In 2020, just like a lot of us, Allen found himself with some extra time on his hands. With his wealth of experience and boundless enthusiasm, he decided it was time to take the leap and start his very own joinery business. “Riverline Joinery came about during COVID-19. I had worked for a couple of different cabinetmaking companies during and after my apprenticeship where I had learnt a lot of skills for the trade, but I always had a greater desire to run my own business, and being off work during some of the lockdowns, I had the time to set up the roots,” he explains. “Now, we’re a thriving business specialising in bespoke custom joinery.”

As someone with their finger well and truly on the pulse of kitchen design, Allen is noticing a change. “I think we are seeing a shift towards colour,” he asserts. “In my opinion, homeowners are wanting more warmth and more of a personal touch compared to what white offers.” Trends are cyclical – a mere response to what was popular before it. And so, this vibrant return to colour may just be the pushback to the minimalist aesthetic that defined the last decade. Whatever the reason, colour is back – and it’s as exciting as ever.

A HUE FOR YOU

When deciding to add colour to a home, it’s important to go into the process with openness and confidence. “Colour confidence to me means choosing the right colours to reflect someone’s personality and character,” Allen says. “Colour psychology plays a big role in setting the mood. We help clients with colour selection by understanding their personality.”

Colour psychology is the study of how different colours affect our behaviour, mood and perception. Research in this field suggests colours can have a considerable impact on how we think, feel and interact with the world.

People who design the spaces that we live in are well versed in colour psychology, using its full potential to create rooms that emotionally orient us exactly how we want. Allen shares his general rule of thumb: “Bold bright colours reflect excitement and energy whereas softer earthy tones are soothing and bring calmness to a space,” he describes. The process of finding the perfect shade for your kitchen comes down to how you want to feel in it, and your custom joiner can point you in the right direction for whatever feeling you’re chasing – whether that be grounded and soothed, or ready to rock and roll!

FIND YOUR FINISH

Just like any element of the process, colour selection is a crucial part of the journey that requires forethought, expertise and precision. Allen unpacks his process. “I help by working with them to create mood boards and by going through samples to ensure they’re happy with the chosen colour/s. We also do 3D rendering with chosen materials and finishes to visualise the finished product. We can finetune with different shades and tones of the chosen colour to get the best result,” he says.

Your specific personality and desired mood are not the only factors contributing to colour choice. The environment of the kitchen must also be considered. “Architecture, light and space need to work together in a sense. I tend to steer clear of darker colours in smaller spaces, but if sufficient lighting is present, it works well. Joinery design plays a role – being that it’s more common to use coloured cabinetry on smaller scale jobs. In saying that, large-scale coloured joinery also works if the space is ample,” Allen shares.

Additionally, the kitchen’s surroundings are important to contemplate, ensuring harmony and colour coordination are maintained.