By mrtwinsvlog@gmail.com 
When anyone enters your kitchen for the first time, usually he or she would notice the colour and finish of the cupboards and furniture before anything else. Consequently, how you paint your kitchen is an important decision because it sets the mood and speaks volumes about a person’s taste and personality. And with kitchens serving such an instrumental, multi-functional purpose in the home, their finish does need to be durable to last. In this article you will discover the advantages of a hand painted kitchen.
1. Unique Character and Aesthetic Appeal
Hand-painted kitchens infuse colorful character and an artistic glitter into a room. The art of hand painting gives a natural, beautiful appearance and an even texture; plus, scuff marks can easily be touched up, and thus, imperfections are fixed fast.
2. Expert Insights on the Art of Hand Painting
We spoke to Martin King, a valued partner of The London Kitchen Company, who has hand-painted kitchens professionally for more than 40 years. With sackfuls of experience to tap into, Martin gave us a low-down on the art of the hand-painting of kitchens, how it compared to spray painting, and his top tips for achieving the perfect finish.
3. Paint vs Spray
If your kitchen’s cabinets and doors have been spray-painted, it implies they were completed with numerous coats of paint in a factory setting. It’s usually chosen for a contemporary look, because of its smooth, no-fuss surfaces. As Sebby explained, “If I’m doing a minimalist flat-door kitchen then sprayed works best.” Handleless Kitchens such as this design in Shoreditch work better with Spray paint. Sprayed kitchens tend to look a bit more manufactured. Which works fantastically in flat door kitchens that seek a perfect factory finish. This is because the machine application, along with the lacquer, can make the finish look artificial. As opposed to this, hand-painted kitchens tend to honor natural finish materials. Especially shaker and wooden kitchens, which tend to look rather traditional. Martin said: “With beautiful materials such as oak, why would you want to make that look like plastic?”
i). The Application of Hand Painting
On the other hand, the application of paint by hand can enhance a kitchen’s appearance. When painting a kitchen by hand, it’s important to select brushes that can follow the wood’s grain. Using a paintbrush lets craftsmen access smaller, hard-to-reach nooks in the surfaces. Martin explains, “Small grain gaps in hardwood fitted kitchens can be filled in order to create a seamless appearance with paint.”
4. The Growing Popularity of Hand-Painted Kitchens
The last couple of years have seen the popularity of hand-painted kitchens simply soar. Martin thinks this is because “Hand painting gives you that distinctive, custom touch you cannot achieve with spray painting. It also appears real, alive.” We learnt from him that he frequently gets requests to create delicate brush strokes in kitchens. So, that it appears as though the painter has worked by hand: “From what I’ve seen, it’s possible to hand paint something that looks too good. People come to me for the brush strokes because they adore the personalised touch!”
Still, an advantage of spray painting over the rest is that it is generally quicker. However, in the longer term, spray finishes do tend to produce more headaches, as when surfaces are knocked and scratched or will chip, surfaces cannot be easily repaired. Where as for a factory finish, it is not possible to sand down. Then reapply paint to the damaged area. Since it would instead need to go back in a workshop to be remade. With only a little paint and a brush, you can keep a hand-painted finish looking great no matter what occurs.
5. The Art of Hand Painting Kitchens
With over four decades of experience, Martin discussed the skill and art required to paint a kitchen to a high standard. He took us through his process. “I have a system in place. There’s a lot of work in the preparation. I degrease them using industrial wipes. Once that’s dried, I use a powerful extractor hoover to take off dust particles. Then I leave them on a rack to settle before using a tack cloth to take off all remaining dust.”
i). Achieving Smooth Finish
Smoothen paint on the doors is achieved by first priming then painting them on a horizontal surface. I then take the paint out with a roller to even it out. Then I take a bronson champagne brush, and gently caress it across the surface… it’s difficult – if you put too much pressure on the brush laying off paint, you add too many brush strokes. There’s an art to it’.
ii). Drive and Pride in Work
Despite working in the industry for so long, Martin still showed drive and pride in his work. It takes a lot of time, so you better enjoy it, he said. “It is my goal to paint each kitchen to a higher standard than the one before it. I will try again if it turns out wrong. No door would ever leave the workshop if I wasn’t satisfied with it.” Since 1981, I have been doing this; I never had a complaint in that period.
6. Colour & Character
As bespoke kitchen specialists, we always encourage going the extra mile to make our client’s kitchens feel personal to them. Since no two kitchens will ever look identical, hand-painted finishes are a great way to add dimension to room. While a good painter will leave a beautiful smooth finish. There is always more variation in the surface. And alsthis gives the whole kitchen more character, helping to bring a room to life.
Sebastian said, “I always advise on hand-painted finishes for shaker kitchens or more traditional designs. I see a hand-painted kitchen be more part of the fabric of the house, fitting into becoming part of the furniture of the house itself in the same way the windows, doors or staircase do. That gives it a permanence and a feeling of being an integral part of the whole structure.”
7. Customization and Color Choices
Besides, hand-painted kitchens give far more choice in finishes. Painting by hand offers greater control over the finish—its glossy, matte, or tactile qualities—and the colour shade than spray painting does. According to Martin Pride, “mix my finishes so when I do a kitchen room” is what he does. Particular to that individual customer. Pretend for a second if you were working with a customer who had a common request: stiffkey blue. I customise each one by hand by mixing my finish. Martin described how there are different levels of finish – matt, gloss or eggshell. The art of hand-painting is also one of the balances of all the various levels to reach the desired effect-for instance, adding more sheen to make it even shinier.
Color choices are also almost endless in hand painting. While catalog kitchens usually offer limited choices, bespoke kitchens do have more leeway to let the client’s personality run loose. Martin said, “I always tell my clients to go for bold colours because it can really change the vibe of a kitchen.” “The bolder, the better!” He discussed how this impacts the need for the client to consider the amount of light coming into a kitchen and how this may impact using lighter shades within a room to brighten it up. According to Martin, it is a good idea to incorporate contrasting shades-for example, dark cabinets can be offset with lighter worktops or flooring for a more rounded appearance.
Speaking of hand-painted kitchens, an important feature is that, if you want to freshen up your space in the future, your kitchen can easily be repainted in whatever color you want.
8. Ease of Maintenance & Design Flexibility
Hand-painted kitchens are so easy to maintain, first because any scuffs are so very easily touched up, but then because its beautifully smooth-usually matt-finish can often be cleaned and wiped with ease. Unlike spray paint, which tends to chip more readily, hand painting has a robustness about it, offering a hard-wearing finish from the cabinets themselves. Hand Painting also gives The London Kitchen Company greater freedom in both design and installation, as we are able to use fixings, such as bespoke handles, that we couldn’t in the event that the panels were pre-finished when they were delivered.
i). Design Freedom
“This extra freedom really affects how I think about design,” Sebastian said. I aim for finishes that are simple to care for and replicate both now and in the future. For example, I probably wouldn’t choose a pre-finished engineered floor for my house. I’d rather use unfinished boards and then oil them once they’ve been fitted. Just as in the kitchens, this procedure may be started whenever it’s necessary.
A kitchen that has been hand-painted may be both unique and classic. The modern world, according to Martin, is all about efficiency and economy. Indulge in unique hand painting if you desire an enduring project!
Difference Table for Hand-Painted Kitchens
| Feature | Hand-Painted Kitchens | Spray-Painted Kitchens |
|---|---|---|
| Application Method | Applied by hand with brushes | Sprayed in a factory setting |
| Finish Appearance | Natural, unique, and artistic | Smooth, manufactured, and uniform |
| Customization Options | High level of customization | Limited color choices |
| Repairability | Easily touched up | Difficult to repair |
| Durability | Hard-wearing and robust | Prone to chipping and scratching |
| Aesthetic Appeal | Adds character and depth | Modern but can look artificial |
Conclusion
However, handmade kitchens use a unique combination of artistry, international and durability which make them very different than the spray painted ones. Hand painting in accordance to these crafts illustrate a level of customization which transcends individual style to bring on a warm and inviting atmosphere. Experts like Martin King highlight the meticulous preparation and application processes that ensure a beautiful, long-lasting finish.
Unlike spray finishes, which can look artificial and are harder to repair, hand-painted surfaces are easily maintained and can be refreshed as needed. With a wide array of color choices and finishes, homeowners can create vibrant spaces that evolve with their tastes. In a world focused on efficiency, hand-painted kitchens stand as a testament to individuality and the importance of creating truly personal spaces that feel like home.
FAQs
1. What are the benefits of hand-painted kitchens?
The cutting edge hand painted kitchens add distinctive character, visual allure and other great aspects of easy maintenance.
2. How does hand painting compare to spray painting?
The natural finish of hand painting and its ease of touch up means that it can be used to work more detailed and it gives a manufactured look to spray painting.
3. Can I customize colors in a hand-painted kitchen?
Hand painted kitchens offer an almost endless array of color choices and customize ability to suit your taste, and therefore, will have a finish that’s a product of yourself.