SOLID WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS BLOG

From not enough storage to a badly planned layout – most of us have faced some sort of kitchen problem in the past. So, as all hallows eve approaches, we thought we would take a look at some of your most terrifying Halloween kitchen nightmares.

Nightmare 1. Lack of Storage

Insufficient storage is one of the most common kitchen issues, but that does not make it any less scary. Often caused by poor planning, a lack of storage leads to disorder which can be incredibly frustrating. However, there are some handy storage tips that you can implement to easily overcome this frightening problem.

Fitting spacious base and wall cabinets allows for more room to store your appliances, pans and other kitchen equipment. With careful planning, this is possible even in the smallest of kitchens. If you are unable to change your cabinets, kitchen corner units can be fitted with wirework to reach right back into the unit. Fitting solid oak spice racks, wicker storage baskets and kitchen shelves also help increase storage.

Nightmare 2. Poor Layout

When done right, kitchens can be enjoyed by the entire family. A poor kitchen layout can prevent this from happening, so when designing a kitchen, make it work for you and not against you. Think about workflow and layout that caters to your specific requirements. Consider your lifestyle and habits too. How many people live with you, who is the cook and how do you use the kitchen? If you are having your kitchen designed, these are the questions that the designer will be asking you.

The traditional kitchen working triangle is one tried and tested layout, however, defining specific areas for preparation, washing and cooking can be equally, if not more effective – although this depends on your kitchen.

Nightmare 3. Not Enough Worktop Space

A lack of worktop space can cause frustration in a kitchen too. Usable worktop space correlates with the design and layout of your kitchen, so if the layout has not been planned efficiently, usable worktop space is likely to be poor too. There should be more work surface area where the most tasks are to be done – for example next to or opposite the fridge, hob or oven. In the case of the oven or hob, this is as much a factor of health and safety as it is convenience.

A well-placed breakfast bar or peninsula can be a great way to add extra work surface space into your kitchen.

Nightmare 4. Rubbish and Recycling Bins

Finding an appropriate place for rubbish and recycling bins can sometimes be overlooked. Having a bin large enough for the number of people is important – too small and you are forever emptying it, too big and it gets in the way. Here at Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets, we have a great bin solution. Our Easy-Cargo waste bins perfectly fit into your cabinets via a mount. They slide in and out with ease and hide away your unsightly waste. We have two options a large, single 40L bin or a 19L + 30L dual bin design.

We hope that these solutions help you to sleep easier and that you do not have any kitchen nightmares this Halloween. Do you have any tips to solve common kitchen problems? If so, leave them in the comments below, or head over to Facebook and Twitter to start a discussion.

Here at Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets, we have strong environmental values. We operate in accordance with a strict policy, not only to protect the environment but to help you to create an environmentally responsible kitchen too. This blog posts explains how.

Why Choose Wood?

Wood is a renewable resource, unlike stone and concrete which use far more fossil fuels to produce compared to wood. Wood also creates no waste because it can be used as an energy source. Here at Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets, we do exactly that by using our offcuts to heat our warehouse.

Trees store carbon as they grow, reducing the amount of CO₂ in the atmosphere and helping alleviate global warming. Finally, once the wood has reached the end of its life, it can be easily recycled or upcycled into other products or chipped up and composted.

Eco Wood

We visit our suppliers in person to carry out rigorous checks before we purchase any material. To ensure that our strict conditions are being adhered to, we continue to make regular visits thereafter.

We source our oak from Forest Stewardship Council certified and sustainable sources within Europe. This is also true for any of our worktops that use other European timber such as ash or beech. It is all purchased from sustainable forests that have established replanting programmes.

Our exotic timbers, such as wenge, sapele, iroko and zebrano, are purchased via trusted agents who can provide us with full documentation and chain of custody. This is so we can ensure that we are sourcing our wood from legal sources.

All of our American timbers are PEFC certified (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and come from one of the largest mills in the US. Needless to say, we do not engage with anyone involved in illegal harvesting and demand a transparent chain of custody to ensure that all our timber is ethically sourced. Furthermore, all the timber we purchase is in accordance with EU timber regulation.

Farrow & Ball Eco Paint

Farrow & Ball are our exclusive paint partner and we use these natural and water-based paints to delicately hand-finish our cabinets. Not only do they match the natural integrity of the oak we use, but they are also environmentally friendly.

Their paint is water-based and has few VOCs (volatile organic compounds). VOCs release pollutants into the environment as they evaporate and have an unpleasant odour. These water-based paints do not have this odour so you can paint your walls without making your kitchen smelly.

Just like us, Farrow & Ball share our passion, values and respect for the environment. They are equally as motivated to care for the environment whether it be responsibly sourcing raw materials, responsible energy use, packaging or distribution.

Aside from creating an eco-friendly kitchen, what other ways do you help the environment? Let us know in the comments below or head over to Facebook or Twitter to start a discussion.

More Environmental Kitchen Ideas:

Kitchens need to be both beautiful and practical spaces but sometimes getting the balance right is difficult. This is especially true for tiny kitchens. If you barely have enough room to flip a pancake but need to find space to store your many appliances and crockery, have a read of our 17 tips for planning a truly tiny kitchen.

4. Shelving

One way of utilising your wall space is by fitting shelves. Length is customisable allowing you to exploit every available inch of storage space.

8. Add Bridging Units

Awkward, high up areas of unusable wall space, such as above a fridge freezer or cooker hood, can be overcome by installing bridging units. These small cupboards are ideal for cups,plates, glasses, saucepans – essentially, anything you can fit into them.

12. Visor Cooker Hoods

If you select a visor style cooker hood you will free up space above for even more storage. The bridging units mentioned above are ideal for this purpose.

Do you have any advice for planning truly tiny kitchens? Share your ideas in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for more great inspiration.

More ways to save space in a kitchen.

Earlier this month, we spoke to professional interior designer Sara Morrison of Bath based interiors.family. She specialises in family kitchen design and creating stylish and functional spaces that are suitable for modern families.

Could you tell us about yourself and your interior design company?

Interiors.family specialises in helping families create contemporary, stylish homes which not only look great but also work for everyday family life. After the challenging experience of completing my own family home renovation, I founded interiors.family to provide a professional and personal interior design service to families. I am passionate about what I do and treat every project as if it is my own home – whether that is an entire home renovation or a single room revamp.

Where do you get your inspiration for your projects?

All over really. From magazines, trade shows, galleries, movies or even fashion shows. If you are a visual person, you cannot help but take inspiration from everywhere.

What kind of materials do you like to use?

I am really into innovative and practical new materials. I attend shows such as the Surface Design Show to see the latest products. I like to combine these with traditional materials.

What is your process when designing a kitchen?

I spend a lot of time taking a very detailed brief to fully understand the family’s requirements and preferences. Each project, large or small, is carefully planned with meticulous attention to detail to develop detailed spatial plans. Once the layout has been agreed, we can then move on to the look, where I create mood boards of all the finishes and materials.

What kitchen trends do you really like at the moment?

I am liking the darker woods and also coloured units with matching coloured worktops.

Do you think the way that families use kitchens is changing?

Yes. The kitchen is certainly the centre of the home, not just for cooking and eating, but socialising, homework and watching TV. However, for families there seems to be a prevalent move away from open plan to broken plan – open spaces which are still connected but provide a sense of separation through the use of half walls, dividing shelves or changing levels.

In your opinion, what are the most important things to consider when designing a kitchen for a family?

To plan carefully to get the layout, flow and lighting correct.

How do you ensure that you have the right balance between style and functionality in a family kitchen?

Every tiny detail is carefully considered whilst focussing on quality and practicality. The aim is to deliver beautifully finished and practical interiors which improve the way we use our homes and make a positive impact on family life.

What are the most common mistakes you see people make with family orientated kitchens?

A lack of spatial planning. The kitchen layout is decided quite early when services are installed, but the living space hasn’t been properly considered. You see images of kitchens with an awkward or unusable space which ends up not quite big enough for furniture or just too cramped and impractical – if you look closely you can see the dining table right up against the wall or a sofa oddly positioned in the kitchen area.

Quick fire questions

Real wood or laminate worktops?

Real wood.

Contemporary or traditional kitchens?

Both.

Stainless steel or ceramic sinks?

Ceramic sinks.

Open or broken plan?

Totally dependent on the space and client needs.

Minimalist or maximalist design?

Personally, I prefer minimalist.

If you would like to see some examples of family kitchen design or to find out more about her design company, visit interiors.family. Why not follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. If you are an interior designer and would like to be featured on our blog please contact us at [email protected].

Curry is widely regarded as the nation’s favourite dish. It is national curry week again and to celebrate, we have scoured the internet to find the most popular curry recipes – one for vegetarians and one for lamb lovers.

Melissa Clark’s West Indian Lamb Curry (2 hours cooking time – serves up to 8)

With a 5-star Google rating from 358 votes, Melissa Clark’s West Indian Lamb Curry is a must for any curry fan. This curry has heat from the Scotch bonnet peppers and plenty of aromatic allspice flavour that “gets better as it sits”. It is a popular dish in the West Indies but in this recipe, goat has been replaced with lamb because it is more accessible – if you can find goat, it is recommended that you use it.

Tasty’s Simple Veggie Curry (30 minutes – serves 4) – suitable for vegans

Sometimes the simplest things are the best, as Tasty’s Simple Veggie Curry shows. It is quick, easy, healthy and tasty plus it is a cheap vegetarian alternative that is also suitable for vegans. 166 people have given this curry 5 stars on Google and 99% of them would make it again.

Do you have a favourite curry recipe? Why not share them in the comments below? Head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages to share pictures of your national curry week celebrations – whilst there, do not forget to follow us.

Are you still hungry? Try this for dessert.

The Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets blog has been running for many years now, with new and exciting content being posted every week. In this post, we revisit past inspiration and ideas as we take a look back at our all-time most popular kitchen blog posts.

Discover The Danish Art of Hygge In Solid Wood Kitchens

Hygge, the Danish word for appreciating heartfelt merriment and small, intimate details, made it big in the UK during 2016. Perfect for kitchens, we blogged about this Scandinavian concept last year. This trend is still going strong so if you want to fill your home with hygge, have a read of this post.

Colours Of The Month: Tempting Teal For Solid Wood Kitchens

Colour is one of the most important aspects of kitchen design and the popularity of this post shows us that you agree. Our June 2016 colours of the month certainly sparked your interest. Farrow & Ball’s Vardo, Wimborne White and Inchyra Blue have proven that they are timeless. Read this post to find out more about these colours and how they can work in your home.

White Kitchen Design Ideas – A Timeless Look For Beautiful Oak Kitchens

As the name of this blog post suggests, white is a timeless look for beautiful oak kitchens. Whether traditional or contemporary, white is a classic colour that can be matched with so many other colours and materials. This post takes a look at different kitchen design ideas to offer you some inspiration for your own space.

Cornice And Pelmet Collection Now Available!

When we launched our cornice and pelmet collection way back in 2013 we were really excited to offer you a new option for your kitchen. Of course, we still have these options available. This blog explains what cornices and pelmets are and how you can use them in your kitchen.

Kitchen Larder Units: Practical Storage Trends For 2017

Many of us dream of our very own kitchen larder unit because they offer function as well as form. The desire for practical storage is a key element of any design, as the popularity of this blog posts demonstrates. Take a look at this post for some fantastic ideas and to learn how you can incorporate practical storage solutions into your kitchen.

Our New Easy-Cargo Waste Bins Are Ideal For Oak Kitchens

2015 was the year we launched our new easy-cargo waste bins with the aim of helping you to prevent freestanding kitchen waste bins spoiling the aesthetic of your beautiful kitchen. You immediately fell in love with the idea and these handily hidden waste bins have been a popular accessory ever since. Learn more about them in this post.

L-Shaped Kitchen Design Ideas To Utilise Space Effectively

With so many different kitchen layouts to choose from, L-shaped kitchen designs are a popular choice with our blog readers. As well as being great for creating a social space in a large kitchen, L-shaped kitchens also make smaller kitchens feel roomier. Read more about them in this popular kitchen blog post.

Inspiration For Kitchen Islands In Solid Wood Kitchens

Where would we be without kitchen islands? If you are looking for inspiration for kitchen islands in solid wood kitchens, this post from 2016 is a must read. It showcases some great examples of traditional and contemporary kitchen islands for a range of kitchen styles. Which one is your favourite?

5 Ways To Create A Moroccan Kitchen In Your Home

In early 2018, we took an in-depth look at Moroccan kitchens. We showed you how to use features such as tiles, flooring, lighting and more to create your very own Moroccan inspired kitchen. Take a look for yourself in this post.

Design Inspiration: Open Units For Oak Kitchens

Open units and shelving are a popular feature in a variety of kitchens. They are a great idea for showing off your prized kitchen possessions such as cookbooks, appliances and more. This post offers you some design inspiration for open units in oak kitchens.

There you have it – a list of our all-time most popular kitchen blog posts. Which of our posts have really stood out for you? If you love reading our blog, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out when new posts are published.

Farrow & Ball have been making paint in Dorset since 1946. A selection of new Farrow & Ball colours were launched in September 2018 and feature the same depth and pigmentation we have come to expect from the brand. We take a closer look at our favourite three of the nine additional hues – would you consider any of these new shades for your kitchen?

School House White

A light off white, this colour has cool undertones and is a great neutral shade for any setting. The cool base aligns it with the wider collection of contemporary neutrals in the Farrow & Ball collection, but – as the name suggests – as it is reminiscent of the colour used in old school houses, it works perfectly in more traditional settings too.

Preference Red

The perfect warming hue, this rich red is named to honour the original trading name of Farrow & Ball – Preference Paints. This red is well-suited to contemporary settings and works incredibly well with any neutral, but will also look fantastic paired with bolder shades. For a striking look, use in conjunction with Paean Black and Sulking Room Pink – two other shades from the nine new Farrow & Ball colours for 2018.

De Nimes

Inspired by the blue tones of denim fabric, which derives its name from the city of Nîmes, this colour is a timeless classic. With roots in a regency colour palette, this elegant shade will work well in both contemporary and traditional settings. Create a light, airy feel by pairing with paler neutrals or opt for a more dramatic look with deeper hues – Farrow & Ball suggest Down Pipe and Blazer for a striking design.

With our bespoke cabinet frontal options, you can choose any of these shades for your new kitchen – let us know which is your favourite in the comments below, or get in touch with us on Facebook or Twitter.