Hand-painted kitchens, colour with character.

A hand-painted kitchen puts colour and joinery in the foreground. The profile of a frame, the way daylight catches a panel and the relationship between paint, timber and stone all become part of the room. At Posh Design, we design hand-painted kitchens for Birmingham homes around those details and the practical work the kitchen needs to do.

The term should describe an agreed finish, not simply a colour choice. Ask to see a representative sample and discuss where and how the final coats will be applied. A brushed finish can show subtle texture under raking light; a sprayed finish has a different surface character. Neither should be judged from a small colour chip alone.

Door material, preparation, paint system and sheen all contribute to the result. Record the chosen specification so the appearance you approve is the appearance the workshop and fitting team are working towards.

A muted green beside warm timber can feel quite different next to a cool grey worktop. Look at larger samples together and view them vertically as well as flat. Check the combination by the window and in a darker corner, then consider the evening lighting you intend to use.

For a two-colour kitchen, decide what the second colour is doing. An island can take a deeper tone to sit comfortably within a large room. In a smaller plan, one cabinet colour with a contrasting timber detail may make the elevations calmer. There is no need to add contrast to every surface.

Compare the effect of cabinetry, stone and metal in the Material Atelier.

Shaker and in-frame describe different aspects of a kitchen. Shaker refers to the door’s frame-and-panel appearance; in-frame refers to a door sitting within a surrounding cabinet frame. A painted design can use either or both, depending on the construction.

Consider rail widths, drawer divisions, cornice and plinth together. Broad framing can give a tall elevation presence, while a narrower profile may suit a more restrained room. Handles should feel comfortable in use and belong to the scale of the furniture.

Painted cabinetry is a surface you live with. Ask for the cleaning guidance for the specified paint system, how to handle a chip and what information to keep for future maintenance. The ability to repaint is useful, but preparation and colour matching still matter; an older finish may not match a fresh dab from the original tin.

Bring room photographs and the colours you keep returning to when you request a free design visit. We can look at the cabinetry, worktop and lighting as one scheme, with a finish specification that is clear before manufacture.