SOLID WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS BLOG

Pinterest is a great place to find inspiration, but with so many ideas it can be difficult to take it all in. We have picked out our most popular Pinterest boards so that you can easily see what is trending and get some great kitchen style ideas.

All White Classic Kitchen Case Study

This Pinterest board features pictures of a classic kitchen belonging to a customer of ours. The cabinet doors are painted in Farrow & Ball’s All White. This colour contains no other pigment, making it one of the purest whites available. The result is a neutral colour that is ideal for contemporary and traditional kitchens alike. The combination of solid oak worktops, traditional handles and Belfast sink paired with little contemporary touches such as the hotrods and monochrome colour scheme, gives this kitchen a timeless appeal. By implementing stylish modern appliances, this customer has created a beautiful kitchen that feels fresh and welcoming – it is easy to see why this is such a popluar board.

Credit : Pinterest

10 Gorgeous Grey Solid Wood Kitchens

Grey is frequently the neutral of choice for interiors, and a popular option for many kitchen designers. It is such a versatile shade that can be combined with a wide range of colours to create a multitude of effects. This Pinterest board has a collection of ten gorgeous grey solid wood kitchens to inspire you. From traditional to contemporary, you can clearly see how adaptable this underrated colour can be.

Colours of the Month June 2016

2016 might seem like a long time ago now but these Farrow and Ball colours are proving that they are timeless. Named after the market town in Dorset where the very first Farrow & Ball factory was established, Wimborne White has a slightly warm colour making it a laid-back and versatile off-white. Vardo, which was inspired by the colour of horse-drawn Romany or gypsy wagons of the same name, is a fresh and bright teal. Inchyra Blue is an aged blue-grey colour that was first used at the Byre on Inchyra Estate in Perthshire, Scotland. The kitchens in this board all feature these fantastic colours.

Gloucestershire Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets Showroom

This Pinterest board showcases images of our Gloucestershire showroom. Our showrooms give you the chance to experience the quality of our solid oak cabinets and frontals first hand. Take a look around the kitchen displays or cabinet frontals and even walk away with some samples. You can also talk to our knowledgeable showroom staff who will be happy to advise. Until you visit though, why not take a look at this board instead.

Lulworth Blue Kitchen Case Study

This Pinterest board features inspiration from another one of our customer’s kitchens. The cabinet doors have been painted in Farrow & Ball’s Lulworth Blue, a fresh mid blue named after Lulworth Cove in Dorset. This blue is reminiscent of the Regency period and can be combined with whites and greys to create a truly beautiful aesthetic. From the images on this board, you can see the benefits of using such a colour against the natural colour of oak worktops.

You can view all of these Pinterest boards and others on Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets’ Pinterest profile. Why not follow us for regular ideas, or pin these inspirational kitchen pictures to your own boards. Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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There are many different storage options in a kitchen. Larders and pantries offer you a functional space for vegetables, herbs, spices and other kitchen essentials. They come in many forms and sizes from built-in and full height to freestanding and open which makes them suitable for any kitchen no matter what the style. In this post, we give you some ideas that you can implement in your own kitchen.

Credit : Pinterest

Built-in

This attractive larder has been built into the rest of the kitchen. The advantage of this style is that it seamlessly merges into the surrounding décor, delivering continuity throughout the kitchen. You could imagine that once the doors are closed the larder becomes invisible – creating drama and excitement when you open them. In this particular larder, there are plenty of storage areas including drawers, shelves, baskets, compartments and wire racks on the inside of the doors – making efficient use of the space.

Full Height Cabinetry

Installing full height cabinetry is an efficient way to gain storage. The addition of pull out drawers makes your larder items much more accessible, allowing you to reach everything, even at the back. It also lets you easily organise your items into groups for quick and easy access. By utilising maximum space, full height cabinetry is a valuable feature to include in any kitchen.

Shelves

Larders and pantries are great, but if you do not have space then shelves are a good alternative. You could utilise a kitchen alcove or recess and fit multiple floating shelves to create a functional open storage area for preserves, pulses and fresh herbs. Open shelves are a much more cost-effective storage solution too so are ideal if you are on a budget. They are also easier to install than a fitted, full height larder.

A Bespoke Solution

One of our customers created this bespoke free-standing larder. Designed in a traditional style, it incorporates all of the features of a standard larder including shelves, compartments, drawers and wooden racks on the inside of the doors. Although bespoke, he created it to complement his existing kitchen. The matching traditional doors, cornices and handles allow this pantry to perfectly blend into the rest of the room.

Have you ever created a bespoke larder or pantry? If so, we would love to see them, so please share your pictures on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Comment below to let us know what you think of this bespoke larder.

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Since the invention of the microwave oven over 70 years ago, kitchen technology, apart from becoming more efficient, has not advanced a great deal. Now though, smart appliances are making our lives easier whilst revolutionising the way we use our kitchens. Here we explore some of the most useful and advanced kitchen technologies on the market today.

Credit : June

Ovens

Claiming to be ‘the most sophisticated oven ever’ June is a convection oven that can also be used as an air fryer, dehydrator, slow cooker, broiler, toaster and warming drawer. It includes more than 100 multi-step cook-programmes that have been professionally developed and allow you to perfectly cook everything from steak to roasted vegetables. June boasts a 1ft ³ internal capacity and so can accommodate everything from a 12” pizza to a 12-pound turkey. It also preheats three times faster than conventional ovens so your food will be ready quicker.

Nowadays, smart appliances worth their salt come with an app – June is no different. The app has a database of hundreds of recipes and guided cooking videos which can be synced up to the oven ensuring accurate time, temperature and pre-sets – resulting in perfect meals every time. You will also get cooking updates and notifications with musical alerts, plus the intelligent camera can stream live video from inside the oven to your phone.

Credit : LG

Fridge Freezers

‘Delivering a new sense of life for the most discerning individual’ the LG SIGNATURE InstaView Door-in-Door™ Refrigerator is as sleek as it is practical. A glass panel has been inserted into the front of the door and by tapping it twice illuminates the interior. This allows you to see the contents without opening the door – keeping your food fresher by stopping cold air from escaping. LG have incorporated two auto open features into this refrigerator. The first allows you to open the main door, hands-free, by standing on a ‘door open’ light that is projected onto the floor of your kitchen. The second will gently pull out the freezer drawers for easier access.

Inside, the LG SIGNATURE InstaView Door-in-Door Refrigerator has a stainless-steel interior to help maintain the cold temperature and keep your food fresh. The FRESHShield™ cooling technology further maintains the cold temperatures and freshness by creating a cold air barrier when the door is open. There is also an air filter and an air circulation fan to keep your fridge smelling fresh. All of this, and more, can be controlled via the control panel or your smartphone.

Credit : Nest

Protection

Nest Protect was one of the first smart smoke alarms to hit the market. When Nest detects smoke or carbon monoxide, it will first alert you of the problem using a friendly human voice. Then, if the smoke is no threat, for example burnt toast, you can use your app to stop the alarm. If you take no action, the early warning system becomes a full-on alarm.

Fitting multiple Nest Protects in each room also allows you to know exactly which room is in danger, and plan your escape safely, which is made even easy and safer because it also lights your way. As alerts are sent to your smart phone, you will be notified even when you are not at home.

With a predicted life span of 10 years, Nest Protect continually tests itself and lets you know that all is well via a glowing green light, rather than an annoying chirping sound that many regular smoke detectors emit. It can also be linked up to the Nest Thermostat which it will shut down if it detects a carbon monoxide leak.

Do you have any smart appliances in your kitchen that you could not live without? Let us know in the comments below or head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages for more inspiration.

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They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so should we not strive to create an area worthy of eating it in? This is the purpose of a breakfast nook – somewhere beautiful and practical to enjoy your toast and coffee in the morning. Designing something that works both in terms of aesthetics and functionally takes thought, so we have compiled some factors to consider when planning a nook for your kitchen.

Traditionally, a nook is created in addition to a dining room and as such is a less formal space – usually situated in or as close to the kitchen as possible. There is no hard and fast rule for where to put one, but some places work better than others. For example, a bay window would be ideal because it is well lit and will often be out of the way.

Credit : architecturaldigest

Take a moment to walk around your kitchen and assess where might be the perfect spot. As you do, think about foot traffic, convenience getting to and from the kitchen and where your entrances and exits are. Take particular note of windows and lighting if you are aiming for something light and airy.

Once you have found the perfect place, think about how you will use it. How large is your family? Does everyone use the kitchen at the same time in the morning? Do you eat breakfast every day or is it an infrequent occurrence? You might even want to use your nook for a lunchtime snack. Understanding this will make the next phases much easier.

Credit : homedit

When designing a nook based on layout, consider seating. Do you prefer individual seats or a shared bench? If you are going to choose the latter, would an L-shaped or parallel arrangement work better with your space? Benches use space more efficiently so if you have a large family this might be a better choice. If there are less people in your house, or it is unlikely that everyone will use the nook at the same time, consider using individual chairs or stools.

Credit : House Beautiful

Deciding on the features to include in your breakfast nook can make a huge difference to how it works aesthetically and functionally. A table and somewhere to sit are required but their style, material, colour, size and shape are completely down to personal preference. In part, shape and size are dictated by location and number of people. Generally, square tables are more efficient in corners whereas round tables are better for preserving the flow of a space. Obviously, large tables accommodate more people but those that have foldable or extendable leaves are a great space saving solution that can seat large groups when necessary.

We briefly mentioned benches in terms of layout, but from a functionality perspective, they work very well against a wall where placing chairs would make manoeuvring difficult. Stools are also a great option were space is limited because they can be pushed right under a table. Whichever table and chairs you choose, make sure that they complement the existing colour and style of your worktops and cabinet doors to bring harmony to your kitchen.

Do you have a breakfast nook? We would love to see your pictures so please share them on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Why not suggest other ways that you could create your own nook in the comments below?

The kitchen is the heart of the home so it is essential that the design is right for your household. A kitchen peninsula offers so much – a place to prepare and eat meals, storage for kitchen items, and somewhere to sit with the family. But kitchen islands also offer these benefits. So, is a peninsula really right for you and your kitchen, or would an island be more beneficial?

You might be asking “what is the difference between kitchen islands and peninsulas?” Think of islands and peninsulas in general – one is alone in a body of water, the other is connected to the mainland. Likewise, a kitchen island is completely separate from the rest of your worktops and has four accessible sides. A peninsula, on the other hand, is connected to the rest of your kitchen.

Apart from this, kitchen islands and peninsulas will often share all of the same benefits, so why choose one over the other? The answers are the availability of space and personal preference. In our previous blog post about, creating islands for small kitchens, we discussed that for an island you should aim for at least 31” of walkway on all four sides – 41” if there is an appliance. However, this can be impossible for some and makes the utilisation of an island impractical. This is where a kitchen peninsula has the advantage. No walkways are obstructed and your work triangle is preserved.

If you do have space for an island, why would you opt for a peninsula? The answer to this is mainly personal and is based on design preference, liveability, and lifestyle. Let us consider design preference. Islands are a useful feature for retaining an open plan design – a peninsula can obstruct this open flow and confine the kitchen to one area. This makes a peninsula a fantastic option if you are looking to keep a clearer division between dining and cooking spaces – you can read more in our guide to broken and open plan kitchens. Your kitchen layout is another important consideration to make. Longer, narrower spaces are ideal for kitchen peninsulas whilst in a large, square room an island may be a better choice.

Finally, think about your lifestyle – if you use your kitchen for entertaining, an island can be a better choice too, because it allows the cook to prepare food whilst interreacting more easily with their guests. If you prefer more peace and privacy when cooking, or have children to keep from under your feet, a peninsula could be a better option for you.

Do you have a kitchen island but think that a peninsula might have suited your kitchen and lifestyle better? Perhaps you have a kitchen peninsula but wish you had chosen an island. Leave your thoughts in the comment below or share your peninsula pictures on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

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Each year the Royal Institute of British Architects, or RIBA, run a competition to find the best new house designed by an architect in the UK. The RIBA House of the Year Longlist 2018 has been announced and, as always, the featured houses are at the pinnacle of design. In this blog, we take a look at a one house that really stood out for us. Whilst some of the features would not be possible to include in the standard home, a similar aesthetic can be achieved by breaking down a few of the techniques used and implementing them in your own kitchen.

Credit – architecture

From the outside, this grade II listed, six storey, end of terrace, Regency townhouse masks a contemporary design gem. Whilst some rooms have been designed to complement the Regency period, others are so minimalistic that they lead you to forget that the house was in fact built in 1827. This is particularly true for the kitchen.

Credit – architecture

As you transition from the more traditional rooms of the house to the kitchen, you walk along a light and airy corridor lined with glass walls until eventually the white Carrera marble floor opens up in front of you and you are presented with an astonishing double height ceiling. Aside from the pure white colour palette, the first thing that draws your eye is the central island which has been made from the same white Carrera marble as the floor. The island has the appearance of a sculpture rather than a functional kitchen feature, which, when you consider that the owner is an art collector, makes perfect sense. Full height cabinetry, again all white, emphasises the high ceiling from which hangs understated, but nonetheless, dramatic lighting.

If you do not have the budget for a white Carrera marble island you could use our marble effect Calcutta worktop on your island, worksurfaces, and even on the walls with our marble effect kitchen splashback. To achieve a sense of height similar to the Fitzrovia House, install solid wood full height cabinets with frontals painted in Farrow & Ball’s All White.

Leave your comments below if you have been inspired by the Fitzrovia House or if you are tempted to add some of its features to your kitchen. Perhaps you think your kitchen already compares. If so, please share your photos on our Facebook and Twitter pages for our followers to see. Grand Designs: RIBA House of the Year will be shown on Channel 4 later in 2018, so be sure to watch for even more inspiration.

First appearing in the early 1900s, Art Deco design encompassed extravagance and modernism, influencing everything from architecture to radios. This movement was so ubiquitous, that Art Deco kitchen design was inevitable. Although felt globally, it eventually fell out of favour but experienced a revival in the 1960s and since then has been an important influence in design.

At its heart, Art Deco is a blend of different forms of art and design and has been shaped by the colour and geometry of various movements. We have compiled some Art Deco design features that you could implement into your own kitchen here.

The straight lines and metallic finish of the Cromwell D-shaped pewter handle (pictured left) give it an Art Deco air. Fixing them to your cabinet frontals is an easy way to add a geometrical design that was such an integral part of the movement. They can be used horizontally on drawers and vertically on cupboards. Alternatively, you could use our Douglas kitchen cabinet knob (pictured right), which features curves and sweeping lines.

This island utilises classic Art Deco design features – namely the sweeping curve and the bold contrasting colour scheme. The reflective quality of the black sparkle Andromeda worktop displays the same extravagance that was so popular in the 1920s. This design goes one step further by adding the wine rack which has strong geometric character – something that is also mirrored in the Shaker door.

You only need to look at celebrated buildings such as The Daily Express Building and The Hoover Building in London to know that curves exemplify Art Deco design. You can scale this down and easily apply it to your kitchen by installing curved cornices and pelmets to your wall cabinets.

Hotrods are another way that you could add a geometric element to your Art Deco kitchen. Here, the stainless steel looks beautiful against the colour of the worktop. Of course, their use is primarily functional and will protect your worktops from heat, but their aesthetic is definitively Art Deco.

As well as geometry, colour was an integral part of Art Deco. The colour palette had a wide range of influences from Native American to Ancient Egyptian art and as a result coral, red, jade green, off-white, gold, and ochre all were prevalent colours. There are several colours from the Farrow & Ball range that we can apply to our cabinet frontals to help you achieve an Art Deco kitchen.

Do you like Art Deco designs, would you consider this style in your kitchen, or do you think it should have been left in the 1920s? Let us know what you think in the comments below or head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages to share your Art Deco kitchen pictures with us.

Storage is an essential part of any kitchen, and whilst some people do not have a space problem, those that do can find themselves feeling infuriated. A G-shaped kitchen is the answer to this age-old kitchen issue and although it is by no means a new design, it is often overlooked for the more conventional galley or U-shaped kitchen layouts. Essentially, a G-shaped kitchen is a U-shaped kitchen with a peninsula added to one end. The result – an enclosed space with plenty of storage.

The peninsula, angled into the kitchen, forms the basis of a G-shaped design – considerably increasing work surface area and adding the option for seating. Underneath the worktop, a peninsula adds plenty of space for drawers,cabinets, or both. When deciding what to store in these cupboards and drawers, consider the appliances that are close by and how you use your kitchen on the whole. For example, if your peninsula is near a hob or oven, you could store pots, pans, and plates. If it is close to a dishwasher or washing machine, it might be better to store dishwasher tablets or detergents.

In this kitchen, a waist height, built in oven has been fitted between the base and wall cabinets. In any other kitchen, this would be a problem because it sacrifices worktop space. However, in a G-shaped kitchen, the addition of a peninsula means that the loss of space is not such an issue. Besides, this clever feature also gives you two additional cabinets, which for someone who requires storage over worktops space is a more important factor.

Optimising your base cabinets in a G-shaped kitchen is arguably easier when compared to other designs because it utilises all of the walls as well as a peninsula. At eye level you can, of course, add wall cabinets, but for an on-trend option, solid wood kitchen shelves are a great choice. They create a focal point and a feature, plus they are ideal for displaying your more intriguing items as well as your best crockery – freeing up space in your cabinets for the mundane kitchen equipment. Alternatively, cabinets with glazed doors are also great for creating displays.

What is your opinion of a G-shaped kitchen? Share your thoughts in our comments below or head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages to show our followers your kitchens.

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Black and white kitchens are a time-tested classic choice and their popularity does not seem to be fading. A monochrome kitchen adds sophistication and can be used perfectly in both traditional and contemporary designs. One of the best things about a monochromatic scheme is that it is versatile and can easily be incorporated using any aspect of a kitchen – from handles to splashbacks. In this post, we take a look at some examples and show you how you could apply them to your own kitchen.

Credit : Pinterest

Worktops and Cabinetry

The most obvious places to start is with cabinets and worktops. This kitchen beautifully demonstrates how effective a monochromatic colour palette can be in a traditional kitchen. With white worktops and black Shaker doors, the contrast could not be greater. The finer details, such as the black grout and the polished cabinet handles and hinges, link everything together to create harmonious look. You could achieve a similar aesthetic using our white sparkle worktops paired with Shaker doors, painted black using our fully bespoke service that allows you to select any colour from the Farrow & Ball range.

Credit : avenuelifestyle

Kitchen Shelves

Open shelving is incredibly popular currently and provides a practical choice for a number of settings. In this kitchen, Norwegian designers Kine and Kristoffer created a minimalistic Nordic monochrome kitchen and installed these stylish and slimline black shelves. Against the pure white wall, these shelves not only display the couple’s beautiful crockery but also frame it, transforming the shelves into a piece of art in their own right. This technique proves how easy it is to utilise monochrome design in your own kitchen. Our black oak floating shelves on a white wall will produce a similar effect or alternatively, you could use our painted oak white floating shelves on a black wall.

Credit : Pinterest

Black Highlights

If you think a monochrome kitchen might be a bit too much for you, you could always use the idea sparingly. For example, in this kitchen the white shaker doors have been fitted with black cup handles and knobs. Our Brecon Cup handles or Brecon knobs are made from iron and can be used in the same way as in this kitchen. Likewise, our rubbed bronze Mulberry range of handles and knobs are equally as effective. The result is still striking but not as dominant as it is in the other kitchens – as the room is mostly white, the overall look is fresh and airy. Grey surfaces, such as our brushed stainless steel, Ipanema Grey, or Grey Slate effect laminate worktops, can be used to soften black if it is too overpowering for your space.

Credit : Pinterest

Colour

Monochrome does not have to mean black and white. The term quite literally means one colour, so you could create a monochrome kitchen using green, as in the case of this kitchen. By using two shades of green, the dark on the wall and the light on the cabinet frontals, you can create a sense of depth. The effectiveness of white can still be clearly seen in this kitchen, where the ceramic Belfast Sink stands out just as much as it would have done against a black wall or cabinet. Using a monochromatic colour palette also gives you the opportunity to add feeling, atmosphere, and your personality to a space.

Have you ever considered a monochromatic colour palette? How have these ideas changed or reinforced your opinion of them? Leave your comments below or head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages to share your photos.