Going Gray in the Kitchen

We generally favor bright and white kitchens for their clean and classic look. But these examples of gray kitchens have us thinking differently. What if the kitchen was a moodier, calmer room than we generally imagine?

This could work especially well for often windowless kitchens in small apartments. After all, small rooms don't always have to be painted white (or light). Especially in a kitchen without natural light, dark and dramatic gray could be a solution. If you're lucky enough to have a windowed kitchen, gray is still gorgeous:

• 1 Everything in this kitchen from Martha Stewart is a bit muted. The cabinets are light (but not quite white), that dark charcoal stone backsplash anchors everything down and even the box beams are even painted gray.
• 2 This kitchen by Ernestomeda looks particularly small yet sleek.
• 3 gray cabinets with stainless countertops from Living Etc.
• 4 The cabinets and mosaic backsplash introduce a gray ground into this bright kitchen. Love the touches of orange. Via DecorPad.
• 5 The concrete floors of this modern shaker kitchen are complimented by gray-painted cabinetry. Looks terrific with the natural wood island. Via Canadian House and Home.

Comments (6)

I like the forth one because of the wood floors and lighter tile otherwise the rest are dreary and flat. I do like seeing more cooper, bronze, antique brass and warmer woods in grey kitchens.

I like the color of the cabinets in number 1. I would like them even better if they were veneered in rift white oak (rather than painted or matte lacquered) and stained in that same light gray/weathered driftwood color. The grain would warm and soften the room just a little while maintaining the neutral palette and a clean modern look.

We recently painted our cabinets grey. They had already been painted by the previous owner and the colour was a buttery cream colour that we strongly disliked. It was a lot of work, but I love the look. We went with a colour similar to that featured in the last image, though I think ours is a touch lighter.

We installed wood counters. And I love the way the wood and the grey look against each other.

I like the fourth one- because there is still a warmth and mix of materials, both natural and man-made. The rest are a bit too cold and clinical. I like grey, and I do agree grey cabinets can work, but some of these remind me of a kitchen in an office. I can't imagine cooking up some love in them.

Much more soothing and slightly more unique than a white kitchen.

#4 is so elegant and home-y

#'s 1 & 2 put me off somehow. A little nightmarish, IMHO... But I really like 3 & 4!