Karen S. Brooks 
Beautiful and durable Natural wood is among the most effective ways to bring the warmth and character of the interior design, which is among the primary reasons why timber kitchens are enjoying a deserved revival. Although we don’t see fully solid timber kitchens frequently, there’s no doubt that a basic gray or white kitchen can be transformed by the addition of a few pieces of timber.
I am pleased to report that some customers are receptive to the idea of incorporating some wood into their kitchens. However, some believe that it will taint their style and I appreciate. I frequently hear that people are opting for white kitchens because it’s timeless, and there’s no doubt that this is the case, however, if you’re not mindful of the style it is possible that they will get a little sloppy and leave you disappointed.
If you feel that you’re in need of adding excitement and warmth to your kitchen’s design but you don’t want to bring in colour, then read on for my advice on creating an elegant contemporary kitchen.
What is the best ratio to choose for a wood kitchen?
It all is contingent on a number of aspects. The first is how much you love the chosen wood. If it’s a stunning natural wood, then it is possible to use it in the whole kitchen, but I think that the designs made of timber appear better when coupled with a gray or white. The contrast in this case allows them to really shine.
Additionally, natural wood can be expensive and consequently, you may wish to limit the use of it to an decorative area that you be able to see, such as an upper cabinet row just. If you’re unsure about using natural wood I would recommend using it to cover some doors just in one location so that you can easily modify the doors at a later date.
When you are deciding how much wood to incorporate into your kitchen’s design, and evaluating the location of it, consider the following aspects including flooring, windows and doors, furniture and, in certain cases ceiling finishes that can occasionally be natural timber.
Take the room in consideration in its entirety and keep in mind that in open-plan spaces, you must take into consideration all the components.
It is possible to choose to be more generous when it comes to the use of wood in the event that you have a tile or stone flooring. Timber flooring is sometimes in conflict with a kitchen made of timber and, in this instance I usually only select the timber used for the upper cabinetry in order to create a separation from the other. The idea of repetition, such as the image above by Dan Kitchens, works really well when an island’s front connects directly to upper cabinets, creating an flow and connection within the design.
A professional designer can assist with the positioning of timber within the kitchen as they evaluate the layout in general and analyze how the contrast can be used to the best impact and how it will be positioned with other elements of the room. Many times, out of the box concepts that you might not have thought of can perform well and can give your kitchen an appearance which is a bit different from the standard and give you a kitchen that you be able to appreciate.
The image above shows how you can create the floor of your timber using cabinets made of timber. The flooring selection includes a variety of warm timber colors, some rather dark, and the addition of dark stainless steel finish and appliances makes the design look balanced. The designer hasn’t attempted to make the cabinets match perfectly However, they’ve examined the overall look of the finish and picked a floor that complements the other finishes. The floorboards made of timber are aligned with the kitchen. This adds to the visual contrast.
The attractive wall of white cabinets is simple but effective and makes an ideal foil for the amount of wood in the design.
The advantages and disadvantages for using veneer in timber kitchens
As a designer, I love using wood veneers because you can enjoy the beautiful look of timber, yet you only have a tiny portion of the same material you would find in a solid wood kitchen. Raw veneers are just less than a millimetre deep and are glued onto the solid, sturdy board by a manufacturer and later finished with a tough two-pack polyurethane finish. The timber veneers are commonly used in furniture but are also ideal in kitchen cabinetry.
I think the beauty stems from the uniqueness of the timber’s natural appearance but customers who prefer to know what they will receive can be anxious about this process since it is a living natural item and of course susceptible to alteration according to the species, it can be quite significant in comparison to the original specimen. It can be very complex if you need to know precisely what you’re going to receive since you have to look over the cut piece of wood that will be used to make your cabinetry when it is made in the manufacturing facility. Of course, a skilled joiner and fabricator is more than willing to help.
The design process may be quite complicated with wood veneers because there are many methods to create the veneer, and then join them. Wood veneers are able to be cut in quarters that produces a straight grain, whereas the crown cut produces an extremely distinct V shaped pattern. The individual leaves of the veneer need to be joined. It is possible to leave it as an unplanned pattern, but I prefer an arranged book so that every piece is symmetrical and mirrors the that is next to it.
The image above shows an example of a book-matched wood veneer in red and it’s interesting to observe the gorgeous style that this produces.
It is also recommended to discuss the edging finish with your joiner because they usually aren’t identical to the main veneer. You require something that is specifically and matched, or you can have an alternative option.
I will also not recommend wood veneers for bathrooms that does not have adequate natural ventilation or a excellent extractor fan because the steam can cause problems with the glue. In my experience, I’ve found that the life span of vanity units is rather short in a humid and humid space. It can also be an issue when you don’t have an efficient extraction air conditioner in your kitchen.
There are numerous companies now offering the pre-finished veneer for timber which is an excellent alternative for wood kitchens. I am a fan of this choice for customers as it’s an easier method of knowing precisely what they will receive and, of course, the cost is lower since the product is already sprayed and ready for use. These are available as pre-finished panels or the form of a laminate that is placed over another substrate.
Alternative finishes for timber kitchens
If everything above sounds too complicated to handle, too complicated or too costly, be calm as there are numerous options to help you get your wooden kitchen running. Laminate and melamine finishes have made huge strides and don’t bear any resemblance whatsoever to the shiny plastic finishes that were popular during the past century. Nowadays, manufacturers go to extreme measures to create laminate and melamine panels which actually resemble wood. The latest designs by Polytec and Laminex and others available on these markets, can be extremely efficient, especially if you want to introduce timber as an accent in your kitchen.
The advantages include the same grain and colour The product is also finished ready for installation and cheaper than the actual product. They are also able to be used in humid and hot areas.
The kitchen above has Polytec Natural Oak as an accent. It is paired with Polytec Polar White cabinetry.
It is still recommended to look over the entire panel when deciding on an item so you can view the full grain pattern. If you look at your sample with a tiny color chip in the kitchen design studio, you’ll only see a small fraction of what you’ll be receiving. The picture above illustrates the exact way to do this, so you have to make sure you are satisfied with the whole design not just a tiny sample portion.
Grey and Timber Kitchens
One of my favorite color combinations is natural and grey timber. The selection of fairly dark wood works against the darker grey kitchen island, and I believe it is an ideal foil for the striking and rich stone splashback and benchtop. A masculine and stylish colour palette. I absolutely like it and believe this combination is a fantastic option for wood kitchens.
A different approach to the classic white and timber kitchen, with small black accents that gives the whole scheme an edge. Timber finishes on upper cabinets of a kitchen can be very effective, but only when they are paired with extractor fans to ensure the crisp lines do not get lost.
I have a Pinterest board dedicated to modern kitchen design that I have shared on my Pinterest page. Follow me on Pinterest for of ideas and inspiration. There are photos of stunning wooden kitchens. I would like to get in touch with you if you have tried using timber in your kitchen or you are thinking about doing it, or if you have thoughts or concerns you’d like to send me.
Steccawood accents
The Steccawood range by Polytec is an ideal option to incorporate timber into kitchen designs for a decorative element. With either pencil or rectangle circular profiles. What was intended for commercial use is now bringing it into the kitchen, and is perfect for the sides of benches on islands.
