SOLID WOOD KITCHEN CABINETS BLOG

Credit : Farrow & Ball, Wallpaper Direct, Bloglovin’, i.pinimg, Camilla Hey, Delicious Inspiration.

Soft sweeping curves and washed out colours are what attract people to the fresh and relaxing coastal kitchen style. This coastal kitchen mood board is here to give you some inspiration to create a calm and tranquil room that brings elements of the sea and beach into the home.

Colour

The colours used in a coastal kitchen predominantly reflect those found in the sea. Turquoise, teal, aquamarine and other hues in the blue/green spectrum can be used to impart serenity. In this mood board, we have incorporated several different shades – including Parma Grey by Farrow & Ball, as seen on the Shaker door. Farrow & Ball’s Borrowed Light is a stylish complement for this colour, which is incredibly similar to the wallpaper for a cohesive look.

Elements

The individual elements in this mood board represent a variety of coastal aspects. The Coco Bolo laminate worktop has a pale colour with a distinct pattern. It almost has the appearance of tide marks on a beach or striations on a cliff face. The curved oak bow handles, also pale, mirror the undulation of the sea and complement the patterned Mare wallpaper which emulates tumultuous waves. Shaker doors, with their clean sharp lines, add a contemporary touch whilst still remaining light and fresh. Adding little details, such as a pile of sea glass or some coiled rope, will help tie the design together.

Design

Coastal kitchens should aim to be light and airy. With that in mind, try and let in as much natural light as possible. The light colour palette and pale wood that we have suggested will help to keep the room from feeling dark. Keeping your flooring light is a good idea too. Use pale floor tiles, laminate flooring or floorboards. Alternatively, you could use a light-coloured kitchen runner, such as the natural living seagrass kitchen runner we wrote about in our previous post, Our Top 5 Kitchen Runners.

Which aspects of this coastal kitchen mood board do you like the most? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates or head over to Pinterest for even more inspiration.

This Black Friday weekend is the perfect time to buy a new kitchen. Solid Wood Kitchen Cabinets is offering 15% off orders placed up until 23:59 on Monday 26^th November. Place your order now and receive everything in time for Christmas – whether you want a few cabinets or an entire kitchen.

It is easy to claim your 15% saving. Simply add the discount code BLK15 at the checkout once you have added your kitchen items to your shopping cart. Alternatively, you can place your order over the telephone, via email or at one of our eight UK showrooms. Just mention the offer and our team will be happy to take the 15% off your product total.

This Black Friday weekend offer is available for a limited time and will expire on Monday 26^th November at 23:59 – so order now to avoid disappointment. Visit our current offers and promotions page for even more great deals and do not forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date.

Please note that the cost of delivery will not be discounted as part of this offer. It is also not available in conjunction with any other offer.

In terms of form and function, concept kitchens push the boundaries of design. They are often so far removed from what we are used to seeing, so are conceptual kitchens just an idea or is there something more to them? We find out in this blog post.

What are Conceptual Kitchens

Concept kitchens are an experimental model to test the viability of innovative design features. By testing new materials, layouts and functionality they push the boundaries of what is possible. This changes the way that we think of kitchens, not only about what is possible but also how we use them. Let us take a look at some innovative designs in more detail.

Mini Modular Kitchen

Credit : Gessato

Clever Kitchen

Credit : Planakitchen

From a style perspective, this kitchen is brightly coloured and really pops against the perforated metal and white worktop. It is the mixture of materials, such as the stainless steel tap and laminate work surfaces which makes this kitchen feel contemporary and fresh.

The term concept is defined as an experimental model to test the viability of innovative design features. Yes, conceptual kitchens are an idea, they are not supposed to be replicated – at least not entirely. Their purpose is for us to pick and choose ideas that help us live efficient, stylish or environmentally responsible lives.

What aspects of these kitchens would you consider applying to your own? Leave your thoughts in the comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for updates and inspiration.

For anyone who has turned their passion for cooking into a career, a kitchen is of paramount importance. Celebrity kitchens are often both beautiful and practical, but those belonging to television chefs take this to a whole new level. In this blog post, we explore the kitchen of Jamie Oliver.

Credit : Instagram

Credit : Instagram

Located in Essex, Jamie Oliver’s house has a kitchen designed in a traditional style. The cabinets have Shaker doors which have been left exposed so that the natural beauty of the wood can be seen. The huge island is the centrepiece of this kitchen and the large range cooker has some open shelving above it. Whilst we have only seen a small corner of this kitchen, it has a similar style to the studio where he filmed his show, Jamie’s Everyday Superfood.

Credit : Papermill Studios

Credit : Pinterest

Papermill studios, the vintage style kitchen space shown here, is similar to Jamie’s kitchen at home – he is obviously a fan of the look. It has equal measures of practicality and stunning aesthetics. At its heart is a huge island which features casters that allow it to be moved into various positions – a great idea if you have space. At the front of the island are 20 large storage drawers made from natural wood. A similar look can be achieved by using our Traditional cabinet frontals with a sanded finish. Fit them with cast iron Brecon cup handles to complete the vintage feel.

This space has large slanted windows allow in maximum natural light which is essential for preparing and cooking food. Light colours have been chosen to reflect all of the light back into the room, and dark surfaces have been used sparingly. This is a great way to achieve a luxurious look using rich timbers without overpowering a space.

At the back of the kitchen, there is yet more valuable worktop space. This wooden worktop has warm tones, much like our iroko worktops, which contrast beautifully with the white walls and cabinet frontals. Set into the worktop is a large single bowl ceramic Belfast sink which adds yet more beauty and practicality. The upstands show great attention to detail and finish the worktop off.

With a huge wall filled with full height cabinetry, storage is clearly not an issue in this space. Open shelving provides additional space to show off fresh and dried herbs and spices as well as a collection of art and china – showing that storage can be utilised for decoration too.

How does your kitchen compare to Jamie Oliver’s celebrity kitchen? Are there aspects which you would consider using? If so, let us know in the comments below. Do not forget to head over to Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with our latest blog posts. Alternatively, follow us on Pinterest for some fantastic kitchen inspiration.

Credit : Pinterest

Concrete has a long, interesting and, at times, controversial history that stretches back over 3,000 years. It has numerous applications from road surfaces to concrete kitchens and is a fundamental material of Brutalism – a provocative architectural movement. In this blog post, we uncover how Brutalism inspired the use of concrete in kitchens.

Originally coined in the early 1950s, Brutalism soon became the architecture of choice for high-rise housing, because it promised an economical replacement for the houses that were destroyed during the second world war. There are numerous tower blocks which are now Grade II listed buildings, including Trellick Tower, designed by Ernő Goldfinger and home to Goldfinger Factory.

Credit : Pinterest

By the mid-1980s, the Brutalist movement had all but disappeared and was replaced predominantly by postmodern architecture. Its aim was to oust rigid doctrines, uniformity, lack of ornamentation and not remembering the past, all of which Brutalism was guilty of.

This ethos mirrors industrial interior design, which sprang into popularity due to the repurposing of vacant industrial buildings. Exposed brickwork and concrete re-emerged as fundamental materials that were made popular by Brutalism.

Concrete Kitchens

Polished floors, textured walls and worktops made from concrete started to appear in kitchens across the country. Undoubtedly, concrete makes a bold statement and its use in kitchens reflects this – robust matt grey slabs perfectly complement the bleak aesthetic of industrial interior design. Concrete is heavy, difficult to install and expensive so alternatives, such as realistic concrete effect worktops, are highly-affordable. When paired with concrete effect kitchen splashbacks and upstands enhances the industrial design style.

New build Brutalist houses, such as Pedro Reyes’ home in Mexico City, are compassionately restoring the movement for the contemporary era and by doing so they are expanding this mid-century architecture into kitchen design too. In this kitchen, concrete has been used liberally but in this does not have to be the case. Even by using a concrete laminate worktop you can introduce the industrial effect into your kitchen. Being grey, it can be matched with several different colours, including yellow, red and orange. These warm colours help lift the coldness of the concrete and make a kitchen feel more homely.

Credit : Interior Design

What are your thoughts on concrete kitchens? Leave your comments below. Do not forget to follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for even more great inspiration.

Every country has its own unique cuisine and food culture. But how is this reflected in the different kitchens of the world? In this blog post, we take a look at six kitchens from across the globe to see if we really are that different from one another.

Credit : Zillow

New York – USA

Overlooking the New York skyline, this American kitchen features a large island and full height cabinetry. The worktops are made from white marble but you could easily replicate this look using our Calcutta marble effect worktops. The mixed materials, such as stainless steel, complement the wooden cabinet doors to give this kitchen a contemporary feel, whilst the large window allows in maximum natural light.

Credit : Latin Exclusive

Florianópolis – Brazil

This Brazilian kitchen on Santa Catarina Island utilises solid wood worktops and black stone to create a contemporary contrast. The two-level workspace is ideal for keeping food preparation and dining separate. To create this effect in your kitchen, you could combine full stave oak worktops and black sparkle Andromeda worktops. Without a doubt, this open plan kitchen diner is the ideal solution for entertaining.

Credit : On The Market

London – UK

A little closer to home, this British kitchen is bright and airy. The white walls, ceiling, cabinet frontals and worktops accentuate the natural light, making the room feel even more spacious. The traditional cabinet doors and cornices combined with the ceramic Belfast sink give the impression that this kitchen is in the country and not the city.

Credit : Luxury Estate

Tokyo – Japan

Houses in Japan are famous for being space saving. However, this Tokyo kitchen is spacious, bright and airy. With a full glass wall to let in maximum light, it has a clear view of the courtyard garden and brings an element of nature into the kitchen. As with the New York kitchen, the island is a focal point and yet it does not detract from the wonderful garden view.

Credit : Persquare

Cape Town – South Africa

Another kitchen with a breath-taking view is this one in Cape Town, South Africa. With an astonishing vista of the South Atlantic Ocean, it features animalistic patterns, African art and a luxurious dark wood table. The contrast of light cabinet frontals and dark worktops combine well with the bold geometric designs to make this kitchen contemporary and beautiful.

Credit : Real Estate

Melbourne – Australia

This large kitchen is located in Melbourne, the cultural capital of Australia. Mixed materials are used effectively in this kitchen – stainless steel appliances, a marble island and laminate worktops combine to create a balanced aesthetic. The use of under unit lighting gives the striking impression that they are floating and the light walls, floor and ceiling help to finish off this clean and contemporary kitchen.

There you have it. From New York to Melbourne – six stunningly beautiful kitchens of the world. Which was your favourite? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages to keep up to date with the latest blog posts. Alternatively, follow us on Pinterest for even more inspiration.