Pros Share 10 Perfect Gray Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands
Designers share details on the gray shades they used to make these islands stand out or blend in
Bryan Anthony
June 3, 2022
Gray is a versatile color and a great choice for kitchen islands. It can highlight island details and make it the star of the room or help an island blend into the background. We asked 10 pros to share which gray paint colors they used on the islands in these recent kitchen remodels and the impact they made.
Whether your clients prefer a dark moody shade of gray, a light airy greige or something in between, we’ve got you covered. Check them all out, then share your own favorite gray paint colors for a kitchen island in the Comments.
Whether your clients prefer a dark moody shade of gray, a light airy greige or something in between, we’ve got you covered. Check them all out, then share your own favorite gray paint colors for a kitchen island in the Comments.
1. Brewster Gray by Benjamin Moore
Designer Evgenia Merson worked with Green Bay Remodeling to create this contemporary kitchen in Pleasanton, California. The island base is covered in a shade of gray that complements the subway tile backsplash and helps break up the white oak cabinetry.
The island top is covered in a mix of marble and wood. “We created a split finish to the island top to give a soft, natural feel to the area,” Merson says.
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Designer Evgenia Merson worked with Green Bay Remodeling to create this contemporary kitchen in Pleasanton, California. The island base is covered in a shade of gray that complements the subway tile backsplash and helps break up the white oak cabinetry.
The island top is covered in a mix of marble and wood. “We created a split finish to the island top to give a soft, natural feel to the area,” Merson says.
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2. Gray Huskie by Benjamin Moore
The team at Woodshop QC recommended a soothing light shade of gray for the island base and perimeter cabinets to balance the gorgeous dark-stained wood island countertop and range hood accent piece in this Charlotte, North Carolina, kitchen.
The Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner allows pros to quickly create accurate 3D images of room designs to give clients a realistic and easy-to-understand view of those designs. Pros can choose from thousands of Benjamin Moore paint colors to customize the walls in their plans.
Find out more about the Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner tool
The team at Woodshop QC recommended a soothing light shade of gray for the island base and perimeter cabinets to balance the gorgeous dark-stained wood island countertop and range hood accent piece in this Charlotte, North Carolina, kitchen.
The Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner allows pros to quickly create accurate 3D images of room designs to give clients a realistic and easy-to-understand view of those designs. Pros can choose from thousands of Benjamin Moore paint colors to customize the walls in their plans.
Find out more about the Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner tool
3. Dorian Gray by Sherwin-Williams
Designer Chandler Quarles of Peach and Pine Home used a soft palette of near-off-white walls (Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams) and a warm gray for the island and cabinets to create a soothing atmosphere in this Spring Hill, Tennessee, kitchen. The X detail on the side of the island base adds a bit of character to the design.
Designer Chandler Quarles of Peach and Pine Home used a soft palette of near-off-white walls (Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams) and a warm gray for the island and cabinets to create a soothing atmosphere in this Spring Hill, Tennessee, kitchen. The X detail on the side of the island base adds a bit of character to the design.
4. Copley Gray by Benjamin Moore
The island paint color in this modern Toronto kitchen pairs well with the gray perimeter cabinets (Amherst Gray by Benjamin Moore) and the Blue Roma quartzite countertops.
“The colors and material palette were inspired by the client’s travels in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy and work together to create a dramatic yet harmonious space,” architect and designer Wanda Ely says.
The island paint color in this modern Toronto kitchen pairs well with the gray perimeter cabinets (Amherst Gray by Benjamin Moore) and the Blue Roma quartzite countertops.
“The colors and material palette were inspired by the client’s travels in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy and work together to create a dramatic yet harmonious space,” architect and designer Wanda Ely says.
5. Ocean Floor by Benjamin Moore
This cool shade of dark gray has a blue undertone that works well with the chunky quartzite island countertop in this San Francisco kitchen. The island color was also selected to complement the tiled backsplash. “It’s the perfect backdrop to the two-toned star-and-cross backsplash by Fireclay Tile,” says designer Melissa Holt of Cabana Rehab Interiors.
This cool shade of dark gray has a blue undertone that works well with the chunky quartzite island countertop in this San Francisco kitchen. The island color was also selected to complement the tiled backsplash. “It’s the perfect backdrop to the two-toned star-and-cross backsplash by Fireclay Tile,” says designer Melissa Holt of Cabana Rehab Interiors.
6. Gauntlet Gray by Sherwin-Williams
This Minneapolis kitchen is awash in crisp shades of white, including the coffered ceiling, perimeter cabinets, quartz countertops and tiled backsplash. Therefore, the design team at Zehnder Homes went with a medium-tone gray for the island base to help ground the room.
This Minneapolis kitchen is awash in crisp shades of white, including the coffered ceiling, perimeter cabinets, quartz countertops and tiled backsplash. Therefore, the design team at Zehnder Homes went with a medium-tone gray for the island base to help ground the room.
7. Sweatshirt Gray by Benjamin Moore
The new island, with its chunky quartzite countertop and seating on two sides, has become the family hub in this Orange County, California, kitchen. “The use of this particular gray with soft blue undertones was the perfect color to offset the white painted cabinets and sandy oak floors,” designer Joseph Rodrigues says.
The new island, with its chunky quartzite countertop and seating on two sides, has become the family hub in this Orange County, California, kitchen. “The use of this particular gray with soft blue undertones was the perfect color to offset the white painted cabinets and sandy oak floors,” designer Joseph Rodrigues says.
8. French Beret by Benjamin Moore
The island base in this Cape Elizabeth, Maine, kitchen is painted a deep gray that almost comes across as black. The dark hue provides a modern touch and a strong contrast to the light wood hutch-style paneled refrigerator and the white perimeter cabinets.
“This kitchen has elements of traditional styling, but the lines are cleaner,” says Tina Rodda of Eyder Curated Kitchens.
The island base in this Cape Elizabeth, Maine, kitchen is painted a deep gray that almost comes across as black. The dark hue provides a modern touch and a strong contrast to the light wood hutch-style paneled refrigerator and the white perimeter cabinets.
“This kitchen has elements of traditional styling, but the lines are cleaner,” says Tina Rodda of Eyder Curated Kitchens.
9. March Wind by Sherwin-Williams
The octagonal island was part of the original design in this Seattle kitchen remodeled by designer Alex Shikhanov of Armada Design & Build. “I wanted to keep the shape of the island to mimic the angle of the other cabinetry and allow for great functionality,” he says.
Shikhanov went with a medium-tone gray for the island base to contrast the perimeter cabinets and pick up the gray veining in the quartzite countertops.
The octagonal island was part of the original design in this Seattle kitchen remodeled by designer Alex Shikhanov of Armada Design & Build. “I wanted to keep the shape of the island to mimic the angle of the other cabinetry and allow for great functionality,” he says.
Shikhanov went with a medium-tone gray for the island base to contrast the perimeter cabinets and pick up the gray veining in the quartzite countertops.
10. Metropolitan Gray by Benjamin Moore
This New York City kitchen by Malka Helft of Think Chic Interiors features lots of gorgeous leathered porcelain, including the the waterfall island countertop, range hood and sink.
“I love this dramatic gray paint color for the island and cabinets because of its ability to make everything else in the room pop and bring out the beautiful veining and colors of the leathered porcelain,” Helft says.
Join the conversation: What’s your favorite gray paint color for a kitchen island? Share in the Comments.
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This New York City kitchen by Malka Helft of Think Chic Interiors features lots of gorgeous leathered porcelain, including the the waterfall island countertop, range hood and sink.
“I love this dramatic gray paint color for the island and cabinets because of its ability to make everything else in the room pop and bring out the beautiful veining and colors of the leathered porcelain,” Helft says.
Join the conversation: What’s your favorite gray paint color for a kitchen island? Share in the Comments.
More for Pros on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Learn about Houzz Pro software
Talk with your peers in pro-to-pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program
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Love the BM- Ocean Floor!