NEW WAYS WITH WOOD Fresh ideas for this staple in kitchen schemes

FEATURE LINDA CLAYTON

NEW WAYS WITH WOOD

THIS KITCHEN STAPLE IS BEING REINTERPRETED WITH FRESH AND INTERESTING TECHNIQUES

ANOTHER DIMENSION

Three-dimensional surfaces that shift with the light bring a modern twist to wood in the kitchen. ‘Combined with sleek flat-fronted doors in crisp white, thin vertical wood slats provide texture and depth, enhancing the tension between plain and pattern,’ explains Sofia Bune Strandh, CEO, Sola Kitchens. SKOG, meaning ‘forest’ in Swedish, is the name given to this striking new wood-focused design from Sola Kitchens. ‘It’s called SKOG partly because the wooden slats resemble the outlines of trees, but also the name reflects the embracement of natural materials – a typical quality of Scandinavian design,’ she adds. →

The SKOG kitchen in oak, ash or walnut, from £50,000, Sola Kitchens

MODULAR MOVES

Keeping timber use below eye level is more peripheral so won’t overpower. It can also appear less ‘kitchen-y’. ‘Using oak worktops and wrapping the drawer units in the same oak creates a modular look, more akin to a living room sideboard,’ explains Jayne Everett, co-founder, Naked Kitchens. ‘We wanted each wood section to mimic a piece of free-standing furniture – far removed from a standard fitted kitchen.’ White American oak was chosen for its robust, tightly knitted grain and soft washed tones. The timber was finished in a specialist Nano coating to provide resilience without altering the wood’s natural look.

MIX MEDIUMS

‘If you want to introduce two or more species of timber in the same room, it’s wise to ensure there’s enough contrast between each one. You can just see the media wall shelving, in a much darker stained oak, reflected in the splashback here,’ explains Deborah Bass, director, Base Interior. The hexagonal flooring is cut from natural marble in similar tones to both timbers, helping to unite the two. ‘Whatever timbers you use in the kitchen, the key to avoiding a heavy “wall” of wood is to balance out the other finishes in the room, such as pale painted walls, simple handles and antique mirror splashbacks.’

Bespoke kitchen in white American oak, from £36,000, Naked Kitchens. Oak Super Stave worktops with Nano coating, £315lin m, Norfolk Oak Bespoke oak veneer kitchen, from £18,000, Base Interior. Worktops and splashback in 4230 Shitake quartz, £450sq m, Caesarstone

S (MODULAR MOVES) ELIZABETH SHERWIN PHOTOGRAPH

BALANCING ACT

Dark timber designs have stepped into the light. The traditional hues and craftsmanship of antique furniture have been deftly brought up to date with contemporary lines and detailing. ‘Combining darker tones with lighter finishes allows our designers to balance the feeling of solidity and depth, while still making the most of any natural light,’ explains Andrew Hamilton Barr, director, Espresso Design. Here, Cesar’s Intarsio range takes its inspiration from traditional marquetry to create doors with distinctive cross direction veneers that are paired with dark marble to create a unique kitchen. →

The Intarsio kitchen range by Cesar, from £30,000, Espresso Design

MODERN TWIST

Taking timber in a contemporary direction requires a considered approach to avoid missing out on the wood’s natural beauty. TR Studio chose deVOL’s Sebastian Cox range, featuring cabinetry in black-stained beech. ‘We like to use wood in a very calm way in kitchens. You can maintain clean lines and use sleek surfaces, but wood itself brings craft and texture, both visual and tactile,’ says Tom Rutt, founder, TR Studio. ‘We love how this kitchen strikes the balance between traditional and contemporary. It is clearly a real solid timber door, but the colour makes it abstracted and adds a modernity.’

RUSTIC TOUCHES

Honest materials and raw finishes lend natural charm in this calming space. Created by California-based designer Brad Krefman, a warm, neutral backdrop – Dulux’s Brave Ground is similar – tones serenely with unstained oak cabinetry. Copper mesh brings a modern farmhouse vibe to wall cabinets, while the perimeter worktops in creamy precast concrete are a practical choice. A rugged slab of reclaimed oak links the bespoke cooker hood with the salvaged ceiling beams above, helping to achieve a smooth transition from new oak to ancient timber. On the island, delicately veined Taj Mahal quartzite adds subtle pattern to the mix.

The Sebastian Cox kitchen, from £15,000, deVOL. Kitchen designed by TR Studio

Bespoke oak kitchen by BK Interior Design. For similar in the UK try Middleton Bespoke, where kitchens start from £25,000

WILLIAMS; (CHIC SALVAGE) TOM FALLON

CHIC SALVAGE

Reclaimed wood has clear environmental benefits, not to mention unique historic appeal. Often associated with very rustic, time-worn designs, this version by salvage specialists Retrouvius demonstrates a more sophisticated approach. Made from old timber shelving, the geometric door fronts are beautifully executed for maximum impact. ‘Our salvaged tropical hardwoods were used in the areas where the main cooking action takes place,’ says Maria Speake, founder, Retrouvius. ‘Brilliant for splashbacks and worktops, the wood is innately water-resistant, hard-wearing and the odd splash of oil from cooking all adds to the timber’s own natural oiliness and is absorbed to help protect the wood.’ &

Kitchen designed by Retrouvius and made using salvaged timber, prices from £480 for prepared iroko worktops