An eggshell or satin(wood) cabinet system, every time. That's the sweet spot for kitchen cabinets: enough sheen to wipe clean and shrug off splashes and grease, but soft enough that it doesn't scream "glossy fitted kitchen circa 1995". Full matt looks lovely on a wall but it has no place on a door you'll be opening with buttery hands twice a day — it marks and you can't scrub it without burnishing. Full gloss will wear well, but it's too brash for most modern kitchens.
The bit that actually matters more than sheen is how durable the formulation is. Standard wall eggshell isn't built for the knocks a cabinet takes. You want a proper hardwearing trim or cabinet finish.
My go-to recommendations from the supported brands:
- Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell — water-based, low odour, genuinely tough and self-priming over most existing finishes once prepped.
- Farrow & Ball Modern Eggshell — wipeable, lovely soft sheen, and you get the full F&B colour range.
- Mylands Wood & Metal Eggshell — beautiful depth of colour and very robust.
If you want maximum knock-resistance, Bedec MSP (Multi Surface Paint) in satin is the trade-standard alternative for cabinets — it dries hard as nails, though the colour range is limited.
The "but what about prep" question: prep is 80% of the job. Degrease thoroughly (sugar soap), sand to a key, and prime — Zinsser BIN if you've got knots, glossy laminate or melamine to grip onto. Skip this and even the best eggshell will peel.
Colour-wise, classic kitchen cabinet choices that wear well and hide marks: Farrow & Ball Card Room Green, Inchyra Blue for a deep dramatic base, Pigeon for a softer grey-green, or Mylands Marble Arch No.82 for a smart off-white. Two thin coats beats one thick one — let it cure properly before you start slamming doors.