The Best Cabinet Colors With GE Cafe Matte Black Appliances

DESIGNING A KITCHEN WITH GE CAFE BLACK APPLIANCES

Black appliances are by no means making a comeback, but GE Cafe Matte Black is certainly putting its stamp on kitchen trends. While stainless steel is still the top choice, boutique finishes like GE Cafe White, Cafe Matte Black, and dark stainless are popping up on my Kylie M Instagram all the time.

But you can’t just pick matte black (or any black) appliances on a whim, as there are some important things to consider when decorating a kitchen with this finish…

• If you want white or off-white cabinets, your appliances will be HIGH CONTRAST with your cabinets.
• With dark cabinets, GE Cafe Matte Black will be low contrast, but you’ve committed yourself to a dark look for the long term.
• It’s trendy, although if well-planned and part of the color scheme, it will last a reasonably long time (but it isn’t part of a timeless kitchen design, not like stainless steel).

And most importantly…

Just because the word ‘black’ is in the name doesn’t mean they’re black. Just as GE Cafe White isn’t white, Cafe Matte Black isn’t black; it’s more like a super dark shade of gray.

You must also consider the surrounding finishes, including your countertop and cabinet color.

This leads us to the topic of this blog post – the best cabinet colors to go with GE Cafe Matte Black. I wrote a similar article on coordinating paint colors with GE Cafe White, as well as on regular white and black appliances. Reading these will help you decide which finish is the best for you and your home.

 This isn’t GE Cafe Matte Black, but it is similar

All the photos in my blog are from my Online Color Consulting clients, readers, & friends— because real homes deserve to be celebrated (dirty laundry & all!) While not magazine-perfect, they’re packed with ideas & proven color choices to help you create a home you’ll love.

But first…

ARE BLACK APPLIANCES TRENDY OR TIMELESS

Yes…and no. Actual ‘black appliances’ aren’t trendy; however, GE Cafe Matte Black is. And while there are a few exceptions, neither are timeless. This being said, appliances these days aren’t known for lasting more than a short decade, so by the time you’re done, they might be, too.

By the way, according to sources, GE Cafe Matte Black and Black Slate are the same.

GE Cafe Black with brushed bronze hardware

When you choose Cafe White or Matte Black appliances, you’re choosing to ‘decorate your kitchen’ with your appliances.

Stainless steel appliances tend to be part of the backdrop of a kitchen and don’t stand out as much. Cafe White and Matte Black appliances are a very purposeful part of the design – they show up at the party with tassels on.

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR APPLIANCE COLOR?

Stainless steel is hands-down the top appliance color—and for good reasons. Stainless steel is more flexible and has a wider range of coordinating finishes than Cafe White or Cafe Black. It’s also more versatile than regular white or black appliances.

Should this dictate your choice? No, because if you find a palette that suits your Cafe White or Cafe Black, you’re good to go.

This ‘in progress kitchen’ could suit Cafe Matte Black (or white), but stainless steel is more subtle and lets the cabinets and soapstone countertops be the stars…

In this next kitchen, the warm off-white of these painted kitchen cabinets would be a hot mess with Cafe White or Black – they need stainless steel. If you were to do Cafe Matte Black, the appliance’s hardware finish and cabinet hardware would need to match for this look to have a chance…

Sherwin Williams Snowbound / The Best Off-White & Light Depth Cabinet Colors

The star of the show in this next kitchen is the gorgeous quartzite countertop and slab bacKsplash…

Kitchen Backsplash Trends: Zellige, Slab Backsplash, Subway Tile

If you put Cafe Matte Black appliances in the above kitchen, they would draw your attention away from the beautiful countertop and surrounding finishes. As for Cafe White, it’s too cool-toned for the warm white paint color on the cabinets.

Are there exceptions where Cafe White or Matte Black appliances are the best choice? Absolutely, but this doesn’t mean they naturally fit in any old kitchen design.

THE BEST CABINET PAINT COLORS WITH GE CAFE BLACK

The best cabinet color for you and your home depends on which direction you’re going – low contrast, medium contrast, or high contrast.

Let’s start with a high-contrast palette, using white cabinets with black appliances.

WHITE CABINET COLORS FOR GE MATTE BLACK APPLIANCES

Whereas the color of your appliances matters more in the medium and dark ranges, when it comes to light cabinet colors, your countertop/backsplash calls the biggest shots! That’s right, while you want to consider your appliances (at some point) when dealing with white and light cabinet colors, you must humor your other finishes first.

In general, GE Cafe Black looks wicked pretty with a wide range of whites, as long as they aren’t overly creamy or yellow. I say this because most of the countertops, backsplashes, and paint colors that look good with creamy yellow cabinets will not suit these black appliances—they’re going in opposite directions.

These appliances are dark stainless but offer a similar look and degree of contrast.

For this reason, I would focus on the following shades of white and see which ones jibe with your surrounding finishes…

• Sherwin Williams Pure White (HELLS YEAH!)
• Benjamin Moore White Dove is a classic, timeless, warm shade of white
• Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is Benjamin Moore’s brightest white without being stark or harsh.
• Sherwin Williams White Snow is a gorgeous, brighter shade of white that’s great for cabinets and trims.

Or do your due diligence by closely comparing my favorite shades of white in this CURATED COLOR BUNDLE – there are no other whites worth looking at if you ask me!

Remember, if you choose a high-contrast palette like this, your appliances can become the star of the show. PERSONALLY…I prefer my other finishes to be the stand-out features (unless I have a super amazeballs stove), but you do you, boo! 

OFF-WHITE PAINT COLORS WITH GE CAFE MATTE BLACK

Depending on your countertop and backsplash, several off-white and light-depth cabinet colors look good with GE Cafe Matte Black. The list is reasonably long, and it’s MORE about what coordinates with your chosen countertop and backsplash. To get you started, here’s a list of my top off-white and light-depth kitchen cabinet paint colors.

I’d love to give you a long list of stunning shades, but again, when dealing with lighter colors, it’s less about your appliances and more about your countertop, backsplash, and flooring.

For the most part, I would avoid light cabinet colors that are creamy-yellow, obviously blue, or overly violet-toned.

While I don’t have photos of off-white cabinets with black appliances, I have some great off-white and light-depth cabinet examples to show you…

Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray cabinets with Iron Ore island.

Is Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter the Best Cabinet Color For YOU?

Here’s a kitchen with Revere Pewter cabinets that could easily handle the wicked dark look of GE Cafe Matte Black…

MEDIUM & LOW CONTRAST CABINET COLORS WITH GE CAFE MATTE BLACK APPLIANCES

Of the three looks (low, medium, and high), medium contrast is a great choice as it’s not too high OR low contrast. White cabinets can be a bit jarring in the wrong space—there are many things to consider in a palette like that. Dark cabinets can be heavy and dramatic if that’s not a style you’re used to.

While it depends on the look you’re going for, medium contrast can be the perfect happy medium!

These green cabinets are in medium contrast with the matte black appliances.

The best non-white paint colors to complement Cafe Matte Black often include green (but it isn’t a prerequisite). 

Many medium-toned shades of green can be gorgeous with black appliances (as shown above). Cool greens can be a bit nicer than warm shades of green.

However, some green-blue blends don’t work well, especially those heavy on blue. As shown in this next image from GE’s website, while the combo itself is pretty, this degree of green-blue makes the cabinets look a touch gray-purple in comparison…

This color is similar to Sherwin Williams Riverway

I would lean heavier on the green and less on the blue (and make sure there’s some gray in there) – more like the previous photo with the rattan pendant lights (which is also as colorful as I would go).

There is also a wide range of medium-depth mushroom-inspired paint colors that can look gorgeous with GE Cafe Matte Black, as shown in the kitchen of my Online Color Consulting client…

Thank you to all my clients and readers for sending your photos in – you make my colorful little world go round! 

This next kitchen with Sherwin Williams Felted Wool cabinets would look gorgeous with soft black appliances…

THE BEST DARK OR BLACK PAINT COLORS WITH GE CAFE MATTE BLACK

Dark appliances, dark cabinets – come to Momma! While this moody look isn’t for everyone, it’s a striking way to make a statement in your kitchen.

If you want a match for your Cafe Matte Black, there won’t be one. You’re matching a slightly shiny metal surface to a paint color. This color could then be made into matte, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss finish paint, which can tweak how it looks (by the way, satin finish is almost always best for kitchen cabinets.)

Instead, it’s about finding the color connection you like the best.

Determining Cafe Matte Black’s exact LRV is challenging, but it sits somewhere around 6-7.

Why does this matter?

If you choose a dark color with an LRV a few points (or more) lower than seven, your cabinets could look darker and blacker than your appliances. If you choose a color that’s a similar depth or lighter, your cabinets could blend or look a bit lighter than your appliances – there isn’t a wrong answer; it’s about your tastes!

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colors Using LRV

Cracked Pepper (listed below) has an LRV of 8 and is a bit lighter than Cafe Matte Black.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS’ BEST PAINT COLOR MATCHES TO GE CAFE BLACK

One of the best dark colors in Sherwin-Williams paint is Iron Ore SW 7069 (LRV 6), a soft black/dark gray paint color with subtle undertones. I also suggest checking out Sherwin Williams Peppercorn SW 7674 (LRV 10.)

While this next kitchen doesn’t have black appliances, notice how gorgeous Iron Ore looks on the range hood and painted kitchen island…

Check out the best soft white quartz countertops.

Iron Ore and Peppercorn are two wicked pretty, dark paint colors. Some might call them soft black; others see them as the DARKEST shades of charcoal gray (which Iron Ore is, Peppercorn is a regular dark gray). Iron Ore’s undertones can flex slightly and pop a vague green here and there, which is quite pretty with Cafe Black. Peppercorn’s undertones can flex more. Compare both to see which color settles best in your space, including your backsplash, countertop, and flooring.

You can also opt for a legit shade of black with your Cafe Matte Black. This can be a striking, moody look for any kitchen, especially if you sample a black like Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black.

BENJAMIN MOORE’S BEST PAINT MATCH TO GE CAFE MATTE BLACK

When coordinating with Cafe Matte Black, I prefer the color options from Sherwin Williams to all other brands. As far as Benjamin Moore goes, I would check out Midnight Oil 1631 (LRV 7.67), as well as Graphite 1603 (LRV 7.59). I could be tempted by Wrought Iron (LRV 8.17) as well. See how you feel about the blue undertones against your matte black appliances compared to a soft black like Sherwin Williams Iron Ore.

This next photo shows Benjamin Moore’s Wrought Iron on painted interior doors, looking badass and beautiful…

If you’re in the mood for a more legit shade of black, check out Benjamin Moore’s Black 2132-10. (LRV 4.56.)

BEHR PAINT’S BEST MATCH

Behr takes a good shot at things with Cracked Pepper PPU18-1 (LRV 8). Along with Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron, it’s as close as I would get to a dark blue cabinet color. Read Cracked Pepper’s Color Review.

GLIDDEN’S (PPG) BEST MATCH

Glidden does a decent job of connecting with Cafe Matte Black with the moody, dark look of Deep Onyx 00NN 07/000 (LRV 5.8). This soft shade of black will be darker than your appliances, making them look more charcoal gray.

Glidden’s Deep Onyx (listed below) has an LRV of 5.8

Get a CURATE COLOR BUNDLE of my favorite BLACK PAINT COLORS – sample and compare to find YOUR faves! 

Would I choose Cafe White or Cafe Black for my kitchen?

While they’re stunning appliances, for sure, they’re too trendy for me (as I love to change things every time I get my monthly).

I don’t want to draw attention to my fridge, stove, and dishwasher (unless it’s a badass Wolf range or something equally as cool). I’d rather they be part of the backdrop, and short of doing cabinet-ready appliances, stainless steel is the most passive look.

But hey, that’s my opinion  – if you love them, buy them! 

HARDWARE FINISHES FOR GE CAFE MATTE BLACK

Once you’ve chosen your appliances and cabinet color, your next most important decision is your hardware finish for your appliances and cabinets! In this next beautiful kitchen with mushroom cabinets, notice how the brushed bronze fridge pull picks up on the cabinet knobs and handles…

The Best Off-White & White Quartz & Quartzite Countertops

The 6 Best Mushroom-Inspired Paint Colors

In this next image, you can see the different metal finishes available. This is from the GE website, and while it’s nice to see the colors in action, I wouldn’t take those tips too seriously…

Why?

Because your hardware finish needs to coordinate with the surrounding finishes more than it needs to satisfy the above words. For example, you might choose Brushed Bronze, thinking it ‘goes with any kitchen palette‘ (as suggested). Let me assure you that it doesn’t.

READ MORE

How to Decorate With Black Appliances

The Best White & Off-White Quartz & Quartzite Countertops

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