Rainbow KITCHENS

BRING UPLIFTING COLOUR TO THE HEART OF YOUR HOME WITH THESE CHEERFUL CABINET IDEAS

- THEA BABINGTON-STITT

Walls in Antoinette, from £5.95 for 120ml; cupboards in a mix of Aubusson Blue and Emperor’s Silk, from £5.95 for 120ml, all Annie Sloan

SOOTHING TONES

‘The kitchen is a fabulous place to experiment with bold design choices,’ says paint expert Annie Sloan. ‘Working with colour is easier if you follow a few rules… Choose one neutral and two colours; make sure two colours are complementary; and finally, pay attention to detail. Adding colour to accessories and furniture in the centre of the room as well as around the walls will give a more cohesive feel.’

Similar woodwork paint, Deep Water Green architects’ eggshell, £71 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library. Mycelium pendant, from £280, Sebastian Cox

RESTFUL AND RUSTIC

Kitchens can be hectic areas, so a calming palette of shades will invite peace into the everyday. Natural wood is instantly restful and pairs wonderfully with blues or greens. Painting the interior of a breakfast nook or pantry allows you to have a burst of colour, but is easily hidden away when you need an all-neutral moment. Link to the rest of the room by keeping shelving unpainted, or paint in a contrasting tonal hue.

Shaker Suffolk kitchen, cabinetry starting from £12,000, Neptune. For a similar paint colour, try Bluebird oil eggshell, £74 for 2.5ltr, Paint & Paper Library

BEACHY BLUES