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4 Beautiful Kitchens where Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray Wows on Cabinets

    Dorian Gray is a popular gray paint color by Sherwin Williams, but it doesn’t get as much love as the many lighter options. This versatile and shape-shifty gray, happens to look 50 shades of chic on cabinets!

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on kitchen cabinets in a bright white kitchen with white countertops, tall black barstool chairs, and glass pendant lamps.

    Here we will take a look at Dorian Gray in a few different kitchens, where you can see allll of the undertones and decide if he is the one for you!

    Before we hop right into it:

    Is Gray a Good Color for Cabinets?

    Neutral cabinets are always a good idea! Cool silvery grays have fallen out of favor somewhat in recent years, so I would stick with a gray that has some sort of undertone.

    That could mean a gray with some warmth, or maybe a hint of color like blue or green. Dorian Gray is a good choice because it is a bit of a chameleon, and it has a lot of interest and depth.

    The LRV of Dorian Gray is 39, so it is a mid-toned gray. In this LRV range the color can appear anywhere from light to medium dark, depending on the lighting.

    Dorian Gray on Real Life Kitchen Cabinets

    Dorian Gray does have a few different faces: Cool gray, greige, and taupe.

    To illustrate each of these looks, we will see four different kitchens. I will try not to be confusing, but I will kind of bounce back and forth between them as we talk about the different undertones.

    The kitchens are:

    Amy & Ryan’s at the @rockcreekfarmhouse

    Snowbound walls and trim in a home with Dorian Gray cabinets, wood beams overhead, black chairs at a white stone island, and beams overhead
    Photo Credit: @rockcreekfarmhouse

    A design project by Lyle and Megan – @creationsbymegans

    Two tone gray cabinets with lighter gray island and darker perimeter cabinets
    Photo Credit: @Creationsbymegans

    Liz’s new build – @building_up_toelle

    A full kitchen in the medium gray beige of Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray with white walls, white countertops, and wood floors.
    Photo credit: @building_up_toelle

    Ben and Elenie’s @anncreekcottage

    a kitchen with bright natural light that features Dorian Gray wall cabinets and island with white stone countertops and black hardware.
    Photo credit: @annacreekcottage

    Even just from the introduction you can see how much Dorian Gray varies!

    Dorian Gray Where It Looks Like A True Gray

    Despite the name, Dorian Gray is equally likely to look greige, taupe, or gray.

    In this photo of Megan and Lyle’s project you can see that the color looks like a light gray on the peninsula, and a dark gray in the background:

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray where it looks like a true gray. The island is a light gray in bright direct light, and the wall cabinets in the background look like a medium to dark gray.
    Photo credit: @creationsbymegans

    In both cases the color looks like a true gray without any obvious undertones.

    Let’s contrast that by looking back at the first photo I shared of this kitchen, where each area of cabinets looks a little bit different!:

    Two tone gray cabinets with lighter gray island and darker perimeter cabinets
    Photo Credit: @Creationsbymegans

    The island looks like a mushroom color, the back wall cabinets look like a medium to dark gray with a slight green undertone, and the pantry cabinets look almost sage!

    I don’t know that I’ve seen a color where light and dark vary quite as much as Dorian Gray. Here is a great example of that:

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray looking light greige on a full kitchen of cabinets above a photo where it looks dark gray green.
    Photo Credit: @building_up_toelle

    It’s almost unbelievable what a difference the lighting makes! Liz’s wall color is Sherwin Williams Snowbound.

    Here is another ultra light look to Dorian Gray, where the undertone is quite cool and silvery:

    a kitchen with bright natural light that features Dorian Gray wall cabinets and island with white stone countertops and black hardware.
    Photo credit: @annacreekcottage

    I would say that the color isn’t likely to look quite this light. Dorian Gray is also the color on the trim, and you can see it’s depth a little better above and beside the patio door.

    Here is one more look at the same kitchen that is again quite a true gray:

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on kitchen cabinets faded in the background. Focus is on a wire basket of seasonings placed on top of a wooden cutting board on the stone countertops of the kitchen island.
    Photo Credit: @annacreekcottage

    Dorian Gray Looking Greige on Cabinets

    Let’s start this category with the lightest and most beige that Dorian Gray will ever look:

    Dorian Gray looks like a light beige on cabinets and hood vent in the background with a Christmas tree in the foreground.
    Photo credit: @annacreekcottage

    The hood vent and pantry cabinets look quite light and creamy, but all of the Dorian Gray looks pretty warm here.

    Here is another angle with a similar look:

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on kitchen cabinets and trim with white walls.
    Photo credit: @annacreekcottage

    The white walls are Sherwin Williams Alabaster throughout the home.

    There’s a very fine line between greige and khaki with Dorian Gray, and this shot is a good example of that:

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on wall cabinets with a white square tile backsplash and stainless steel stove and hood vent.
    Photo credit: @creationsbymegans

    The color definitely looks warmer here, but whether you see beige or a green undertone, is probably up to the beholder.

    Here is another look that I wasn’t sure about categorizing. The hood vent looks quite beige, the window wall looks more silver, and the island has a whiff of green.

    A full kitchen in the medium gray beige of Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray with white walls, white countertops, and wood floors.
    Photo credit: @building_up_toelle

    Here is another photo where I settled on “mushroom,” but you could also convince me that it’s silver:

    Snowbound walls and trim in a home with Dorian Gray cabinets, wood beams overhead, black chairs at a white stone island, and beams overhead
    Photo Credit: @rockcreekfarmhouse

    If you like how the color looks here, you might prefer one of my favorite Mushroom Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets.

    At the very least, Dorian Gray keeps things interesting!

    Dorian Gray Looking Taupe or Green on Cabinets

    We have already seen a few photos where Dorian Gray has a slight green undertone or a bit of a mushroom look, but here is an example of particularly strong taupe undertones:

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on trim, hood vent, and lower cabinets with white walls and ceiling.
    Photo credit: @annacreekcottage

    The range hood in particular has the slightest taupey-violet undertone.

    If you are partial to the color here, you might like the Best Trending Taupe Paint Colors.

    Here is a particularly strong green look from Dorian Gray:

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray where it looks like a medium gray with a sagey undertone.
    Photo Credit: @creationsbymegans

    The color doesn’t look particularly warm here, but it definitely has a strong green undertone.

    If you prefer this look, you might like one of the colors from my Sage Green Kitchen Cabinets post, or Benjamin Moore Fieldstone (which I will show you in just a minute).

    What Color Hardware and Countertops Should You Use with Dorian Gray Cabinets?

    The hardware colors that these kitchens showed off are: Black, brass, and gunmetal.

    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on kitchen cabinets with black hardware, behind a swatch of the color.
    Background photo: @building_up_toelle
    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on kitchen cabinets with brass hardware, white walls, and white countertops behind a swatch of the color.
    Background photo: @rockcreekfarmhouse
    Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on kitchen cabinets with gunmetal hardware and white countertops behind a swatch of the color.
    Background photo: @annacreekcottage

    I think it’s a great idea to use a higher contrast hardware with Dorian Gray. A brushed metal or chrome would not pop enough against the medium gray.

    What Color Countertops Are Best with Dorian Gray Cabinets?

    In all of our example kitchens, the owners/designers opted for white stone countertops, and I think that is the best overall option.

    Dorian Gray is a bit of a deeper color where cabinets are concerned (at least compared to white, off-white, or most neutral options) so light is a great choice.

    Snowbound walls and trim in a home with Dorian Gray cabinets, wood beams overhead, black chairs at a white stone island, and beams overhead
    Photo Credit: @rockcreekfarmhouse

    I would definitely stay away from gray countertops because you don’t want to have clashing undertones. Black could be an option if you have a lot of natural light.

    Butcher block countertops will work with Dorian Gray if you are okay with the color staying cool in comparison. The warmth in wood will make the color look more gray. An orange-hued wood may also increase the chance of a purple undertone.

    Other Neutrals You Might Like for Cabinets (Dorian Gray Alternatives)

    If Dorian isn’t quite the perfect shade of gray for you, here are some similar colors that I also like for cabinets:

    Dorian Gray on kitchen cabinets with SW Snowbound walls with alternative colors swatched over top including Repose Gray, Fieldstone, and Acier. The colors are arranged around a larger swatch of SW Dorian Gray.

    When I picked these colors, I actually forgot that Repose Gray and Acier are on the same color strip as Dorian Gray. Whoops! Could have saved myself some pondering over alternatives I suppose.

    However! You will see that they each achieve slightly different looks.

    Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

    Repose Gray might be my favorite gray for kitchen cabinets. It’s just light/dark enough and it has a creamy mushroom sort of undertone.

    Repose Gray cabinets with gold hardware and black island with white stone countertops in a gorgeous custom two tone kitchen
    Photo Credit @bespokeredesign

    This color is not quite as chameleon-esque as Dorian Gray. It doesn’t ever look especially cool and it never has a green undertone.

    Benjamin Moore Fieldstone

    On the other side of the spectrum, Benjamin Moore Fieldstone is more likely to have a green undertone, and a very pretty green undertone it is!

    Benjamin Moore Fieldstone cabinets with white countertops and a gas range.
    Photo Credit: @susaneyelydesign

    Fieldstone is somewhere between a silvery gray and an outright sage. It’s kind of perfect if you are torn between the green kitchen cabinet trend and a traditional neutral.

    Swatch of Fieldstone swatched over a photo of the same color on trim and doors
    Photo credit: @lexstyleanddesign

    Sherwin Williams Acier

    Acier offers a third alternative look to Dorian Gray. This gray is slightly more likely to look violet undertoned, but like Dorian it can look greigey or even slightly green.

    Swatch of Sherwin Williams Acier over an acier vanity
    Photo Credit: @webbstead

    I would say that in general, Acier does read cooler than Dorian Gray.

    Acier Cabinets in an Alabaster walk in closet
    Photo Credit: @webbstead

    Acier is a great choice if you like a taupe with a violet undertone.

    Should You Choose Dorian Gray for Your Kitchen Cabinets?

    Of course the choice is yours, but what do you think of Dorian Gray?

    I think it’s a great choice for cabinets if you have a nice open space with good lighting. I do think that it tends to look a wee bit darker than my preference for an entire kitchen. If you don’t have great lighting, you might want to do Dorian Gray only on lower cabinets.

    Dorian Gray looks like a light beige on cabinets and hood vent in the background with a Christmas tree in the foreground.
    Photo credit: @annacreekcottage

    You should not choose Dorian Gray if you aren’t okay with a color that shifts a lot. If you are going to be annoyed that sometimes your cabinets look mushroom and sometimes they look green, you will not like Dorian Gray.

    I would definitely go as neutral as possible with your tile and countertop choices, so that you don’t need to worry about clashing with any of Dorian Gray’s undertones.

    Not the one? Here are some other colors that might be right up your street! :

    Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe on tea room china cabinets in a cottage kitchen.
    Swatch of Dover White in a Dover White kitchen with teal backsplash.
    Kitchen cabinets painted in Sherwin Williams Shiitake and Cast Iron above a swatch of the same color.