Bells and whistles….and so much more

Much more than a functional accessory, handles can influence the overall aesthetic of your wardrobe. A good place to start is to consider the style and finish of your wardrobe’s design and then choose a set of handles in a similar style.

So, if you have a high-gloss white wardrobe, match it with a contemporary handle, such as chrome or steel with a matt or shiny finish. On the other hand, if your wardrobe is country-style, perhaps with tongue and groove or panelling, consider pairing it with a set of bronze or brass vintage-style knobs, or perhaps a set of naturally distressed wooden door knobs.

Lots of modern designs now feature LED lighting which illuminates your clothes and accessories on opening. Wardrobe lighting is activated via a sensor and available in different colours, so you can coordinate with your bedroom decor, creating a touch of contemporary ambience.

We have more than 50 different types of handles to choose from, from industrial and contemporary to classic and modern, so there is a handle for every taste and wardrobe style.

What’s your colour?

Simply put, colour makes a huge impact. We know colour influences mood, which is why calming shades of blues and greens are popular choices for bedrooms. But you don’t have to restrict yourself to just these colours. Equally soothing shades are warm whites with a note of pink, milky and stormy greys, and rich creams with a whisper of yellow.

You can even colour match the shade of your wardrobes to an existing piece of furniture to create a sense of unity with your decor. This is a particularly good idea if your bedside lockers are one style, your chest of drawers or dressing table is another, and your wardrobe is a different style. With different styles in the same room, you can tie them together to create a sense of uniformity by using the same shade.

When one door opens

Spray painted fitted wardrobes before and after

Changing your current wardrobe doors is one of the simplest ways of getting a new look in your bedroom.

The advantage of just changing the doors is that you get to keep the original carcasses, making your wardrobe revamp speedier and more cost effective.

If you’d rather keep than replace your wardrobe doors, then spray painting is definitely worth considering. Painting is the quickest way to transform the look of your furniture, while of course also transforming the character of your bedroom, as this before and after shows.

There are an array of options available when it comes to the style and finish of your wardrobes, and Prestige Painting is here to give you expert advice so you can have a design that truly suits your taste and decor. Get in touch by calling 085 8489 748 or email info@prestigepainting.ie.

Create a colour contrast with a painted island

Simply painting your island in a contrasting but complementary colour to the rest of your kitchen cabinetry will set it apart, and you can be as bold or as subtle as you like. We like the combination of fresh white or warm ivory cabinetry with the vibrancy of deep reds or powder blues for the island.

Light grey cabinetry also works particularly well with a smoky or charcoal grey island. If you’ve been browsing kitchen designs recently, then you’ll know that painted grey kitchens are hugely popular right now, and create an elegant finish in a variety of styles, from contemporary and classic, to country and traditional.

Before you commit to a new paint colour for your island, browse a range of colours to create a shortlist of favourites. Next, look at your preferred colours in your home so you can see can get a true sense of how the colours will appear in your kitchen. Factors to consider are lighting, the kitchen’s orientation and other colours in the room. Prestige Painting has a vast range of painted colour samples to choose from, which helps to make the search for your perfect island colour all the easier.

Splash out on a new worktop

Changing your island’s countertop is another way to transform your kitchen. For contemporary kitchens, materials such as granite, stainless steel and quartz are good options. Granite and quartz worktops are sleek, durable, and available in a variety of colours, while stainless steel provides a modern finish with an emphasis on the practical and durable.

Marble creates the same luxurious finish as granite and quartz, but it’s more susceptible to chips and stains. Honed and sealed marble, however, will ensure your new island worktop is fit for the demands of food preparation, cooking, and dining – basically, everyday kitchen life. If you’re looking for a slice of opulence, then it’s also worth considering granite, quartz or marble countertops for the luxurious finish they create.

Rustic, country or traditional style kitchens with a matching island will complement lighter shades of granite or quartz, as well as solid wood or laminate worktops. Look for creams, greys and whites both plain and veined to find the best fit for your island and kitchen.

Solid wood worktops in a country, rustic and traditional-style kitchen creates an harmonious and natural finish. Small kitchens will benefit from the golden tones and freshness of light maple or beech, while larger kitchens can opt for deep walnut or rich oak worktops.

If you’re on a budget, then a laminate countertop is a good option. Some modern laminates offer a true-likeness to real wood or granite, but at a fraction of the price. Ultimately, it’s best to choose an island worktop that fits your lifestyle, one that you’re happy to maintain over the years, and of course, one that creates a unified decor with the rest of your kitchen.

Finally, if you would like your island to also serve as a casual dining area, choose an overhanging worktop and complete the look with counter or bar stools in your preferred style.

Design, build and install

Bespoke kitchen island designed and installed.

If you have your eye on a new kitchen island, then we can help make this happen. We recently worked with Mike of Clever Carpentry in a south Dublin home to design, build and install a new island for our clients.

The end result was a bespoke island, designed to meet our clients’ needs while complementing their existing decor. The island catered for casual dining with a breakfast bar area, provided handy storage by way of presses and open shelving, and it also gave the kitchen a modern focal point.

Kitchen islands have the scope to provide a multitude of functions, while enhancing your decor. Drop us a line at Prestige Painting for a chat about a new kitchen island or for advice on how to revamp and get the most out of an older island.

Complement your kitchen’s natural lighting

Before choosing a new colour a good starting point is to first determine whether your kitchen is north, west, east or south facing. Once you know your kitchen’s orientation, you can use this to help you find a colour that will complement the natural light you have available. Working with the light means your kitchen, once spray painted, will look rejuvenated and fresh, rather than cold and uninviting.

North facing kitchens fare badly on the quality of natural light they receive, so to counterbalance this, consider a palette of colours with warm undertones, even the subtlest hint of yellow or red in a neutral or grey colour can make a positive difference.

East and west facing kitchens benefit from natural sunlight either early or late in the day depending on orientation so have greater flexibility than north. With this room orientation, you can choose from cool or warm shades to complement.

If you’re lucky enough to have a south-facing kitchen, then your kitchen has an abundance of natural light, giving you the freedom to choose from an array of colours with either cool or warm undertones.

Consider the rest of your kitchen decor

Are you planning on changing your existing decor or just the kitchen cabinetry? A newly spray painted kitchen is wonderful for enhancing your home, but the new kitchen colour has to work with your overall decor scheme. Counter tops, wall colour, floor tiles, all of these colours should harmonise with the colour you choose for your kitchen cabinetry, so there’s a sense of unity within the space.

If you’re going for a larger scale upgrade to your kitchen, be sure to compare samples so you can be confident your kitchen’s new look will complement rather than clash. For example, if you’re changing your counter tops and flooring as well as the cabinetry, gather a sample of each and place side by side, ideally in your kitchen to see if they harmonise.

Choosing colours from brochures or online

Colour charts and brochures are great for inspiring and giving you an idea of what’s available. They can also be the first step to creating a shortlist of tester and sample colours to try out in your home.

However, a paint colour in a brochure really just gives you an sense of a colour, how it then looks in your kitchen can be very different. We advise clients not to choose a colour based on just a photo, but instead compare colour samples in your kitchen under natural lighting and next to your existing decor. This way you can get a true and accurate picture of how your kitchen cabinetry will look once spray painted.

Prestige Painting’s colour tiles lets you compare various shades in your home to help you choose the perfect colour for your kitchen and furniture. With brands such as Farrow & Ball, Neptune, and Colourtrend, there’s a colour for every taste, style and kitchen. Drop us a line at info@prestigepainting.ie to request free colour samples.