A white gloss kitchen is one of the most requested looks in Nairobi homes, and for good reason. Gloss fronts bounce light around the room, make a small kitchen feel bigger and are easy to wipe clean. The kitchen in our photo shows how well white gloss works against dark worktops. Here is how to plan the same look with Kenyos boards.
Start with the right quality gloss board
The gloss look comes from a UV finish: a high-gloss topcoat on the board face that gives a mirror-like surface and better scratch resistance than a normal finish. In our boards range you will find UV gloss chipboard in white, as well as grey, dark grey and cappuccino UV decors, plus marble-look UV boards such as Marble White UV.
For a classic white gloss kitchen, use a white UV gloss board for the doors and drawer fronts. Inside the cabinets, where nobody sees the gloss, a plain white board such as Chipboard Kenyos White keeps the carcasses bright and clean.
Pair white gloss with a dark worktop
The contrast between bright white fronts and a dark worktop is what makes this look so striking. In the kitchen pictured, the white units sit under black stone worktops, with a matching island. The dark surface frames the white, hides everyday marks on the work surface, and gives the room a strong, finished line.
Worktops are not something we stock, so plan them alongside your boards with your fitter. The key is to choose your white gloss boards first and then pick a worktop that gives clear contrast.
Add warmth with a second decor
In home interiors in Kenya, an all-white kitchen can feel cold. A popular way to add warmth is to bring in one woodgrain decor, for example on open shelves, a tall unit or the end panel of the island. Woodgrain chipboards such as Original Walnut, Versail Walnut or Savina Oak work well next to white gloss. If you prefer a softer look, Moon Light offers a light off-white grey that sits gently beside pure white.
Not sure about white? Other gloss ideas
The same approach works in other colours. Grey and dark grey UV gloss boards give a more modern, urban kitchen, especially with light worktops. Cappuccino UV gives a warmer, softer gloss. Some of our colour boards, such as Khaki and Petrol Blue, can also be ordered with a UV finish, so you can have a bold colour with a gloss shine on an island or a run of wall units. For a statement island, a marble-look UV board such as Marble White UV gives the look of stone on the cabinet fronts.
Mind the edges
With gloss fronts, edges are very visible. Ask for every visible edge to be edged when your boards are cut, so doors and drawer fronts have a clean, continuous finish. Our cut-to-size service cuts and edges boards to your sizes, so they arrive ready to assemble.
Finish with fittings and lighting
Handles, rails and other kitchen and wardrobe fittings complete the look, so choose a finish that suits the white. Lighting is a big part of kitchen interior design, and it matters even more in a gloss kitchen, because the surfaces reflect it. Our CHINT electricals include LED panel lights, ceiling lights and LED strip lights, plus the switches and sockets to go with them.
Looking after a gloss kitchen
Gloss fronts stay looking their best with gentle care: wipe them with a soft, damp cloth and a mild cleaner, and avoid scouring pads or harsh chemicals that can dull the surface. Our board care guide goes into more detail.
Shop the look
The gloss and woodgrain boards from this white gloss kitchen guide:
See the boards at our Nairobi showroom
Gloss looks different in person than on a screen. Visit our showroom at 44 Enterprise Rd, Industrial Area, Nairobi, Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm, to compare the white and UV gloss boards side by side. Or send us a message on WhatsApp on 0759 888 222 with your kitchen layout and we will help you choose. When you are ready, we can cut and edge your boards and deliver them to your site.