Expert Eye: How to Integrate Timber Panelling Into Your Kitchen
Learn how to use different types of timber panelling to bring character to your kitchen, no matter your style
Shiplap, tongue and groove, and V-routed or VJ panelling are all terms that you may have heard in relation to home decoration. These types of panelling are typically associated with more traditional-style interiors, but using them doesn’t have to mean going ‘full farmhouse’. Read on for our guide to discover how you can use either vertical or horizontal panelling to enhance your next kitchen renovation, regardless of whether your style is cool and contemporary or rustic and beachy.
Island back panel
If a kitchen full of panelled cabinet fronts is a bit too much for your liking, the back and end panels of an island bench are a great place to add such detailing without it being overbearing in the space. Here, the panelling has been painted in a contrasting colour to the rest of the kitchen to further enhance the detail.
Traditionally shiplap or tongue- and-groove panelling is made from solid wood. In a kitchen, particularly on cabinet fronts, it can be better to fake it with painted MDF boards, as this hardwearing material is much more suited to a kitchen and will be a more cost-effective option to achieve the look.
If a kitchen full of panelled cabinet fronts is a bit too much for your liking, the back and end panels of an island bench are a great place to add such detailing without it being overbearing in the space. Here, the panelling has been painted in a contrasting colour to the rest of the kitchen to further enhance the detail.
Traditionally shiplap or tongue- and-groove panelling is made from solid wood. In a kitchen, particularly on cabinet fronts, it can be better to fake it with painted MDF boards, as this hardwearing material is much more suited to a kitchen and will be a more cost-effective option to achieve the look.
Splashback
This is a look that I have grown to love. Typically wall panelling is laid vertically, however, laying it horizontally on walls to create a kitchen splashback, as seen here, creates a space that feels expansive and modern. The horizontal lines of the panelling are further enhanced by the addition of a single horizontal floating shelf.
When considering panelling as a splashback choice in a kitchen, pay careful attention to the material that you choose. A fibre cement sheet with V routes to give the appearance of traditional tongue and groove is the most suitable choice for use behind stovetops as it is a non-flammable material.
Tip: Always double check the fire rating of any material that you select for use close to a fire source such as a kitchen stovetop.
This is a look that I have grown to love. Typically wall panelling is laid vertically, however, laying it horizontally on walls to create a kitchen splashback, as seen here, creates a space that feels expansive and modern. The horizontal lines of the panelling are further enhanced by the addition of a single horizontal floating shelf.
When considering panelling as a splashback choice in a kitchen, pay careful attention to the material that you choose. A fibre cement sheet with V routes to give the appearance of traditional tongue and groove is the most suitable choice for use behind stovetops as it is a non-flammable material.
Tip: Always double check the fire rating of any material that you select for use close to a fire source such as a kitchen stovetop.
Walls
Particularly in Queensland, many traditional-style homes already boast beautiful original timber panelled walls. If you are lucky enough to have this feature in your home, embrace it and don’t feel that it confines you to choosing traditional-style finishes for your kitchen cabinetry or furniture in general.
Panelled walls instantly add texture, warmth and character to a room, and they are a feature that can work in harmony with more contemporary styling to create a more balanced and inviting feel. This kitchen is proof that modern-style cabinets can be installed against panelled walls.
Particularly in Queensland, many traditional-style homes already boast beautiful original timber panelled walls. If you are lucky enough to have this feature in your home, embrace it and don’t feel that it confines you to choosing traditional-style finishes for your kitchen cabinetry or furniture in general.
Panelled walls instantly add texture, warmth and character to a room, and they are a feature that can work in harmony with more contemporary styling to create a more balanced and inviting feel. This kitchen is proof that modern-style cabinets can be installed against panelled walls.
Blend cabinetry with wall panelling
The floor-to-ceiling pantry storage cabinets in this kitchen are almost invisible, as they blend in seamlessly with the wall panelling around them. This is a great way to have lots of storage capacity without the room feeling like it’s full of heavy and overpowering cabinetry.
The vertical panelling used here has the effect of enhancing the height of the room, leading the eye up towards the ceiling as opposed to around the room. This is especially beneficial in spaces with low ceiling heights as well as in spaces with high ceilings, as it draws attention to the expansive space.
Browse a gallery of panelled walls
The floor-to-ceiling pantry storage cabinets in this kitchen are almost invisible, as they blend in seamlessly with the wall panelling around them. This is a great way to have lots of storage capacity without the room feeling like it’s full of heavy and overpowering cabinetry.
The vertical panelling used here has the effect of enhancing the height of the room, leading the eye up towards the ceiling as opposed to around the room. This is especially beneficial in spaces with low ceiling heights as well as in spaces with high ceilings, as it draws attention to the expansive space.
Browse a gallery of panelled walls
Unpainted
All of the examples we have looked at so far had painted finishes. Traditionally shiplap and tongue-and-groove panelling was manufactured from solid wood. This contemporary space is an example of how solid wood and unpainted panelling can be used to create interest and warmth in a large open space. The coolness of the polished concrete floors and crisp white cabinetry is offset beautifully by the warmth of the natural solid timber.
Tip: Use a matt-finish varnish when sealing solid timber panelling to enhance the beauty of the timber, leaving it feeling natural and untreated.
All of the examples we have looked at so far had painted finishes. Traditionally shiplap and tongue-and-groove panelling was manufactured from solid wood. This contemporary space is an example of how solid wood and unpainted panelling can be used to create interest and warmth in a large open space. The coolness of the polished concrete floors and crisp white cabinetry is offset beautifully by the warmth of the natural solid timber.
Tip: Use a matt-finish varnish when sealing solid timber panelling to enhance the beauty of the timber, leaving it feeling natural and untreated.
We’ve explored some ways that panelling can be used in a kitchen, now let’s take a look at some of the kitchen styles that this look can be incorporated into.
Beach style
The frameless, full-length panelling of these kitchen cabinet doors lends itself perfectly to a relaxed beachy look. Having the panels run the full height of the doors gives the space a much less formal look than a Shaker-style door with a tongue-and-groove centre panel, for example. Choosing a darker colour further enhances the grooves of the panelling, and the tone used here is a perfect beachside choice.
Consider having no handles on these panelled door fronts, or use a simple round knob, maybe even in solid timber, for a true beachy look.
20 of the Best Country Kitchens
Beach style
The frameless, full-length panelling of these kitchen cabinet doors lends itself perfectly to a relaxed beachy look. Having the panels run the full height of the doors gives the space a much less formal look than a Shaker-style door with a tongue-and-groove centre panel, for example. Choosing a darker colour further enhances the grooves of the panelling, and the tone used here is a perfect beachside choice.
Consider having no handles on these panelled door fronts, or use a simple round knob, maybe even in solid timber, for a true beachy look.
20 of the Best Country Kitchens
Hamptons
Nothing says Cape Cod or Hamptons style more than a crisp white kitchen with Shaker-style doors. Painted shiplap or V-routed panelling takes on a more formal and much more traditional feel when combined with Shaker-style doors.
Tip: Use V-routed end panels and island back panels to complement the Shaker-style cabinet fronts. Another option is to consider using a Shaker-style door with a V-routed centre panel.
Nothing says Cape Cod or Hamptons style more than a crisp white kitchen with Shaker-style doors. Painted shiplap or V-routed panelling takes on a more formal and much more traditional feel when combined with Shaker-style doors.
Tip: Use V-routed end panels and island back panels to complement the Shaker-style cabinet fronts. Another option is to consider using a Shaker-style door with a V-routed centre panel.
Traditional farmhouse
For a stronger farmhouse look, consider using a rougher finish on your panelling. Painted solid wood shiplap or tongue-and-groove wall panelling is a great choice for this style of interior.
In an older home where the overall styling of the space will be a farmhouse look, don’t worry about filling gaps or sanding out all the imperfections in existing wall panelling. Instead, preserve and celebrate its character.
Tip: When choosing new materials try to achieve less evenly spaced boards that are not exactly flush. Aim for perfectly imperfect in this case.
The Scullery Reinvented for Modern Living
For a stronger farmhouse look, consider using a rougher finish on your panelling. Painted solid wood shiplap or tongue-and-groove wall panelling is a great choice for this style of interior.
In an older home where the overall styling of the space will be a farmhouse look, don’t worry about filling gaps or sanding out all the imperfections in existing wall panelling. Instead, preserve and celebrate its character.
Tip: When choosing new materials try to achieve less evenly spaced boards that are not exactly flush. Aim for perfectly imperfect in this case.
The Scullery Reinvented for Modern Living
Contemporary style
Panelling should be evenly spaced and have a neatly finished, uniform look to create a more contemporary feeling. Here, mixing timber panelling with sleek, flat-fronted cabinetry and grey concrete-toned benchtops creates an edgy contemporary space.
Likewise, the colour scheme of crisp white, cool grey and light timber has a more urban, less traditional feel. The concealed range hood is built inside a cabinet that is clad in the same panelling as the walls around it, helping the cabinet to blend in as opposed to becoming a feature of the space.
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Panelling should be evenly spaced and have a neatly finished, uniform look to create a more contemporary feeling. Here, mixing timber panelling with sleek, flat-fronted cabinetry and grey concrete-toned benchtops creates an edgy contemporary space.
Likewise, the colour scheme of crisp white, cool grey and light timber has a more urban, less traditional feel. The concealed range hood is built inside a cabinet that is clad in the same panelling as the walls around it, helping the cabinet to blend in as opposed to becoming a feature of the space.
Tell us
Did you enjoy this story? Don’t forget to like it, bookmark it, share it, and join the conversation.
More
Browse more kitchen island designs
Whether designing a traditional or contemporary-style kitchen, panelled cabinet fronts are a great way to add visual interest and a warm ambiance. In a kitchen such as this, either solid tongue-and-groove boards could be used on the kitchen cabinet doors, drawer fronts and island panels, or they could be V routed to give a tongue-and-groove effect. This technique uses V-shaped grooves cut into sheets of MDF, giving the appearance of traditional timber panelling. VJ panelling, as it is often called, then needs to be painted to complete the look.
Tip: Consider the proportions of the doors and drawers when deciding on the spacing between routed lines on VJ sheeting. Generally an 80-100 millimetre spacing is a good choice, as it’s not too narrow or too wide and is typically the spacing between solid wood wall panelling joins.