Best of the Week: 29 Sensational Joinery Ideas
It is simply amazing what can be done with timber. Here, ideas that will inspire you to get creative with wood
Vanessa Walker
14 October 2017
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
From simple additions such as an open shelf at the end of an island bench to gloriously expressive rolling ceilings, wood can be used in so many ways in the home. Here is our round-up of some of the most appealing joinery projects – running the gamut from pretty to practical – we have seen on Houzz. Take a look and bookmark for when you next want to branch out.
1. Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Why we love it: As you probably know by now, texture is king. So why let kitchen cabinetry languish with boring flat surfaces? We love the combination of diamond grooves on soft grey with brass hardware on these kitchen cabinets (and the way it secretly reminds us of bed quilts).
Why we love it: As you probably know by now, texture is king. So why let kitchen cabinetry languish with boring flat surfaces? We love the combination of diamond grooves on soft grey with brass hardware on these kitchen cabinets (and the way it secretly reminds us of bed quilts).
2. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: This is a beautiful example of a streamlined, uncluttered kitchen that nonetheless embraces detail. It manages just the right balance, with Dulux ‘Shell Grey’ providing the most elegant of finishing touches.
Why we love it: This is a beautiful example of a streamlined, uncluttered kitchen that nonetheless embraces detail. It manages just the right balance, with Dulux ‘Shell Grey’ providing the most elegant of finishing touches.
3. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: Grainy wood laid in a chevron pattern adds a wonderful warmth to this kitchen, acting as a magnet to draw people to the island bench. A clever and effective way to add a dash of personality.
Why we love it: Grainy wood laid in a chevron pattern adds a wonderful warmth to this kitchen, acting as a magnet to draw people to the island bench. A clever and effective way to add a dash of personality.
4. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: Because these over-sized raw timber knobs are so alluring against the black wardrobe doors. Talk about making joinery the focal point of the room in the best possible way.
Why we love it: Because these over-sized raw timber knobs are so alluring against the black wardrobe doors. Talk about making joinery the focal point of the room in the best possible way.
5. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: A similar colour combination creates a beautifully dramatic entrance to the stairway in this Sydney home.
Why we love it: A similar colour combination creates a beautifully dramatic entrance to the stairway in this Sydney home.
6. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: That beautiful colour and material combination again.
Why we love it: That beautiful colour and material combination again.
7. Location: Central Coast, NSW
Why we love it: If black is too much for you here’s the same idea – oversized handles as the standout feature in streamlined joinery – in a softer shade.
Why we love it: If black is too much for you here’s the same idea – oversized handles as the standout feature in streamlined joinery – in a softer shade.
8. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: A small design element in the form of origami-like folds elevates this bank of joinery from bulky to beautiful.
Why we love it: A small design element in the form of origami-like folds elevates this bank of joinery from bulky to beautiful.
And it still looks magnificent when opened to reveal a study and various forms of storage.
9. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: This wonderful cable-wire staircase features built-in joinery under the treads, which is clever. But it’s the built-in shelving in an oak that matches the floorboards that have us swooning.
Why we love it: This wonderful cable-wire staircase features built-in joinery under the treads, which is clever. But it’s the built-in shelving in an oak that matches the floorboards that have us swooning.
10. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: Because it would have been easy to stop at the battened balustrade. Instead stepped shadow boxes both hide the stairs, add interest and offer display space.
Why we love it: Because it would have been easy to stop at the battened balustrade. Instead stepped shadow boxes both hide the stairs, add interest and offer display space.
11. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Why we love it: The way the hardwood timber battens contrast against the stone to provide warmth to the house is so attractive. It’s also a good example of adding just a few battens for effect.
Why we love it: The way the hardwood timber battens contrast against the stone to provide warmth to the house is so attractive. It’s also a good example of adding just a few battens for effect.
12. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: The juxtaposition of vertical timber battens and white floating shelves is so lovely.
Why we love it: The juxtaposition of vertical timber battens and white floating shelves is so lovely.
13. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: It’s simple and effective. This almost-floating credenza and adjoining shelf work wonders in this space. The addition of dark teal on the front anchors the joinery in the room.
Why we love it: It’s simple and effective. This almost-floating credenza and adjoining shelf work wonders in this space. The addition of dark teal on the front anchors the joinery in the room.
14. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: We love the way the linear forms unite the different timber elements in this space. The black shiplap panelling cleverly demarcates the dining room; these lines are referenced in the ceiling and then in a more spaced-out form in the outdoor ceiling.
Why we love it: We love the way the linear forms unite the different timber elements in this space. The black shiplap panelling cleverly demarcates the dining room; these lines are referenced in the ceiling and then in a more spaced-out form in the outdoor ceiling.
15. Location: Adelaide, South Australia
Why we love it: The soft graininess of wormy chestnut (with a satin finish) doors, back panel and floating shelves paired with the darkness of Dulux ‘Domino’ tick all the boxes in this kitchen. Cut-outs as handles are unobtrusive, allowing the pattern of the wood and tiles to sing.
Why we love it: The soft graininess of wormy chestnut (with a satin finish) doors, back panel and floating shelves paired with the darkness of Dulux ‘Domino’ tick all the boxes in this kitchen. Cut-outs as handles are unobtrusive, allowing the pattern of the wood and tiles to sing.
16. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Because of the honest approach, using clear finishes and letting the grain and painted exposed beams do the talking. And the way the great expanses of wood serve to elevate the material.
Why we love it: Because of the honest approach, using clear finishes and letting the grain and painted exposed beams do the talking. And the way the great expanses of wood serve to elevate the material.
17. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: 18mm thick hoop-pine plywood lines the walls of this gorgeous ‘kids’ pod’. Mihaly Slocombe used Wattyl water-based Estapol finish to protect the plywood while staying true to the original colour. She cleverly painted the studs black before installing the ply, leaving 5mm shadowlines. A beautiful example of using ply – and contrast – to great effect.
Why we love it: 18mm thick hoop-pine plywood lines the walls of this gorgeous ‘kids’ pod’. Mihaly Slocombe used Wattyl water-based Estapol finish to protect the plywood while staying true to the original colour. She cleverly painted the studs black before installing the ply, leaving 5mm shadowlines. A beautiful example of using ply – and contrast – to great effect.
18. Location: London, UK
Why we love it: The TV is often a difficult object to place. We love the way this joinery has been designed to frame it using useful display shelving and cupboards. The white joinery provides an unobtrusive surround, while the 40mm-thick American black walnut worktop adds a grounding design element.
Why we love it: The TV is often a difficult object to place. We love the way this joinery has been designed to frame it using useful display shelving and cupboards. The white joinery provides an unobtrusive surround, while the 40mm-thick American black walnut worktop adds a grounding design element.
19. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Sustainability drove the design of this home, and in the second bedroom it’s seen in the use of light ply panels that give a simple Scandi aesethetic.
Why we love it: Sustainability drove the design of this home, and in the second bedroom it’s seen in the use of light ply panels that give a simple Scandi aesethetic.
20. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: This Melbourne home has a blonde Scandi-style interior expressed through a range of pale joinery including a banquette with storage beneath, a bank of floating drawers and this wonderfully simple desk tucked into what would otherwise be a dead space.
Why we love it: This Melbourne home has a blonde Scandi-style interior expressed through a range of pale joinery including a banquette with storage beneath, a bank of floating drawers and this wonderfully simple desk tucked into what would otherwise be a dead space.
Here’s the same home’s built-in beds, complete with dowel-style hooks for hanging toys and the merest detail in the vertical panelling.
And here you see the island bench facing done in simple but effective dowel panellilng.
21. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Another beautiful island bench. This time in grey box, which plays off beautifully against the spotted gum floors.
Why we love it: Another beautiful island bench. This time in grey box, which plays off beautifully against the spotted gum floors.
22. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Using the open end of the island bench to store cookbooks is a fabulous idea. Encasing the range hood in a matching timber shelf, thus freeing up space for further display? Pure genius.
Why we love it: Using the open end of the island bench to store cookbooks is a fabulous idea. Encasing the range hood in a matching timber shelf, thus freeing up space for further display? Pure genius.
… And the great ideas continue throughout this home.
23. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: The owner wanted a light-filled home that could hide the mess. Austin Maynard Architects designed a cubed timber floor system that acts as a giant toy box. Joinery at its most creative?
Why we love it: The owner wanted a light-filled home that could hide the mess. Austin Maynard Architects designed a cubed timber floor system that acts as a giant toy box. Joinery at its most creative?
24. Location: Sydney, NSW
Why we love it: Using wood to make your ceiling a feature is a grand gesture. Employing contour and varying colour adds even more interest. We love the way this rolling blackbutt raised ceiling adds a defining element to this otherwise restrained abode.
Why we love it: Using wood to make your ceiling a feature is a grand gesture. Employing contour and varying colour adds even more interest. We love the way this rolling blackbutt raised ceiling adds a defining element to this otherwise restrained abode.
25. Location: Ballarat, Victoria
Why we love it: Light-toned birch ply lines the interior walls, kitchen cabinetry and ceilings in this extension. Varied ceiling heights reflect the faceted island bench end and draw the eye up to the skylight, providing even more angular interest in this voluminous space.
Why we love it: Light-toned birch ply lines the interior walls, kitchen cabinetry and ceilings in this extension. Varied ceiling heights reflect the faceted island bench end and draw the eye up to the skylight, providing even more angular interest in this voluminous space.
26. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: Timber joinery doesn’t always have to be streamlined. Planks add a rustic edge to this refined home without cluttering up the aesthetic.
Why we love it: Timber joinery doesn’t always have to be streamlined. Planks add a rustic edge to this refined home without cluttering up the aesthetic.
27. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: A nib wall that doubles as a bedhead using various planks of recycled timber? Brilliant.
Why we love it: A nib wall that doubles as a bedhead using various planks of recycled timber? Brilliant.
28. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Why we love it: A timber pod is a clever way to demarcate an ensuite without it appearing too heavy in such an intimate space.
Why we love it: A timber pod is a clever way to demarcate an ensuite without it appearing too heavy in such an intimate space.
29. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Why we love it: This recently completed man shed combines bluestone with rustic timber to evoke the primal qualities of external gathering places the homeowner experienced on a recent trip overseas. We applaud such an individual, instinctual approach to joinery.
Tell us
Did you spot any ideas you’d use in your home? Tell us in the Comments section below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, share it, bookmark it and join the conversation.
More
Browse carpenters on Houzz
Why we love it: This recently completed man shed combines bluestone with rustic timber to evoke the primal qualities of external gathering places the homeowner experienced on a recent trip overseas. We applaud such an individual, instinctual approach to joinery.
Tell us
Did you spot any ideas you’d use in your home? Tell us in the Comments section below. And if you enjoyed this story, don’t forget to like it, share it, bookmark it and join the conversation.
More
Browse carpenters on Houzz
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Thanks for the article Vanessa.
26. Location: Melbourne, Victoria ❤️
This is a good story, thanks Houzz! It is made by you taking the time to highlight ”why we love it” (ie explain the features that you are illustrating in each image) so much more use than a photo with just a caption or headline