Black 'can be a great colour for kitchen design'

Black could be a good colour to use when fitting and decorating a new kitchen, according to one expert.

Writing for the Deseret News, interior decorator and HGTV host Candice Olson notes that many people tend not to think of black when considering new kitchens.

"Used properly, however, it can provide a great anchor in a large room and bring a sense of sophistication and style to any space," she remarks.

Ms Olson gives the example of one property where she fitted black kitchen worktops to begin with, creating an "immediate" change.

She then set off the contemporary feel created by the black worktops with an aluminium backsplash and a black and burnt cream area rug in the dining part of the kitchen.

Last month, Helen Green of the Terry's Fabrics blog claimed that black kitchens are proving particularly popular at the moment and may be "here to stay".

She recommended using black high gloss kitchen units and balancing the dark colour with shades of white and grey to create the perfect black kitchen.