Mad About… Black Kitchens

Black kitchens may not be for everyone but I find I am increasingly drawn to the dramatic in interiors. I do love a simple white painted wooden kitchen. I have one. But then I painted my shelves black – well dark grey and suddenly the whole room looked better.

The black accent created a fantastic backdrop for the white crockery and brightly decorated spines of the cookery book. Recently I have been working on a kitchen design with a client of Mad About Your House and we have come up with a scheme of black cupboards, white floorboards, wooden worktops and mainly white walls but perhaps one black one. 

It will not surprise you to learn that there will be brass pendants. That was her suggestion not mine although it is entirely possible that my public championing of the yellow metal is what led her to me in the first place.

Using black, or very dark grey, is not necessarily new to those readers who are involved in interiors in some way, but these things take time to filter through to the wider world. My mother informed me only yesterday that one of her neighbours has just painted one wall of her kitchen dark grey and “do you know it actually looks rather good” she said. However, this may actually say more about her belief in my ability to know anything about anything rather than a statement on the colour itself.

A black kitchen needn’t necessarily mean dark and gloomy or Adams family. My south-facing sitting room is black and while it is cosy in the evenings, in the day time it just looks great.

I have come to the conclusion that a hint of black or charcoal is easier than a mid-grey on every wall which can sometimes sap the life out of a room. Or, at least, need much more careful consideration of the position of the sun, the available light and which of the 500 shades you are going to choose.

If you do decide to take the plunge, remember that black absorbs colour so balance it with plenty of white to bounce the light around, high gloss metro tiles and white ceilings and floors will prevent the dungeon look and keep it fresh. And don’t underestimate the power of a few plants to add contrast and life.

So are you going to give it a go?