When interior designer Laura Stephens set out to design Anna Maxwell-Martin’s north London kitchen, the brief was simple: “Keep it from being a boring white box.” She went a step further by painting the kitchen cabinets salmon pink. The kitchen is unique and striking, while also feeling cosy and grounded.
For the Maxwell-Martin kitchen cabinets, Stephen chose Farrow & Ball’s Menagerie, which pairs beautifully with the space’s industrial-chic concrete floors. She installed rounded lighting to create a delicious contrast to the clean lines of the cabinets and kitchen island. The walls are painted Clay by Little Greene. Eclectic furnishings, ranging from a vintage dining table to cheery throw pillows, make the space feel like you could linger for hours.
“I’m known for incorporating color into all of my designs, so one of the first ideas that came to mind to transform this kitchen was to paint the cabinets a slightly unusual color,” says Stephens. Houses & Gardens of the pink kitchen. She continues: “As this kitchen was part of an extension to a traditional London townhouse, there was a risk that it would feel detached from the character of the rest of the house. Before we were commissioned to design the kitchen, our client was concerned that the space would feel like a boring white box. Knowing that we wanted to bring a sense of warm brightness to the space, we chose salmon pink as it served as both a pop of colour and a play on a neutral tone that didn’t feel too over the top. It’s a colour choice that you don’t often see in kitchens and it felt like a fresh take on a warm neutral. Although a little daring, it helped to tie the modern feel of the kitchen extension into the familiar colour palette of the rest of the house.”
(Photo credit: Boz Gagovski)
Additionally, Stephens claims that the color of the kitchen cabinets could work well in any kitchen. She says, “You rarely see large sections of cabinets painted pink, which I think is a shame as it really is such a versatile color. I think some people worry that pink might look too childish or girly, but when combined with the right color scheme, it can look incredibly bright, fresh and bold. Pink can range from warm to cool tones and can either play the role of a main color or take on an almost neutral tone when combined with bolder tones. It’s incredibly versatile.”
(Photo credit: Boz Gagovski)
She warns: “Although I think pink can work in pretty much any room, it can be difficult to find the right color. I would avoid shades of pink that clash with the rest of the room because they are either too warm or too cool. Be sure to coordinate the shade of pink with other aspects of the room, such as the color of the carpet, wall or other focal pieces.”
(Photo credit: Boz Gagovski)
How did she achieve the perfect color combination in Maxwell-Martin’s kitchen? Stephens says, “As we went for a more modern take on pink by choosing a salmon shade, we wanted to balance this out by incorporating antique pieces and lots of soft furnishings into the space. I love the classic combination of pink and blue – there’s something so familiar about it! We chose to add accents of eggshell blue to not only add warmth to the space but also complement the brightness of the cabinet color.;
(Photo credit: Boz Gagovski)
She continues: “The concrete floor in the kitchen was also in danger of feeling too cold, so the jute rug from my Laura Stephens x Bombay Sprout collection with blue accents brought a warming, natural texture. We carried the blue over to the upholstered bench seat and the lampshades and pillows in the window alcove. Finally, our client had a really fabulous collection of eclectic artwork and trinkets that we played with, such as the fabulous cherry lacquered table that he painted himself. These little touches really made the space feel more homely.”
Shop the Pink Kitchen Edit
These dishwasher safe glasses are the perfect splash of color to add to your tableware collection.
This beautiful cutting board and stainless steel knife set is as functional as it is pretty
This beautiful pot from Le Creuset looks just as good on the countertop as it does in the oven.
For those wanting to recreate the look, Stephens advises trying unexpected combinations. She says, “I recommend starting with a shade of pink that really suits your space. Depending on the amount of light and shade and even climate, certain shades of pink will work better than others. In this room, the salmon-colored cabinets were paired with modern accents like the concrete floors and cherry lacquer table. Try to balance the pink with any modern accents you have, whether it’s something big like a rug or piece of furniture, or even something small like a vase or table lamp.” Some colors should never be paired with pink, so choosing the right accents is paramount in this scheme.
She continues, “Don’t be afraid to add pops of color in a primary color, as this will mimic the color palette of this room. Finally, it’s important to keep balance in mind. One reason this room works is because we’ve incorporated old and new, classic and contemporary. It creates a balance between the unexpected and the familiar that gives this home such a unique feel.”
Pink is an unexpected yet classic and grounding color. Anna Maxwell-Martin’s kitchen is the perfect example of how the shade can transform any room.
