One of the most influential trends is the return to natural materials — the first thing that comes to mind? Beautiful wood kitchens. But what should you keep in mind when designing your perfect wood kitchen?
Below we have listed everything you should consider in our simple wood kitchen guide! It offers a guide to help create the perfect space for you.
Types of Wood
The first step is figuring out what kind of wood you want to use. To create that homey and harmonious aesthetic, we recommend that you match your kitchen with the materials used in other rooms of the home. Different wood types, however, can create significantly different expressions.
We offer kitchens in both ash wood and oak wood — both are highly durable while also creating a timeless and enduring aesthetic. If you have a dining room in oak that you absolutely adore, then perhaps you want an oak kitchen to match. If you have pristine white walls, however, and lots of bright light in the windows, you might want to lean towards ash wood to make better use of the ambient illumination. A good rule: the more veins and grain in a wood, the warmer tone it will evoke. Make sure to keep this in mind if you have a home that is mostly decorated in cooler hues to keep your space relatively consistent.
Light, Dark or Colorful?
How would you like to accentuate your home? If the space is relatively dark, you may want to brighten it with lighter colors. If it’s a smaller space or a bit spartan, you may want to use warmer hues to give it a homier feeling.
Oak and ash have very different properties to begin with but the specific treatment of the wood can also evoke a unique impression. Aside from the lightness and intensity of the wood, you can also paint it to give it some color. Typically there is still a bit of transparency to see the wood underneath; the authentic grain can still be beautifully beheld behind the semi-transparent hues.
Generally, the more red pigment that is used in a paint or stain, the more heat and warmth it brings to the room. It’s also worth thinking about how to match the color temperature of the walls with the heat intensity of the wood.
Design
If you are going to build a wooden kitchen, we recommend that you stay with a fairly simple and minimalist design. The beauty of wood comes out all on its own and too much over-design can bring about a feeling of a sports cabin or a seventies-era pine kitchen.
If you have an open floor plan that leads to a dining or living room, you may want to treat the kitchen like a piece of furniture in the larger space. This aesthetic is best achieved by using several tall cabinets placed in a row or by laying out benches without any overhead shelves.
To create a natural and authentic feeling in the wood-clad space, we recommend storing technical gadgets and equipment out of sight. You can hide the oven and microwave, for instance, inside a cupboard or the kitchen island; the fridge and freezer can be concealed behind a beautiful wooden door.
Handles
Our modernly-designed wooden kitchens are available with hidden grip in the frame or simple push-open doors. This discreet design without knobs or handles lets you maintain the harmonious lines in the kitchen. If you prefer to use handles, we recommend that you match them with the surrounding materials, especially the sink and faucet. Try to minimize the number of materials used to keep the wood in the spotlight.
Worktops
A wooden kitchen works well with most types of worktops: terrazzo, natural stone, composite materials, wood or stainless steel all fit beautifully with the design. Using natural stone or wooden worktops gives you a perfect organic aesthetic in the kitchen to create a harmonious and natural expression.
The classic design also gives your kitchen a timeless and eminently exclusive aesthetic. If you prefer stone, you may want to match it with the color of the wood or maybe even the surrounding natural scenery. If you live in the woodlands, for instance, maybe some green-gray marble; if you’re near the rocks and mountains, perhaps some classic gray limestone.
On the other side of the spectrum, terrazzo can take on all manner of styles depending on the size and color of the stones and cement. Terrazzo can create a very expressive and personalized look in the kitchen to create anything from a very calm and harmonious space to a highly luxurious and exclusive one. Stainless steel is the most durable worktop and can also give your kitchen an air of professionalism.
Faucets
Similar to the handles and doors, we recommend a simple and pared-down style for your faucets. Remember to adjust the size of the faucet to match the size of the room — smaller kitchens call for more trim details while larger spaces might utilize something more robust.
Most colors and finishes go well with wooden kitchens, but you should always try to match the heat intensity of the wood. Warmer kitchens pair well with brass faucets as well as fully lacquered designs in black or cream. Cooler kitchens are better combined with chrome or black details. Matching the faucets with the sink as well as with the other handles is a great way to create a sleek and harmonious expression.
Here we have also collected kitchen inspiration, kitchen furnishings, worktops, appliances, tips for kitchen renovation and guides on how to think when planning the kitchen.