I wanted to dedicate an entire blogpost to our new (old) oak kitchen. Wooden kitchens are having a mini comeback at the moment and I am loving the trend. Wood feels so warm and cosy after having lived with a white, glossy kitchen for almost 6 years. I’ve been dreaming of having a kitchen like Kailee Wright’s. Light wood with contrasting black appliances is probably my dream kitchen design right now. Wood is so classic and the black accents make it look a bit more edgy. I would also say that wood is a timeless choice for a kitchen, especially if you pair it with the right appliances, fixtures and countertops.
When we were viewing houses, kitchen size was a major factor. We had a tiny u-shaped kitchen in the last house that was simply too small for two people. As our girls were getting bigger, I knew we’d need a larger kitchen area that would suit our needs. Our new kitchen is probably my dream kitchen in terms of the size and the layout. I love the heritage oak cabinets and worktop too, but I’d probably make it look a bit more like ‘me’ in the next 2-5 years. For now, it’s perfect the way it is.
S T O N E H A M – L U L L I N G S T O N E O A K K I T C H E N
We were incredibly lucky to inherit this Stoneham oak heritage kitchen from the previous owners. The kitchen was installed about 8 years ago (so it’s not exactly new), but because they went for a such a timeless design it hasn’t really dated.
Our kitchen is the Stoneham Lullingstone kitchen from their Avant Garde collection. This traditional style kitchen is available in light oak and character oak and comes with glass mirrored glass doors. The period-inspired design suits our 1920s character house so well. The knotted quality of the wood adds warmth and interest to it. I’m so impressed with the kitchen and Stoneham that I would consider getting another kitchen from them. We had to replace one of the plinths (due to old water damage) as soon as we moved in and the new plinth blends in with the old kitchen cabinets perfectly. Wood can darken over time (or go orange) due to exposure to sunlight, but I really think the style and type of wood veneer they’ve chosen here works very well in this south facing kitchen. Also, the white floors and worktop balance the wood. Without the oak cabinets the kitchen would look way too sterile, don’t you think?
S E M I – C I R C U L A R I S L A N D
The curved kitchen island is definitely the focal point of the kitchen. I never knew just how functional round kitchen islands can be, especially in long and narrow rooms. A square kitchen island wouldn’t have worked in this space, without knocking down a wall at least. Although I like open plan kitchens, I want the kitchen area to be a little bit hidden from the dining space. Our round kitchen is perfect in terms of the design and function. You can talk to your guests while cooking, but they cannot see the entire kitchen from the dining room. We use the island a lot more than I thought we would. It’s great when entertaining and we use it as a breakfast bar every single day. Our kids prefer to use it for meals as well as we’ve got a TV on the wall. It also has additional storage underneath which has been a godsend.
C O R I A N W O R K T O P
I really think (hope) that marbled worktops are here to stay. Our grey/white marble effect worktop looks so elegant with wood. It brightens up the space and makes it look very clean and fresh. The worktop is made of Corian which is man-made material often used in kitchens and bathrooms. It is super versatile, durable and can be moulded into any shape or layout. Corian was the perfect material for this kitchen since it can be curved and made into this seamless look.
It is not as easy to maintain as quartz or granite in my opinion. Now this could be because all my previous kitchen worktops have been dark. Our worktop is not (thankfully) entirely white. It has a grey marble effect pattern throughout which hides stains and scratches quite well. I’ve found that it does stain more easily than other surfaces (although most stains seem to come out with Bar Keepers Friend). It’s also not totally heat resistant, so you should avoid putting hot pans directly on it. It can be buffed to get the scratches out, but I’m hoping we won’t need to resort to that anytime soon.
B A R S T O O L S
I’ve been dreaming of the day I get to pick my very first bar stools (this is our first kitchen island after all). Comfort and design were very high on the list for me. I also wanted them to be wipeable and easy to maintain. I started my search for the perfect bar stools way before we even exchanged. We won’t be changing the kitchen anytime soon, so I had to pick ones that would go with it. Wooden kitchens can be quite dominating which is why I wanted to go for a simple, minimalist design.
Calligaris New York bar stools were the clear winner. I adore the design and they are also the most comfortable bar stools I’ve ever sat on. I loved the idea of pairing the heritage oak cabinets with modern white leather bar stools. I upgraded the seat pad to real leather (it’s also available in faux leather). I knew these stools would get loads of use and faux leather just isn’t the most durable option long-term (it can crack and look dull faster). I ordered our new Calligaris kitchen stools the day we exchanged and it took 6 weeks for them to arrive (they were custom made in Italy). They have been worth every penny. The design is timeless and they complement the oak kitchen perfectly.
M Y F A V O U R I T E ‘ N E W ‘ F E A T U R E S
Our new kitchen has quite a few cool appliances. The Quooker boiling water tap has been a game changer. We no longer use a kettle as it really is just as good. It makes life so much easier and cooking/boiling water faster. It’s child safe as well as you’ll need to rotate the tap to switch it on (which takes a bit of force). Our girls aren’t allowed to use it (obviously) and it would be quite hard for a child to switch it on anyway.
I love the built-in features in our kitchen. The entire kitchen is bespoke which means they’ve managed to include some pretty clever storage solutions. The built-in serving tray, wine fridge and wine glass cabinet are the height of luxury and I am so thankful for this kitchen and the extra space every single day.
M Y W I S H L I S T
We will most likely redo this kitchen at some point in the future. I wouldn’t change the layout, but I wouldn’t mind changing the cabinets and worktop though (if and when I get bored). I do love having a wooden kitchen and wouldn’t rule out installing another one again. I would (however) like to add a proper concealed pantry, a waste disposal unit and a Lacanche cooker.
Wood kitchens are definitely on the rise again in 2021, although this time I think we’ll be seeing more darker and exotic woods as well.
Are you loving the new kitchen trends? Don’t forget to follow my Pinterest Board for inspiration!
