Kitchen Aid: 10 Ways Natural Timber Can Warm Up the Heart of Your Home
Whether your kitchen is modern or traditional, big or small, the alluring tones of timber are hard to beat
Joanna Tovia
11 July 2014
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well. Follow her photodocumentary about pets and the people who love them on Instagram @unfoldingtails
Houzz editorial team. Photojournalist specialising in design, travel and living well.... More
Kitchens are the place where couples, kids, extended family and friends all come together, so it makes sense to make yours a warm and welcoming place to be. Incorporating timber, with its warm tones and lovely imperfections, is one of the best ways to achieve this. Despite wood’s softness – it dents and scratches far more easily than any other kitchen material – it can actually last much longer than its sturdier counterparts. Some timber requires regular maintenance, but even the most neglected of benchtops can be brought back to life with a little sanding and refinishing.
All kinds of timber can find a place in your kitchen. Recycled timber can add character and age to country kitchens, while the pale tones of Tasmanian oak can impart chic Scandinavian style to any home. Whatever style you adhere to, timber is sure to feature in your dream kitchen once you’ve admired these inspirational designs.
All kinds of timber can find a place in your kitchen. Recycled timber can add character and age to country kitchens, while the pale tones of Tasmanian oak can impart chic Scandinavian style to any home. Whatever style you adhere to, timber is sure to feature in your dream kitchen once you’ve admired these inspirational designs.
1. Seek out recycled timber
There’s only one way to say it – timber gives this kitchen character. The patina of recycled timber can give a kitchen age, as if happy families have been gathering there to talk, laugh, eat and argue for generations. You needn’t stress out over an island benchtop like this one – it’s already full of dings and dents, and any serious damage you find hard to live with can be repaired without too much effort.
There’s only one way to say it – timber gives this kitchen character. The patina of recycled timber can give a kitchen age, as if happy families have been gathering there to talk, laugh, eat and argue for generations. You needn’t stress out over an island benchtop like this one – it’s already full of dings and dents, and any serious damage you find hard to live with can be repaired without too much effort.
2. Don’t disregard the ceiling
The timber ceiling feature in this vast space brings the kitchen down to earth; without it, it would risk feeling cold and impersonal. Linking the timber tones up high with the elements down below works a treat. The end result is a kitchen that’s out of the ordinary in the best possible way.
The timber ceiling feature in this vast space brings the kitchen down to earth; without it, it would risk feeling cold and impersonal. Linking the timber tones up high with the elements down below works a treat. The end result is a kitchen that’s out of the ordinary in the best possible way.
3. Add some voluptuous curves
Versatility is timber’s middle name so why not make the most of it and take a more artistic approach to your kitchen? Rectangles are so last year.
Versatility is timber’s middle name so why not make the most of it and take a more artistic approach to your kitchen? Rectangles are so last year.
4. Build in a chopping board
A butcher’s block installed on top of a kitchen island can make for a vast and versatile zone for food prep. Narrower kitchens need not miss out, though, as this kitchen so aptly demonstrates.
See how to keep your butcher’s block looking good
A butcher’s block installed on top of a kitchen island can make for a vast and versatile zone for food prep. Narrower kitchens need not miss out, though, as this kitchen so aptly demonstrates.
See how to keep your butcher’s block looking good
5. Turn the corner with timber
The folded timber designs in this kitchen add architectural interest and work beautifully with the variations in tone on the recycled grey ironbark floor.
The folded timber designs in this kitchen add architectural interest and work beautifully with the variations in tone on the recycled grey ironbark floor.
6. Take an eco-friendly approach
The materials in this home were chosen for their durability, economy and environmental characteristics. Choosing sustainably produced timber makes your kitchen feel as good as it looks.
The materials in this home were chosen for their durability, economy and environmental characteristics. Choosing sustainably produced timber makes your kitchen feel as good as it looks.
7. Make it a stand-alone feature
Timber gives colour, texture and warmth to a spectacular figured marble kitchen, and is a good example of how this magical material can be an asset to any style.
Timber gives colour, texture and warmth to a spectacular figured marble kitchen, and is a good example of how this magical material can be an asset to any style.
8. Link open-plan spaces
Using similar tones in your kitchen as you do elsewhere can make a home feel less disjointed, and is especially useful in unifying open-plan designs where the kitchen/family/dining areas are together but separate.
Using similar tones in your kitchen as you do elsewhere can make a home feel less disjointed, and is especially useful in unifying open-plan designs where the kitchen/family/dining areas are together but separate.
9. Accessorise with timber
The sleek lines of stone, polyurethane and laminate can be appealing, but any kitchen will benefit from the addition of timber in one form or another. These simple bar stools give this kitchen a stylish and gentle touch. There’s just no substitute for timber.
The sleek lines of stone, polyurethane and laminate can be appealing, but any kitchen will benefit from the addition of timber in one form or another. These simple bar stools give this kitchen a stylish and gentle touch. There’s just no substitute for timber.
10. Rethink wood for cabinets
Don’t let the outdated timber cabinets of the past put you off; modern designs can be absolutely stunning. Natural light brings the tones in natural timber to life so consider skylights if your kitchen is on the dark side.
HAVE YOUR SAY
What do you love about using wood in the kitchen, or are you quite happy without it? Tell us more in the comments section below.
Don’t let the outdated timber cabinets of the past put you off; modern designs can be absolutely stunning. Natural light brings the tones in natural timber to life so consider skylights if your kitchen is on the dark side.
HAVE YOUR SAY
What do you love about using wood in the kitchen, or are you quite happy without it? Tell us more in the comments section below.
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I'm a lucky bird! I live in a tree...or in many trees, some of the Queensland hoop pines that made my walls, ceilings and floorss would have been mighty and much taller than 30 metres. I don't have much choice where using wood in any room goes...its all wood! Sometimes I feel I'd like a change and start thinking of cladding, wallpaper and paint but when it comes to the crunch...I really am a happy, lucky bird sitting here in my tree surrounded and protected by nothing else but wood.
Maybe one day some insightfully inspired artistic interior designer will be able to convince me to make an artistic change. It would be interesting to take flight on their inspiration. Until then, the uppermost inspiration in my bag of tricks consists of mahogany stain and protective wood oil.
Skylights are an idea I've had floating arounf for ages...but again, reluctant to disturb a heavy guage gal iron roof from the 1900s...one that has never leaked...except where the flue of the log heater went through the roof. Any roofing would ned to match the old gal...can't use zincalume...some sort of chemical incompatibility...so that's a a problem too. My Aunt's roof spring a leak where she had a skylight installed. Nobody was ever able to fix it.
Should anyone on Houzz have any interesting an innovative suggestions, I'd be all ears! Interestingly, when my elderly Aunt passed and her 1888 Queenslander went on the market...the first item on the list for the tidy-up was to remove her wallpaper accents and any other decor she'd added over the years. Non original built-ins were pulled out...so made me reluctant to make too many changes here. Its probably a bit silly trying to live tomorrow today isn't it? After all, I'm the bower bird in this tree for now and I have to be happy with my own decor!
Its all like this from ceiling to floor to built-ins...so imagination is the key here. Fortunately, should I ever need to replace a floorboard I can raid the giant pantry shelves!
Please excuse the scanned photogtaphs from the pre-digital camera days.