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SOLID WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS BLOG

Kitchen Larder Units: Practical Storage Trends for 2017

Posted by admin on January 25, 2017 at 3:30 pm. Filed under: Products

In recent years, consumers have been considering function as well as form when it comes to kitchen trends. Kitchen larder units- for example – are a perfect, practical way to ensure your work surfaces are clear and clutter free, whilst fully optimising all available space. Moreover, thanks to the flexibility offered by customisable additions like wirework and bespoke frontals, our range can cater to the needs of any kitchen.

Traditional frontals in Parma Gray.

The first consideration when looking at kitchen larder units for your home is the space you have to house it. Our full height cabinets are great for bigger spaces, and – if you have plenty of room – can be fitted side by side for the ultimate storage unit (as depicted in the stunning example above). A great place for housing dry store cupboard goods, full height cabinets also provide an easy-to-access storage system for chinaware, pots and pans, and smaller appliances like kettles. The addition of pull and swing pantry units makes the unit even easier to utilise. Alternatively, our Blum space tower is a popular choice as it comes fitted with sturdy built-in drawers and a spacious shelf.

When designing kitchen larder units to suit your style, cabinet frontals offer an important customisation option. For a more classically-styled kitchen, Traditional frontals in a soft neutral Farrow & Ball shade (such as New White) look fantastic and create a cosy country look. Shaker frontals add sleeker lines to a kitchen for those seeking a more modern feel, and, when painted in bolder hues, they can make a real statement.

A solid oak spice rack is a fantastic addition to any kitchen unit, working especially well in a full height kitchen larder.

A solid oak spice rack is another great way to customise or update kitchen larder units. Fitting snugly on the inside of a door, this handy rack will keep everything tidy, easy to access, and neatly hidden. Keeping your kitchen clear of worktop clutter creates the illusion of additional space, whilst freeing up valuable room on your work surfaces. We recently put together an installation guide for attaching our spice racks to cabinet doors.

Shaker frontals in Lulworth Blue.

For kitchens in which space is at a premium, base cabinet pull-out wirework provides an excellent opportunity to utilise all available room. The two 150mm soft close pull-out larders shown in the kitchen above include two baskets that are ideally shaped for storing bottles, herbs, spices, and other store cupboard essentials – and they look fantastic either side of the wide drawers below the hob, too! We can also supply full height soft close larders which feature five moveable baskets for fully-customised storage.

If your kitchen design features larder units like those mentioned above, we would love to see how you have customised and styled yours. Please feel free to send any images through to our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages.

 

Five of the Best Gadgets for Solid Wood Kitchens to Keep You Healthy in January

Posted by admin on January 18, 2017 at 3:53 pm. Filed under: General

After the excesses of the festive season, it’s understandable that so many people make the decision to eat more healthily throughout January. With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of health-oriented gadgets that pair perfectly with solid wood kitchens, thus helping you to stay on track with your new diet – we know it isn’t always easy!

This three-tier tier food steamer, available from Russell Hobbs, is a great way to keep your diet on track.

1. Steamer

A steamer is the perfect way to cook food and keep it moist without using fatty oils or sauces. There are a variety of different steamers available to suit any budget, from economic microwave options to more robust stovetop choices and – for those more serious about steaming – standalone electronic versions. Some even have settings for cooking eggs or rice!

An air fryer, like this Viva Philips one, is a must-have for those who want to watch their waistline but refuse to give up the foods they love.

2. Air Fryer

Air fryers are becoming a must-have kitchen gadget, and it isn’t difficult to see why. Fancy perfectly golden, crispy chips every time without needing to deep fry in oil? You had us at ‘perfectly golden’! You can cook a variety of different foods in an air fryer, which only needs a tablespoon of oil to produce deliciously crisp food. We think these make a great addition to solid wood kitchens and offer the perfect compromise when you’re craving comfort food but don’t want to break your diet!

Make sure you get the portion perfect every time with this spaghetti measure from Joseph Joseph.

3. Spaghetti Measurer

Portion control plays a huge part in any diet and this spaghetti-measuring tool will ensure that you only cook the quantities needed. Different options are available but we think that this classic red and black colour combination looks fabulous in solid wood kitchens.

Small and unassuming, this oil mister from NuCasa is a great way to control the amount of oil you use.

4. Oil Mister

An oil mister is a great tool if you’re trying to limit the amount of oil used to that which is truly needed. Not only is it ideal for cooking or frying food, it can also be used to spray oil lightly on salads as an alternative to a high-fat dressing. It might be a small gadget, but we think it’s one worth having in your kitchen.

This soup maker from Morphy Richards will save you time in the kitchen.

5. Soup Maker

Soup is the perfect winter staple; warm, filling, and a great low-calorie option if you are watching your weight. Making your own soup from scratch can be time consuming and produces a lot of washing up, however: but with a soup maker, all you need do is chop your ingredients and pop them in – what you do with the additional free time is up to you! Capable of both blending and cooking, a soup maker will also reduce the time spent washing up.

If there is anything you think we’ve missed, please feel free to let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

 

Style Ideas for Solid Oak Kitchens

Posted by admin on January 11, 2017 at 2:54 pm. Filed under: General

Solid wood has a number of advantages in kitchen design when compared to engineered wood alternatives. Solid oak kitchens are a popular choice due to the attractive grain patterns and natural durability of the timber. They’re also very well suited to a more traditional theme, which can be achieved without sacrificing a sense of modern style; indeed, classic doesn’t mean dated, and there are a number of ways to make an oak kitchen your own. Our list below includes some of our favourite ideas for styling your oak kitchen to help give it the right personality and feel for your home.

A modern solid oak farmhouse kitchen in All White with gloss white subway tiles

This example illustrates how colour can be used to give classic solid oak kitchens a 21st century makeover. In this modern monochrome twist on a well-established farmhouse look, Traditional All White frontals with pewter handles and knobs contrast with black appliances and ultra-modern white gloss subway tiles, bringing together a room that mixes classic and contemporary seamlessly.

An oak kitchen with Shaker frontals painted in Lulworth Blue with solid oak worktop.

Our frontals are available in a variety of Farrow & Ball colours, but for those who really want to make a statement, we also have a bespoke option. Solid wood kitchens look great with a pop of colour, and this Lulworth Blue example is no exception. The bright pastel combined with the wooden worktops lives up to its namesake (a picturesque cove in Dorset) and creates a beachy feel in this light and airy kitchen.

Solid oak plate rack with plates in and a shelf above for bowls.

Even the accessories used in a kitchen can have a huge impact on the overall look. Plate racks are ideal for smaller solid oak kitchens, freeing up more cupboard space and allowing you to utilise all available areas. Whilst providing a practical solution, this traditional space-saving option also produces a classically-styled country kitchen look.

Minimalistic oak kitchen with large windows.

If you choose to create a minimalistic feel in your kitchen, selecting the right accessories helps to complete the look. Matching door and drawer knobs to appliances – whilst keeping them small and simple – means that the natural beauty of the worktop really stands out. Opting for furniture and appliances that keep work surfaces clean and clear from clutter also creates an innate focal point: the views from the kitchen itself. This design truly makes the most of its stunning natural setting.

Traditional frontals in Farrow’s Cream and twisted pilasters for a classic style.

Classically-styled handles and knobs help to create a traditional look. The bright white of the handles used in this kitchen (which can be found in our Camden showroom) contrasts against the Traditional frontals to create a classic look. The colour for the frontals – Farrow’s Cream – was selected to create a cosier, more intimate feel, which suits the small space perfectly. Twisted pilasters under the sink enhance the timeless design.

A solid oak kitchen with solid oak worktops broken up by glazed doors.

Using solid oak worktops in wooden kitchens allows the natural beauty of the timber to speak for itself. Glazed doors with unobtrusive, cast iron knobs provide a great highlight for the wood, too: you can clearly see the grain and the traditional detailing on the frontals.

These are just a few examples of ways that you can style solid oak kitchens. If you have a stunning solid oak kitchen you would like us to feature, why not get in touch on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram? We would love to share your beautiful kitchen with our community.

 

Pick a New Palette For 2017: Pastel Hue for Solid Wood Kitchens

Posted by admin on January 4, 2017 at 3:57 pm. Filed under: General

A new year calls for a fresh new palette for solid wood kitchens! This January we have concocted a beautiful collection of pastel shades that are right on trend and will look beautiful in your kitchen throughout spring and summer.

Our latest ‘Colours of the Month’ come straight from Farrow and Ball, our favoured paint manufacturers and specialists in creating unique paint shades (all of which are the perfect choice for painting walls, doors, and other parts of wooden kitchens).

Cooking Apple Green is a beautifully organic shade for painting walls in wooden kitchens.
Parma Gray is a very popular shade for kitchen cabinet frontals, particularly when paired with bright white walls and accessories.
Dayroom Yellow is a delightfully light shade for brightening kitchen walls and other areas of solid wood kitchens.

Cooking Apple Green is a beautiful organic shade that infuses a feeling of health and vigour into any home environment. It’s an ideal shade for painting walls in well-lit kitchens, especially when contrasted with a bright white hue.

Parma Gray is one of the most popular colours in our ‘Signature’ range of Farrow & Ball colours for kitchen cabinet doors. This clean, crisp shade of grey looks simply superb on solid oak door and drawer frontals, and is a particularly trendy colour that pairs well with white or stainless steel accessories.

The last colour in this collection is Dayroom Yellow: a refreshing shade that looks gorgeous alongside Parma Gray in kitchens that are lacking in natural light. We would recommend using it to paint feature walls that are bathed in sunlight, thus reflecting a warming golden hue back into your kitchen.

If your new kitchen deserves a suitably stunning theme but you are yet to decide on the colours, why not order one of our painted cabinet door samples? These miniature versions of our full-size oak doors can be hand-finished in any Farrow & Ball colour of your choice, and better still, we will happily refund the sample’s cost if you place an order that includes ten or more of our cabinet frontals.

Alternatively, why not visit one of the Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets showrooms to get some inspiration for your new kitchen? We have locations across the country, with new branches set to open this year!