Choosing a colour for the Kitchen

[daydreamer]

Hi Guys,

I hope someone can offer me some advise.

Our kitchen has been delivered to the painters this week and we need to make a decision on the colour ASAP. We are going with a 2 pac finish and we have decided on a smartstone benchtop called Carrara. Its an imitation of the real deal but with 2 small kids it was just not practical for us to have marble. Anyway my question is how do I choose a white colour to compliment the stone. Do i try and match the white paint to the white in the stone or should there be a contrast. I have attached our kitchen drawings and a pic i found of the smartstone. Also I know this has been discussed in a previous thread but can someone confirm if the 2 pack matte finish is different to a satin finish?

daydreamer

[Emma - Nest Designs]

Hi daydreamer,

Didn't realise smartstone did a Carrara style benchtop - looks great!!

I'd recommend taking a sample piece of the smartstone to Bunnings and have them colour match to a white spec on the sample that way it'll compliment the benchtop perfectly!

[daydreamer]

Hi Emma,

Yes I hadn't even heard of the brand smartstone!! We came across a sample of the stone at one of the Harvey Norman Kitchen design centres. Its not marble but its good enough...i keep telling myself!!
Thanks for your suggestion. I took the sample to bunnings as soon as I got my hands on it but the scanner couldnt pick up the white as the sample I have has quite a bit of grey through it. The girl behind the counter suggested lexicon but it was too white.


daydreamer

[Emma - Nest Designs]

Yes Lexicon is a very vivid white! Try Whisper White or White on White. Resene has a really great paint selection if you don't get anywhere with Dulux!!

[rosierose]

I don't think the bench and stone need to match exact but yes need to compliment. Have you held up all the whites to the sample.
Remember also that it is imp to do this in the room where kitchen will be built as the light will influence the appearance of white..

[Julie-Ann]

Oh I love your stone. I don't suggest marble to anyone as it is high maintenance. But I love the look of it.
Great suggestions by everyone. If it has grey tones to it I would suggest Dulux Antique white USA. It's a popular colour for your style kitchen (which is to die for). Plus I know it goes very well with grey tones as my granite is mostly grey. I will attach a picture for you.
But by all means get a sample pot and do 2 coats on white card first- just to be sure you like it.

[judydg]

I had a look at that stone and I think it is more of a brown than grey tone to it. But it appealed to me too as a more practical surface than marble.

[daydreamer]

Julie - Ann, I believe that is a photo of your kitchen!! It looks so elegant and beautiful! I just hope our cabinetmaker does a good job on ours.

Well I have been to bunning and Im back home with enough sample pots to paint a whole house!! So hopefully I will find the perfect white this weekend....or else our cabinetmaker said he will choose one for me!

I agree Judydg the stone does have a brownish tone to it thats what makes it so hard to find the right shade of white. Im scared I will regret my choice. I have no faith in myself when it comes to making majors decisions, its driving my husband nuts.

Daydreamer

[Julie-Ann]

We are happy to help you feel confident about your decorating decisions Daydreamer.
My granite has a bit of taupe in it too and my walls are taupe too. I think the Antique White USA looks great with taupe.
Let us know how you go with the sample pots.

[oliviaskye]

hi daydreamer.....
i think you should choose the contrast color with your white marble stone. you can try the pitch, yellow or other light color which looks great on walls.