Peppercorn is probably Sherwin Williams’ most well known medium charcoal. Most often used on exteriors and feature walls, this color makes a stunning statement in kitchens too!
Here we will see Peppercorn on both kitchen cabinets and used as a pop of color on an island. We will also talk countertop and hardware choices that pair nicely with this rich gray.
But first…
Is Charcoal Even a Good Color for Cabinets?
Charcoal is a great choice for kitchen cabinets, but it’s typically better in small doses. Especially in older homes, the kitchen is often one of the spaces that have the lowest light, so it’s better not to suck it all out with a dark color.
Charcoal is perfect for lower cabinets or an island. I have also seen darker colors on only the pantry cabinets, which creates an interesting color block effect.
A Charcoal like Peppercorn is also a great alternative to black or very dark wood, because it will show dirt and dust a little less, but achieve the same look.
Choosing a Charcoal for Cabinets
Because kitchens tend to have less natural light, dark paint colors will tend to look darker. I recommend staying at the upper LRV range for charcoal, which is typically around 10 – 20. Luckily Peppercorn is right there!
Charcoal colors with LRVs below 10 will have the tendency to look black, but Peppercorn rarely does.
Sherwin Williams Peppercorn on Real Life Kitchen Cabinets
Let’s start with what I feel is the most expected look from SW Peppercorn:
You may well be surprised at this island, because on paper Peppercorn is a “perfect” gray. In real life it definitely tends to have a blue-ish smokey undertone.
Here is another kitchen, where the lower cabinets are a classic Peppercorn look.
You can see that the upper cabinets are under a warmer light and they look maybe slightly more green in undertone. Peppercorn can look slightly green, but it is more rare.
It was smart to keep the backsplash white, and to leave some open space above the sink with extra lights where typically there would be a window.
Here is another look at Peppercorn where it does lean a little more true gray to green:
You can tell that this photo does have a warmer filter on it, so it is not 100% color accurate.
Here is one more kitchen with Peppercorn lowers and white upper cabinets:
In this case the upper cabinets are Sherwin Williams Alabaster, which is a soft creamy white. Again the photos have a bit of a filter on them, so take the colors with just a pinch of salt.
Finally I have a couple more Peppercorn cabinets to show you that are outside of the kitchen, but still helpful to give you a good idea of how it will look.
Here is Peppercorn in a moody color-drenched office off of a living room:
This is again a very typical look to Peppercorn, and what you should probably expect in your kitchen.
Here is a very similar Peppercorn cabinet situation, in another office/study:
Finally, here is Peppercorn in a generous run of cabinets in a bathroom:
This is the only home where Peppercorn has been paired with black hardware, and I like it more than I expected to!
What Color of White Cabinets is Best with Peppercorn?
If you do want to go the two-toned route with Peppercorn in your kitchen, my first coordinating white paint recommendation would be Snowbound.
Here it is on kitchen cabinets with a charcoal similar to Peppercorn on the island and on the pantry door:
Snowbound is a very pretty soft white that generally reads like a true white. It does not have a yellow undertone, but rather has a hint of gray and a whiff of pink.
The pink will virtually never be visible on cabinets, provided you don’t use a cool or very creamy white for walls and/or backsplash. So you need not be scared of Snowbound’s undertone!
My next choice for white cabinets with Peppercorn would be Sherwin Williams Pure White.
Pure White is also a soft white that usually reads like a true white. I would say that it reads a bit less crisp than Snowbound. The undertone of Pure White doesn’t ever look yellow, but technically it is more so than Snowbound. You may find it more likely to emphasize the blue undertones of Peppercorn.
What Color Hardware Should You Use with Peppercorn Kitchen Cabinets?
The most popular hardware color to use with Peppercorn cabinets is brass or gold. Warm metallics will pop beautifully against this cool charcoal.
For a lower contrast option, you might like black or pewter. Those colors are more likely to help Peppercorn look true gray, but I’m not sure that they can do enough heavy lifting to cancel it entirely!
What Color Countertops Are Best with Peppercorn Cabinets?
White is definitely the most popular countertop color in general, and even more so when using a dark cabinet color like Peppercorn. It’s a smart choice to bring some light into your kitchen, particularly if you opt to use Peppercorn on all of your cabinets.
If white is really not your style, you might consider butcher block. This affordable alternative to stone really does look good with any cabinet color, and you can get some nice light options.
Should You Choose Peppercorn for Your Kitchen Cabinets?
Of course it’s totally up to you! I think Peppercorn is a nice choice if you like cool toned colors and blues. It has a similar effect to navy cabinets and islands, but those are slightly out of fashion now.
Peppercorn is neutral enough to not read like a fad, but still make a statement.
I would not use Peppercorn if you really don’t want your cabinets to be misinterpreted as blue, because some less color savvy visitors will surely do so!
Peppercorn is a great choice for lower, or all cabinets, in a kitchen with lots of light, and better reserved for an island-only look in a smaller, darker, space.
Thank you so much for reading until the end! That really helps my blog.
Not sold on Peppercorn? Here are some other colors to consider:
