Ball, a fresh green that makes the room feel bright.
Add contrast in other areas
Contrast does not have to be on the island. A darker colour on a single piece of furniture can be just as effective.
Basalt and Shallows, Matching Green
In our Matching Green kitchen, Basalt is hand-painted onto the island, the drinks cabinet and the base units of the office cupboard, against Shallows on the rest of the furniture, both by Little Greene. The neutral, the bold hue and the brass fixtures make an elegant contrast.
A Basalt pantry cupboard, Hatfield Broad Oak
In the Hatfield Broad Oak kitchen, the pantry cupboard is hand-painted in Basalt (221) by Little Greene, darker than the rest of the furniture. Traditional butt hinges give it a more classic look.
For more colour ideas, see our guide to kitchen colour schemes.
Kitchen Finishing Details FAQs
Is Slipper Satin a good colour for kitchen cabinets?
Yes. Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin is a soft, chalky off-white that looks gentler than a brilliant white and pairs well with darker islands, such as Card Room Green in our Stock kitchen.
What is the difference between Slipper Satin and Pointing?
Both are Farrow & Ball off-whites. Pointing is warmer and creamier; Slipper Satin is a little deeper and more muted. Test both in your own light, as the difference depends on the room.
What colour goes with a Railings kitchen island?
A soft stone or grey such as Purbeck Stone, or a warm off-white. Brass hardware works well against Railings.
Should the island be darker than the rest of the kitchen?
It is the most common approach, because a darker island anchors the room while lighter runs keep it bright. The reverse can work in a very large, well-lit kitchen.
Where does Handmade Kitchen Company hand-paint kitchens?
We design and hand-build bespoke kitchens at our workshop in Essex and hand-paint them on site in any colour, for clients across Essex, Hertfordshire and North London.
If you would like to know more about our bespoke handmade kitchens, contact us today. We look forward to hearing from you.
First written January 2021, updated November 2022 and September 2026.
