Drab Kitchen Colors: A British Invasion

Bespoke craftsman kitchens of DeVol and Plain English, and the latter's off-the-shelf brand British Standard, have been gradually weaning us off our white open kitchens in favor of neatly milled and kitted-out snugs. Leading the sensory seduction has been color: golden ochres, muddy pinks, green-y grays, and moody blues. They are hues that would have looked right at home in Great-Great Grammy's Victorian farmhouse, though this time around they feel fresh and modern. Let's call them "the drabs."

When I designed our white kitchen several years ago, I was already hearing "white kitchens are out!" Though "hearting" and "sharing" images of the new drabs, I didn't let them persuade my design. I was opening up an old, dark galley kitchen in our mid-century home—a design I'd been working on for a few years. I was letting the space speak to me, and it was telling me "bring more light into this room" in no uncertain terms. White was a deliberate choice for this project, and one I won't regret. My nod to the British invasion: slab stone backsplashes topped by picture rail. 

Via Sweeten

But I am sooooo smitten with the British drabs movement, which has likely everything to do with the architecture most upscale British kitchen designers are faced with: Victorian, Georgian, and Edwardian homes. We see it's influence in our Instagram feeds—#victoriankitchen, #georgiankitchen, #chateaukitchens, #farmcore, and #cottagecore—in the reemergence of inset cabinet doors, furniture legs, exposed hinges, open shelves, and brass latch hardware but also in the drab paint colors—always at the muddy end of the color spectrum.

Via Plain English

This is the kind of red you might see on an old barn or victorian schoolhouse—after it has stood for decades in all weather. The yellowed ivory breakfront is a perfect accompaniment. 

Via British Standard

The yellows aren't sunshiney, but muddled, almost brown. It looks great here with the red-stained wood countertops and the muddy gray of the island. 

Via Dwell

We don't often see a pink kitchen these days, but on this victorian laundry room it's very effective. It wouldn't work if it was baby pink, but this dingy pink is perfect, especially topped by black soapstone countertops. 

Via Devol

We've seen a lot of green kitchens this year—some say it's the color of the year. It looks especially good with brass fixtures and marble slab. Especially this dark, moody forest green.

Via Domino

The drab color kitchen trend that started in Britain has become ubiquitous stateside, especially in homes that are going for a period or even timeless look and feel. 

Via Farmhouse Vernacular

This homeowner achieved a perfect muddy yellow by custom mixing several paint colors until it was just right. 

Via Daniel Kanter

For this renovator, Valspar's Country Charm hit the spot. "A warm beige-y neutral that’s extremely close to the original paint color in here."