Embracing all-over colour in your kitchen with @by_anitarussell
As the heart of the home, your kitchen is a wonderful place to use colour to define the mood of the space. Whether you want to create an atmosphere of liveliness, tranquillity or comfort, our upgraded Intelligent Paints mean you can embrace colour on the walls, woodwork, cabinets, tiles and more, to transform the look and feel of your kitchen.
Be inspired by this calm, homely and inviting scheme from @by_anitarussell, featuring a tempting palette of shades from our ‘Sweet Treats’ palette. Find out how our self-priming Intelligent Paints achieved truly luxurious use of colour…
Tell us about your kitchen project. What was the inspiration behind the scheme?
“The kitchen project has been my favourite makeover! I walk in and I just smile – it is like a warm hug, and it makes me feel calm and happy. I think I saw a dark red/brown French country kitchen in a magazine, and I thought, wow, that looks amazing! I started saving darker red and brown kitchens on Pinterest for inspiration.
I also love traditional Scandinavian design because I grew up in Norway, which is more cottage core than minimal. So, I wanted to include that look, as well as a nod to the traditional English Victorian design with a patterned floor. A good mix of everything I love and feel inspired by!”
How did you choose to use shades from our ‘Sweet Treats’ palette?
“When I saw the ‘Sweet Treats’, I knew I could bring in all the warmer tones and they would all be in harmony with each other. I wanted a deep red/brown on the cabinets, and I was swaying between Ganache and Muscovado. As soon as I saw Mochi – which is the colour I’ve painted all the walls, windows, cabinetry and doors – I knew Ganache would be the perfect match.
I added a pop of yellow/orange by using Galette as a border around my floor, just to add a little extra interest. Testing all the colours and holding them up against each other in different light and times of the day makes all the difference in choosing. But any of these shades would work together in a scheme, as they are just the perfect collection of muted, warm colours.”
Explore Anita’s palette
![Ganache™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%235C453A" /></svg>)
![Mochi™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23BBA593" /></svg>)
![Galette™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23957246" /></svg>)
![First Light™](data:image/svg+xml;utf8, <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" x="0" y="0" height="233px" width="201px"><rect width="201" height="233" style="fill:%23fcf6d8" /></svg>)
Your scheme demonstrates that deep, earthy, brown shades can feel so elegant within an interior. Do you have any advice for anyone who wants to introduce these shades into their home?
“I would say go for it! I spent so many years thinking I had to use light and bright neutrals in my small home to make it feel airy and open – but actually doing that just made it feel a bit cold and unwelcoming. Using warm and moody tones can really transform a room.
If your home is small – embrace it! Make it warm and cosy. If you have a north-facing room, like my kitchen, then why not add some warm, earthy shades to really warm up that space instead of thinking it needs to be white to attract the light.
If you aren’t brave enough to go all in and paint every surface, then maybe start with a feature wall, or a piece of old furniture. There are so many areas you can use to add colour to a room, not just the walls. For example, a painted ceiling could be a great feature, or maybe you have some really nice period doors and skirting boards, where you could add some earthy tones to really make them stand out.”
You’ve embraced colour on every surface in your kitchen. How did our new self-priming Intelligent Paints help to achieve this?
“The new self-priming Intelligent Paints made this job a dream. It saved me so much time, and the fact that I could paint my awful uPVC doors and windows really gave my kitchen a whole new look. If you aren’t a fan of uPVC windows, painting them to match the walls is a great way of making it more seamless. Making them feel part of the overall look, but not stand out. It’s all down to personal style, but I found that colour drenching my walls, doors and windows was the best way to go to get that cosy, laid back, cocooning feel that I wanted.”
We love your timeless, sophisticated and cosy interior style. Can you share your top three interior design tips?
“Oh, thank you so much! My three top tips would be
1. Think about how you want to feel when you are in that room, and then think of colours that can help you achieve that feeling. Look at colours and think “what would I feel if this colour was painted all over my wall”. Will it make you feel stressed, relaxed, calm, happy or down? It’s really interesting to read about colour psychology and explore how different colours can affect our moods.
2. There was a time recently when lot of people stepped completely away from warmer brown and magnolia tones and painted everything in stark white or grey tones. This can work in some places, and some people might love it. But following trends can be tricky, because what works for some might not work for others. I love how much more variety we are seeing now compared to a few years ago. So, I would say – maybe don’t follow all the trends.
See what’s working in your home, with your light and location, rather than what works for someone else. If you want to try using colour in your home, but you are scared because it seems like a big step, then try using muted shades rather than pure colours. It can really transform the way you see colour and make it easier to integrate within your existing décor. Or if you like bright colours but are scared to go all in, try adding pops of colour to your furniture, paint your picture frames or create a half-painted wall/panelling.
3. Adding texture and layers is the best way to make you home feel cosy and lived in. Use wallpapers, add panelling or introduce wooden trims around your windows. Bring in all the natural textures such as wool, linen and jute. You can’t go wrong with materials like that – they are timeless and will last, and most likely work in most rooms. Add contrast by using softer or richer fabrics on your cushions. It doesn’t all have to match – use things you love and things that you enjoy seeing and using. Mix new and old and don’t be scared to mix styles. That’s what makes it feel timeless and homely!”
Plan your kitchen refresh with a complimentary colour card, or explore our gallery of kitchen schemes for inspiration.
