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SOLID WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS BLOG

Colours of the Month: Autumnal Shades for Solid Oak Kitchen Cabinets

Posted by admin on September 28, 2016 at 2:04 pm. Filed under: General

It’s official: autumn is upon us. What better way to prepare solid oak kitchen cabinets for the fresh and foggy months than with a lick of paint? With this in mind, September’s ‘Colours of the Month’ have been carefully selected to keep kitchens cosy and banish the mizzle and mist of the season.

Farrow and Ball's Dead Salmon is an autumnal shade for kitchens.
Farrow & Ball's Brinjal is one of our Colours of the Month.
Farrow & Ball's India Yellow is a rich yellow, perfect for brightening up kitchen cabinets.

Dead Salmon is perfect for bringing a warm touch to kitchens whilst maintaining a laid-back feel. This paint is part of Farrow & Ball’s stunning collection of neutrals, and contains red undertones that produce a gorgeous buff shade. For a supremely elegant finish, partner Dead Salmon with a crisp shade such as All White. Beautifully illuminated by candlelight, this paint is ideal for an open-plan cooking and dining space.

In certain regions of Asia and Africa, Brinjal is the native word for aubergine. The rich purple hues of this Farrow & Ball paint are best restricted to one area of the kitchen – such as an island unit, feature wall or seating section – to enhance the room with glamorous and sophisticated appeal. This shade also contains red pigments, which are ideal for imbuing your kitchen with a cosy quality and banishing any sense of autumnal chilliness.

Those still holding on for an Indian summer will immediately be inspired by the charm of Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow. Use this sunny shade on walls or cabinets in oak kitchens to keep the spirit of the summer season alive for longer. Couple this colour with a fresh white shade and Tanner’s Brown for a warming, fall-inspired palette.

Kitchen and living area painted in Farrow & Ball’s Dead Salmon.

Image courtesy of Houston Chronicle

Kitchen island unit painted in Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal.

Image courtesy of Landmark Kitchens

Walls painted in Farrow & Ball’s India Yellow, with white trim.

Image courtesy of Easy Paint

If you are ready to prep your kitchen for the autumn, why not order a painted cabinet door sample? Samples can be finished in the Farrow & Ball colour of your choice, and are refundable against your order with Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets. Farrow & Ball are our manufacturers of choice, thanks to their high-quality, low VOC, pigment-rich paints. Contact us to place your order today.

 

Decorate Oak Kitchens with These Top Trends from EuroCucina 2016

Posted by admin on September 21, 2016 at 8:46 am. Filed under: General
This oak kitchen displays trends from the EuroCucina 2016 trade show.

There were many new trends to be discovered at the EuroCucina event earlier this year. Part of the Milan Furniture Fair (‘Salone del Mobile’), the EuroCucina is an influential kitchen trade show, showcasing the latest and greatest from a range of established designers; as such, it’s a valuable point of reference if you want to keep your oak kitchens up to date. But if you missed it, never fear: our rundown of the top trends will help you to transform your culinary space into one of both practical and stylish persuasions!

Concealed storage

Hidden storage solutions were a common theme at this year’s EuroCucina event. Exploiting all the space available, the kitchens on show displayed a storage-savvy, uncluttered look.

To create your own solid wood kitchen that makes the most of every spare inch, why not integrate a wirework storage solution: we have a variety of integrated steel basketry that will optimise cupboard space, removing the need to scrabble around for lost tins or herbs at the back of cabinet units!

Open-plan kitchen and living areas

Fluid kitchen and living areas are at the top of many people’s shopping lists when it comes to designing practical and functional spaces. There were a number of instances of open-plan spaces that incorporated an essential cooking area, a casual dining space, and room to carry out office work.

This trend tends to naturally include a breakfast bar or island unit, with one particular trend emerging: cantilever design. This style of breakfast bar is unsupported along one side, and therefore requires sufficient support along the other side, creating an elegant dining or work area. Cantilever breakfast bars were most commonly constructed from wooden work surfaces, which contrasted with white cabinet frontals.

Natural materials

At Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets, we always sing the praises of natural materials, and we were thrilled to see that they were the main focus of many kitchen displays at EuroCucina 2016.

There are a multitude of ways by which to incorporate natural materials in your kitchen, starting with solid oak cabinet units, wooden cabinet doors and real wood worktops. To really embrace this trend, consider integrating foliage with large potted plants, and accessorising your kitchen with wooden cutlery trays, solid wood chopping boards and oak plate racks.

Natural materials create a warm and inviting kitchen space and frequently feature in interior design schemes, so you can be sure that this is a style with longevity – and therefore a worthwhile investment.

Open-front shelving

Installing open-front shelving not only provides much-needed storage but also creates a visually-interesting alternative to wall cabinets. See for yourself, with our fantastic range of solid oak floating kitchen shelves.

Oak shelving can be mounted to a wall beneath, alongside or in place of wall units, ensuring an efficient use of space.

An oak cantilever breakfast bar supported on one side.
Floating kitchen shelves displaying an array of kitchenware.
Black painted kitchen with stainless steel sink and steel splashback.

Oak worktops

An ever-popular element of kitchen design, we couldn’t help but take note of the oak worktops that were a common sight in this year’s show. With rustic natural features such as small knots and splits, these work surfaces are celebrated for their unique charm and traditional grain pattern.

Other wooden worktops also featured, including dramatically dark work surfaces similar to that of our magnificent wenge countertops. Hardwood surfaces were contrasted with metallic kitchen hardware, producing a delightful fusion of natural and manmade elements.

Industrial style

Industrial kitchen components were also prevalent at the biennial kitchen event. A particularly popular choice for the younger market, this trend can be embraced in a number of ways, including high-gloss and metallic elements such as stainless steel and black stainless steel kitchen splashbacks, metal pendant lamps and exposed light bulbs, steel hairpin table legs, and state-of-the-art cooker hoods.

If you have embraced any of the design trends found at this year’s EuroCucina show, please do send us some pictures via one of our popular social media pages: we’d love to hear from you on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

 

Discover the Danish Art of Hygge in Solid Wood Kitchens

Posted by admin on September 14, 2016 at 12:13 pm. Filed under: General

At Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets we’re passionate about creating beautiful and inviting solid wood kitchens. Indeed, our kitchens boast a welcoming charm that can only be produced by using real timber worktops and oak cabinets: a charm that is perfectly akin to the Danish concept ‘hygge’. The word ‘hygge’ – pronounced ‘hooga’ – is a Danish ideal relating to cosiness; and embracing this Scandinavian style in wooden kitchens is the perfect way to prep your home for the chillier months of the year.

What is ‘Hygge’?

Though there is no exact translation for hygge, the notion is an innate feature of Danish living, synonymous with ideas of twinkling candlelight, enjoying good food with close friends and family, and snuggling up by the fire. More than just an interior style, hygge encompasses atmosphere, camaraderie and attitude to life; it’s about heartfelt merriment and appreciating small, intimate details.

Combine a variety of textures in solid wood kitchens, for a warm and tactile kitchen environment.
Pale solid maple worktops are perfect for evoking the look of true Scandinavian design.
Creamed kitchen base cabinets and scattered pot plants ensure an invitingly cosy environment.

Fill your home with Hygge

It’s easy to imbue your home with the warming spirit of hygge: a few well-chosen elements will do the trick. Candles, for instance, are crucial. According to the European Candle Association, people from Denmark burn more candles per head than anywhere else in Europe: from tiny tea-lights to luxurious scented candles, filling your kitchen with the cosy glow of candles and warm lighting is a must.

A sumptuous layering of textures and natural materials is also intrinsic to producing a welcoming atmosphere. A combination of wood and leather – teamed with an artful mix of house plants and faux fur throws – is ideal for creating homely hygge vibes, making the kitchen a perfect spot for hosting a gathering of friends and loved ones.

If you would like to embrace the Danish art of hygge, oak kitchen base cabinets and wood worktops are ideal, paired with open wall shelves to display plants, candles or cooking condiments. Opt for cabinet frontals painted in soft cream hues, such as Farrow & Ball’s Matchstick, or – for something a little stronger – try Pigeon, a soft shade of green. A range of wooden worktops would sit beautifully within this scheme, including light maple work surfaces, which are perfectly in keeping with the pale timbers often found in Scandinavian design. Conversely, darker woods would look fantastic with cream-coloured cabinets, such as our characterful walnut worktops or black oak tops. For ultimate cosiness, warm-hued iroko work surfaces make a spectacular kitchen feature, and are built with longevity in mind. Accessorise with kitchen corner posts and timber kitchen pilasters for a seamless finish.

If you are thinking of creating your own hygge-style kitchen ahead of the chilly winter season, why not order some kitchen worktop samples to find your favourite timber? We also offer cabinet door samples – in sanded, lacquered or painted finishes – to help you identify a heavenly hygge hue for your home.

 

Spotlight on Oak Floating Shelves – Perfect for Solid Oak Kitchens

Posted by admin on September 7, 2016 at 8:35 am. Filed under: General
Oak floating kitchen shelves look incredibly impressive in any home.

Beautiful solid oak kitchens are our business and we are proud to supply a fantastic assortment of solid wood kitchen components and accessories to our customers. We are keen not to rest on our laurels, however, and are constantly working to improve our collection.

One of the newest items to join our ever-increasing collection of kitchen accessories is this impressive selection of solid oak floating shelves.

Made entirely from real oak, these shelves are the perfect partner for solid oak worktops (which have also been made from 40mm-wide staves using the same techniques). To enhance the attractive and appealing look of the wood grain, each shelf is sanded to a super smooth finish, and finished with nourishing wood oil.

These charming real wood kitchen shelves measure 200mm deep, and come in a variety of sizes, starting at 300mm wide and ranging up to 1500mm wide. We also offer a choice of two thicknesses: 30mm, for a slim, streamlined aesthetic; or 40mm, for a more substantial look.

All our floating shelves come pre-drilled, and are provided with the number of brackets required to support their length: two for the 300mm and 600mm shelves; three for 900mm and 1200mm shelves; and four for the 1500mm option. Once installed, these brackets are entirely hidden, creating a magnificent floating effect.

Though these oak floating shelves have been designed with kitchens in mind, we have also seen them used in offices for storage and in hallways as a minimalist alternative to a console table. Combining traditional timber and elegant design, this is a versatile choice that would look extremely stylish in any home. Visit our flagship showroom in Gloucestershire to learn more about these stunning floating shelves.