Jessica Alba’s Dark Kitchen Cabinets Achieve an Unexpectedly Clever Design Trick, and We Know the Exact Shade She's Used

Jessica Alba's decor is a constant source of inspiration for us here at Homes & Gardens, thanks to her refined and elegant style that blends organic forms with bold silhouettes and muted color schemes. Her LA home is a masterclass in understated chic, and her kitchen is no exception.

But one aspect of her kitchen design that has particularly caught our attention recently is the deep blue-grey shade of Jessica Alba's vertical kitchen cabinets. Contrary to what you might expect, dark kitchen cabinet colors, as demonstrated here, can really draw the eye up, creating an illusion of height and space.

Kitchens Editor, Molly Malsom, explains: 'People often avoid darker colors in a kitchen because they believe it will make the space feel small and uninviting. But this space clearly benefits from a lot of natural light, which instantly lifts the room and allows the cabinet color to bring drama and contrast. In many ways, it's actually made the space look bigger, in part because the dark color draws your eye up to those wall cabinets (taking them all the way to the ceiling is a smart way to elongate the height of the room), but also because the darker cabinets give the kitchen a sense of scale.'

Shop Accessories Inspired by Jessica Alba's Kitchen

The ceiling-height cabinets – matched by Jessica Alba's statement darkened brass Range cooker hood – make use of the full height of the room. But the expanse of dark color is cleverly broken up with white gloss tiles (also stretching right to the ceiling), light marble surfaces, and a bold stone kitchen island with a natural wood surface.

We can reveal that the actual shade Jessica Alba has used to paint her kitchen cabinets is Farrow & Ball's Downpipe. This dramatic lead grey may not be your first choice when it comes to painting your kitchen cabinets, but it's lifted by a blue-ish tone that, in some lights, looks like a soft navy. If you're a fan of this shade, there are plenty of clever ideas for decorating with Farrow & Ball's Downpipe in other rooms of your home, which feel unexpectedly cozy.

While the dark color choice certainly makes a statement, other decorative elements, such as the brass taps, wooden flooring, and accessories, all help to soften the look, meaning it doesn't look dark or oppressive, but chic and intentional.

Meanwhile, the cabinets stand out as a bold and eye-catching feature of this elegant and thoughtfully designed kitchen.

'Jessica Alba's kitchen welcomes a classic color pairing and a moodier hue that brings personality to the design. This space really is a lesson in understanding the light in your kitchen and knowing when to choose the bold paint color option,' concludes Molly.

Jessica Alba's bold kitchen cabinet choice feels chic and creates an unexpectedly light and spacious feel. Most of us aren't blessed with the square footage of a Hollywood star's pad of course, but if you're wondering what color to paint cabinets in a small kitchen, you might be surprised to learn that the same rules apply, so give it a try.