Cupboard colours to go with black granite

last year

Hi folks. Our kitchen has had various upgrades over the years - it’s a basic Magnet kitchen but a few years ago we found a fab joiner who made new in-frame fronts to hang on the front. They are currently painted in F&B Dimpse. I’ve posted this dilemma a few years ago but couldn’t come up with a decision, but they now desperately need painting and we have finally booked a specialist kitchen painter!! We need help to choose a colour. The Dimpse is too cool. We unfortunately cannot change the slate floor or the granite tops because there’s nothing wrong with them and it would cost a fortune (although I’d love to!). We’ve literally just removed the huge ugly cooker hood and had a half chimney made. It’s a Victorian terrace with a side return extension. The ceilings are high, but there’s little natural light - so it looks gloomy. The wall colour is currently Mylands Pure White which is actually slightly warmer than brilliant white - and it doesn’t go with the Dimpse. We would like something that is warmer but not gloomy. Any ideas???? I’ve recently seen Paint and Paper Library Sand IV on an Instagram kitchen which looked fab, but not sure if it would just look like a boring cream! We are clueless…

Featured Answer

chloeloves

last year

Definitely get tester pots and try in your kitchen in the day and at night as colours change so much under different lighting so it’s no good looking at pictures of different kitchens with different lighting. Personally I would go for a strong colour to balance the granite but if that is not your thing then keep it pale. You could also do the lower cabinets dark and the uppers lighter to lift them

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Comments (35)

Sonia
last year
Hi Sarah, I read black granite is making a comeback after all the white quartz everywhere. You will be ahead of the trend! Now I really like your kitchen and also the floor. I have slate effect porcelain and it’s tough as old boots and I really like it. Anyway I had a look on good old Pinterest and found some ideas, as well as a blog that may help you. I took a screenshot of the blog as I really don’t know how to share a link. It may help with ideas. Some ideas is go totally black which I’m you’ll hate, then cream and the blog I found on Pinterest so search for that. Last is a warm taupe which I think is lovely.
Sarah U-S
Original Author
last year
Thanks Sonia! The taupe is lovely, and weirdly I quite like the black - but I’m worried it would be too dark for the room. Isn’t it funny how trends go around?!! I looked into swapping the worktops but it was going to be around £5k, plus a lot of hassle to get a worktop that isn’t quite as robust as the granite. I couldn’t justify it!
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Sonia
last year
I feel your pain. I have oak worktops which I love but I fancied white quartz, as you do, but then the wood is much thicker than quartz so it would mean there would be a gap at the bottom of my tiling! In the end I just didn’t want to then also have to retile. I love the wood it’s so warm. Does need oiling but that’s no real effort as it doesn’t take long. Good luck with your choice!
Sarah U-S
Original Author
last year
I used to have oak worktops in my last house and I loved them too. Colours are really tricky - I always find it easier to come up with ideas for other people than myself 😂
macbroom
last year
I would choose taupe, I just had new inframe kitchen installed and cupboards are painted in Skimming Stone which also works in light starved rooms, also taupe and black is lovely combination.
Janet
last year
We moved into our house about 10 years ago and acquired a high spec kitchen with in-frame units & black granite. Far too expensive and wasteful to change wholesale. We had the cupboards repainted a few years ago, conscious of the fairly low light levels. . After much thought we went for a light, warm cream. It does seem to help reflect what light there is. At the same time we removed the multicoloured tiles and replaced them with glass splash backs (matched to F&B Blue Ground). I’m still happy with the way the colours work and the combination of traditional units with more contemporary glass. (though there are some practical things about the kitchen I might like to change). Good luck with your choice.
Sarah U-S
Original Author
last year
Thanks Macbroom and Janet! I like Skimming Stone, so will look at that. Janet - your kitchen sounds lovely. Do you have a photo?
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Isla Cherry
last year
I would get some testers and paint some samples first. I am about to try one of F&B's new colours called Stirabout in my bedroom but it might be a bit dark for your kitchen. Wevet is a grey white, really clean and fresh. It would complement your worktops very well. I would say choose another wall colour at the same time and make sure they sit well together. There are so many neutrals out there from all sorts of brands or you can colourmatch. Stirabout is a warm oatmeal sort of shade which is why when you said the Dimpse is too cool for you I thought it (or a colour match) might be suitable. I have heard that Johnstone's do very good F&B colour matching and that it is more hardwearing.
Isla Cherry
last year
Great idea @chloeloves to do darker at the bottom which would also knock the colour of the granite back a bit. White (or a pale neutral) on top could virtually blend into the walls. If you did go darker at the bottom I would look for some smart brushed brass handles and ditch the wooden knobs.
siobhanmcgee90
last year
Great advice, I think that could work well in this space.
PRO
STUDIO MOOD ETC
last year
I would strongly recommend goind two tone - light on the wall units (ivory, porcelain?) with some stronger colour on the base cabinets (purple, navy, plum?).

It would ground your space with all the black elements while creating more visual space on the eye level while adding contrast.
PRO
Studio Smith
last year
last modified: last year
Hey Sarah,

I love black granite, but going to opposite way and matching it with something almost playful - if you see this kitchen it pairs it with a gorgeous yellowy/orange. Could be a really fun way to go.

The designer is Laura Stephens and she used Paint and Paper Library.
Sarah U-S
Original Author
last year
Thanks everyone - lots to think about!!! Studio Smith - I love the yellow! The colour I have been considering is also Paint and Paper Library, but a paler yellow called Sand IV. This photo is from a kitchen refurb on Instagram - and has similar vibes to this. I am also thinking about the two tone option of dark on the bottom and paler on the top - but I’m just not sure if that’s something that I could live with - I think I could get frustrated / bored with it quite quickly.
Juliet Docherty
last year
last modified: last year
A useful way of thinking might be how sensitive to various attributes of colour you are. For example, I am very sensitive to temperature, I cannot abide cold feeling spaces. Lighting can make all the difference too. Philips Lights dim to a pink tinge, this can make a huge difference to the feel of a room. I would suggest that a dim room should increase in warmth (this can be a warmer colour or material), it could also increase in saturation. Dull rooms can feel foggy so a slightly bolder colour can help.

As the floor is dark and the workshop is black, it might be quite visually jarring to create a very light strip between the two so a mid tone colour might work well with possibly a lighter colour on the upper units.

When looking at images, try to find like for like, as in a dim room with similar worktops and floor. A deep sand colour with dark coloured wooden handles was my first thought.
Sarah U-S
Original Author
last year
Thanks Juliet. This makes sense - I also HATE being cold, and I think this is a contributing factor to me being drawn to sandy colours. But contrary to this, I also like light and airy rooms - which this sadly isn’t. I love this kitchen in F&B Cord - however I bought a sample and painted large sheets - but when we placed them on the cupboards, they were just too dark, The entire family and friends agreed that it just wasn’t right. I’ve been looking for a lighter alternative - hence being drawn to Paint and Paper Library Sand IV. However now I’m thinking it’s too dull and boring!
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macbroom
last year
If you check out the Devol kitchens brochure (as it seems it may be your style?) you’ll see they’ve couple of kitchens with black granite worktops and dark flooring which they’ve styled with both dark neutral cupboards and deep red cupboards https://www.devolkitchens.co.uk/kitchens/brochure
Sarah U-S
Original Author
last year
👍🏻 thanks - you’re absolutely right! I know deVol very well, and love their kitchens - they are very local to me. Sadly they are beyond my price range. 😂😂. The deep red kitchen is gorgeous - but I’m just not brave enough! I wish I was - but I always talk myself out of strong colours because I think it will date. Saying that, I painted our downstairs loo navy blue about 10 years ago before navy was fashionable - and I still love it!! (It’s had a couple of re coats in that time)
Sarah U-S
Original Author
last year
On a related matter - what are people’s thoughts about mixing metals? The sink is stainless steel and the Quooker tap is chrome and only just been replaced (the old one died a few months ago). Would brass knobs look wrong? I’m not overly keen on shiny chrome. Would a more rustic pewter work? Current knobs are crackle glazed ceramic.
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Juliet Docherty
last year
That is possibly one of my all time favourite kitchens. Its beautiful!

Maybe try the darkest Sand colour, that would be my starting point. I also wouldn't think about a colour being boring, I don't believe it's even a thing, it just needs to be right.
Kimberly MD
last year
Adding under cabinet lighting cabinet would make a tremendous difference. If you can add it, I’d recommend choosing the light colour/ tone before the paint colour as it will influence the result.
macbroom
last year
Sarah, I had the same dilemma recently as wasn’t sure if the antique brass handles and knobs would sit right with the shiny chrome bar on the range cooker, the general consensus was that I was overthinking it, which was right - I was - and now it is all in place everything blends and works well together.. I would choose the colour of your cupboards first and then think about the hardware as it would need to work with colour of cupboards. An attractive combination is Charleston grey paint with antique brass hardware, pic below isn’t kitchen door obviously.
Sarah U-S
Original Author
last year
Thanks everyone 😊. A pro and a con of booking the local kitchen painter with a fab reputation is that he has quite a waiting list - I have until November to get my act together!!!! Current thoughts are a sandy colour with either antique brass or pewter knobs… I’ll update you all when it’s finished!!!!! 🤞🏻
Sharon Daly
12 months ago
My kitchen is painted Farrow & Ball, Light Gray. I've never got tired of it - in some lights it is beigey and in some grey and in others slightly green ! It goes great with our black tiled floors [but i do have white worktops] but if you want a neutral, warm colour that you won't tire of, I would highly recommend it.
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Sarah U-S
Original Author
12 months ago
Thank you - I’ve just looked on their website and it looks lovely. I’m also liking Drop Cloth too. I now need to buy a million testers 😂
Sarah U-S
Original Author
6 months ago
After months of deliberation and stupid amounts of cash spent on testers, our kitchen was finished today! After a while we became blind to all the samples - they literally all blurred into a big neutral mess. I really really wanted F&B Cord, but no one else liked it - in fact absolutely everyone hated it! In the end we went with F&B Stony Ground. I really like it - but it seems a bit browner now that it’s everywhere! (Not a bad thing - but it was just a reality check about how colours play games with your brain 😂)
macbroom
6 months ago
It looks great! Love the colour of the units, it warms up the kitchen.
Isla Cherry
6 months ago
It turned out great. I know what you mean about a big blurred neutral mess. I'm afraid I'm in the camp of Cord haters. I have used Matchstick in two rooms upstairs and it's also a teenie bit of ochre like Cord. I will repaint them when I have time. I like the Stony Ground very much. It's a sophisticated room and now you can add accessories in any colour you like to your neutral background. Thank you so much for posting an after pic.
Sonia
6 months ago
Sarah that looks lovely. You must be very pleased. I know what you mean about a neutral mess, rather like trying to choose a new perfume, your brain so no more after trying 2 or 3! 😊
maria_cardona61
4 months ago
I have a similar kitchen to you Sarah but I'm looking to painting the walls in a warm colour. Looking at a warm pink, drying plaster. Any other suggestions please?
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Isla Cherry
4 months ago
You could try Stirabout. It's oatmeal so not as sweet as setting plaster but very neutral. I have it in my bedroom and I love it.
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maria_cardona61
4 months ago
Thank you Isla, I will.
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Sarah U-S
Original Author
4 months ago
I like Stirabout too - but when I put a sample up, it clashed a bit with Stony Ground.
Maria - what colour are your units? My walls are Mylands Pure White (which is actually just off-white). We have it around the house in other rooms so was economical to keep this room the same. Next time we do the walls I think I’d change them to Little Green Slaked Lime or something similar.
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maria_cardona61
4 months ago
Hi Sarah, my cupboards are white, which is why id like a warm wall colour.
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Sarah U-S
Original Author
4 months ago
Definitely try a few samples - because colours look very different if different rooms. Stony Ground is lovely but as I mentioned previously, it looks quite a bit more brown than I remembered. I also really liked Little Greene Portland Stone and Slaked Lime - they do colour scales of these colours so each one comes in pale, dark, deep etc. I definitely recommend them.
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