5 minute read
From pine to sublime: 50 years of kitchen style
Half a century of kitchen trends
Back when we started Drumoak Kitchens in 1972, a lot of things were very different. We’d just joined the EU and Spanish package holidays were the height of sophistication. Oil had come to Aberdeen and looking good meant flares, platform shoes and mini-skirts. Glam rock and heavy metal filled the charts and space hoppers were all the rage.
Advertisement
The seventies was the decade that saw most change when it came to kitchens. At the beginning of the 1970s only 70% of households had a fridge and about two thirds of homes had a washing machine. A decade later and 92% had a fridge and 80% had a washing machine. Freezers were still a new-fangled luxury, found in just 7% of homes. Dishwashers, microwaves, boiling water taps and decent coffee machines were still decades away.
In terms of interiors, warm, earthy colours and bold patterns dominated. Even bathrooms were a riot of colour with suites in avocado or burnt orange. Everyone desired a farmhouse style pine kitchen, where they would rustle up posh dinner party delights like prawn cocktails or Black Forest Gateau.
In the 80s the focus changed as we became more high tech. It was an era of aspirational yuppies, Italian furniture in black leather and chrome and a more international approach to food. Kitchens became places to entertain and show off your culinary skills as celebrity chefs took over the TV and bestsellers lists. Everyone had a Delia cook book. The rustic kitchen look gave way to sleek minimalist designs in white, cream or black. U-shaped kitchens and island units or breakfast bars became trendy as kitchens became more formal entertaining spaces, complete with colour-pop bar stools and granite worktops.
The nineties saw another shift in kitchen use, as we abandoned our dining rooms and ate ready meals in front of the TV. The frenetic urban vibe of the 80s gave way to a more relaxed approach, with painted wood kitchens and easy-clean laminate work surfaces and flooring. Pastel accessories and window dressings made a comeback too.
Fast forward to today and kitchens have become the heart of the home once more. The 2000s saw a move towards open plan, multifunctional living spaces. Family homes often combined dining spaces and play areas as family rooms, with patio doors leading to the garden. New build flats often had open plan kitchen and living areas.
We became foodies, sourcing exotic ingredients and experimenting with different cuisines and eating more healthily. Our food became much more global, and our kitchen gadgets changed to reflect this. Built in appliances like upscale barista style coffee machines, internet connected fridges, under-counter wine fridges and woks became the must have features, as larger range cookers dominated. Baking also made a huge comeback, thanks to TV and lockdown, with stand mixers, juicers and blenders becoming desirable.
In the fifty years that we’ve been designing, manufacturing and installing our kitchens, some things have changed beyond recognition, but I’m proud to say that our commitment to great design and craftsmanship remains constant.
DRUMOAK KITCHENS 50 YEARS OF QUALITY, CRAFTSMANSHIP AND OUTSTANDING DESIGN
Drumoak Kitchens is celebrating fifty years in business, during which time, the company has evolved into one of Scotland’s leading bespoke kitchen design companies.
Back in 1972, Neil Gow and two friends set up a small contracting company in Culter which prospered as the oil industry transformed the fortunes of the region. Within five years, the company was focused on creating trendy pine furniture, trading as The Pine Workshops, Drumoak. They’ve even made pine furniture for the Queen, using trees planted in Queen Victoria’s reign!
The business soon moved into a new building as demand for Drumoak kitchens grew, but the business always remains true to its values of craftsmanship, great design, and customer service.
Now Drumoak creates kitchens and furniture in other woods like ash, maple and oak, retaining the outstanding craftsmanship which is still at the heart of every kitchen they create, whether it’s wood, a painted kitchen or a custom fitted kitchen by Drumoak’s German partner, Hacker.
Managing Director Andy Gauld explained, ‘After installation, customers become part of the Drumoak Club. We’re always there if remedial work is required. We’ll even come and replace a hinge if you bought your kitchen from us 25 years ago. Drumoak Kitchens are really built to last, which is why everyone involved at every stage of design, manufacture and installation gives a huge amount of care and attention to every aspect of every client.’
‘As Drumoak has grown, some things remain unchanged. The company employ their own kitchen fitters, meaning our commitment to bespoke craftsmanship underpins every stage of a kitchen project, from the initial showroom visit, to surveys and working with the designer, from choosing layouts and finishes to installation and even clearing up!’
Drum Station Yard, Drumoak, Aberdeen, AB31 5AJ Tel: 01330 811555
drumoakkitchens.com
‘Nowadays, there are silk and synthetic flowers that look incredibly real. They’re a fabulous way of injecting colour into event décor, whether it’s a charity ball, an intimate wedding or even as window dressing in a retail environment, like some of the shops in the city’s West End. It’s an instant moodbooster. Flowers just bring a smile to all the guests’ faces and you can use out of season flowers for extra impact.
‘At Adesso, we have a massive collection of faux florals available to hire, whether it’s a
floral wall to use as a backdrop for incredible Instagram shots, arches, or table decorations.
‘Whether we’re working with florals or other styles of event decoration, we consider a lot of different factors when it comes to putting our initial design ideas together. The venue space, the flow of guests, backdrops and focal points, areas for photography and practical aspects like the event décor needing to work with what’s happening during the event, like dancing or having a sit down-meal. The entrance is also really important as we want guests to feel like they are stepping into a different world.
‘People often think that using an event decorator like Adesso must be very expensive. That’s not necessarily the case. We work with a huge range of budgets and know how to create something special without spending a fortune. We’re happy to offer an initial consultation without any obligation. Just get in touch.’
Unit 4C, Burn O’Bennie Road, Banchory AB31 5NL Tel: 07539 175240 E. charlotte@adessodecor.com
