The rage of wooden kitchens perhaps hit its heights in the nineties, with black granite-top maple and beech leading the way as some favourites. Trends went through a transitional period however, with darker, more exotic woods gaining in popularity. Quality kitchens veneers introduced some rather striking bookmatched finishes to add some drama to the elegant walnut and grained Zebrano woods that appeared. For a while afterwards though, colourfully painted finishes took over, putting wooden kitchens on the back foot.
Trends seem to recycle themselves however so wood was bound to resurface at some or other time. The all-wood trend doesn’t seem to be making a complete reappearance however, but wood accents are definitely leading the way as far as progressive contemporary trends go. Here are some great ideas through which to add wood accents:
Flaunt It: There’s nothing wrong with a bit of showing-off when it comes to wooden accents, but you should definitely keep things classy. This can be achieved through the accessorising of a classic white paint scheme with some beautiful wooden features like open wine stores, dish racks, inset drawers and pull-out trays. Oak makes for a good choice as it offers quite a lot of versatility, with its mellow hue suiting most colour schemes.
Topping It: Because of their colour options and durability, granite and quartz composite still remain popular as work surface choices, but wooden worktops bring in an element of warmth to modern day schemes. This creates a bit more of a traditional kitchen feel with some country influence. Wood isn’t as durable as stone though, so it’ll have to be treated regularly. You could perhaps add metal trivets to keep it looking in good shape for longer. Oak comes in again as a favourite, but you could also try walnut or hardwearing iroko for a darker, richer appearance.
Going Inside: If you don’t want the timber to become too overbearing, dress the cupboard interiors up. Timber shelving can be used for your baking ingredients, while painted larders can be made to look really beautiful with wooden spice racks on the doors.
Mixing It Up: To add some interest and to create zones, larger schemes can benefit from mixing and matching materials and colours. Consider going with a 50/50 split between wall cupboards and painted base cupboards or you can add a chic timber panel to the back of an island. If you want to go with something a little bolder then you could perhaps incorporate a large oak cupboard bank for appliances. Remember though that even when you’re mixing materials and colours, a level of continuity needs to be maintained in the room, so for example you might want to have Shaker or flat-fronted cabinets throughout, but in a variety of finishes.
Echoed Fabulous Features: Elements of timber that complement its architectural features can really benefit a room with original floorboards, beautiful beams or an exposed vaulted ceiling, while a kitchen done up completely in walnut or oak could make for a wood overload if the room is a smaller one. A beautiful bank which holds modern appliances works well when countered by painted cupboards in some other places.
