Wood Kitchen Ideas

Thought a timber kitchen was too traditional? Think again...

Looking for wooden kitchen ideas? There's a new generation of wooden kitchen cabinet styles that are turning up the heat in the world's coolest homes...

Wood kitchens have been a classic option for decades, but it's not just about homely styles with Shaker shapes or pretty painted colours, there's a new generation of timber kitchen styles that are turning up in cool homes around the globe.

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Sawn oak is given a luxe look when contrasted with beautiful Carrara marble worktops and splash backs, while reclaimed scaffold boards are transformed into cabinet doors and teamed with concrete for a richly textured, rustic vibe.

The humble school science lab gets a clever revamp in two brilliant leaps of creativity and imagination. If you're repurposing second-hand or vintage cupboards and there aren't enough to fill your room, work with what is available and build up the rest of your kitchen with off-the-shelf cabinets and carcasses from the high street.

Read Also:Striking And Stylish White Kitchen Ideas

Timber isn't just for cabinets, worktops and floors, either. If you fancy the warmth of wood in your kitchen, why not clad the ceiling too for a cosy, cabin effect? Keep the look fresh and modern by mixing it up with different tones of timber, and some eye-catching tiles or cupboard doors in rich green, as a refreshing foil against the natural materials.

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If the natural hue of the wood doesn't quite work with your floor or other materials you have in mind, take it up a shade or two with a darker stain, and bring out the richness of the grain at the same time.

Don't be afraid to mix different types of wood – pale boards look beautiful contrasted with darker tones. A patchwork herringbone parquet floor works particularly well with other types of wood, as the natural variations in the colours can be drawn out and highlighted in the cabinetry or countertops. Add touches of brass, classic designer pieces and rich stone to take it to the next level.

Get inspired with these gorgeous wood kitchen ideas...

Pop of blue

Pop of blue

This kitchen features a light, neutral palette that's punctuated with pops of blue. A modern kitchen island doubles as a chic breakfast bar.

Pop of blue

Pop of blue

This kitchen features a light, neutral palette that's punctuated with pops of blue. A modern kitchen island doubles as a chic breakfast bar.

Oak & Limestone

Oak & Limestone

This kitchen has the feeling of a rural retreat, drawing inspiration from Belgian and French provincial homes. The materials are a classic combination of plaster, oak and limestone, creating a neutral backdrop. Get the look: Plumbing from Perrin & Rowe. Stove from Viking. Lighting from Kevin Reilly. Baskets are from Waterworks, Jonathan Kline, Annemarie O’Sullivan.

Wood & Quartz

Wood & Quartz

Sprawling Quartzite slabs serve up a chic workspace. The kitchen is complemented by surrounding cabinetry that boasts an industrial style in the form of stainless steel accents.

Wood Veneer

Wood Veneer

The wood veneer for the cabinet fronts has an understated horizontal grain pattern that balances texture and simplicity. ‘It’s a wood veneer with a sawn-edged finish that we gave a diluted white wood wash to bring out the grain,’ says the owner. Cabinetry, bespoke to owner’s design by Crofton Interiors. Range cooker, Lacanche

Pale & interesting

Pale & interesting

This kitchen cabinetry was made to complement the cabinetry in the rest of this loft home.

Rift Sawn Oak

Rift Sawn Oak

This kitchen is fitted out with rift sawn oak cabinets, a waterworks regulator faucet, Miele appliances, and a Calacatta marble waterfall countertop.

Brass Accents

Brass Accents

Wood kitchen cabinetry softens the modern look, and makes for a warm, cosy and inviting space. Brass handles match the brass detailing on the floating shelf. Display items are simple and rustic, and create a balance of rustic and modern.

Soft Blonde

Soft Blonde

This kitchen features a marriage of blonde wood and white marble, for a relaxed but chic vibe. Matte surfaces and handleless cabinetry create a soft look. White bar stools at the breakfast bar complement the white seating in the dining and living areas.

Worktop Contrast

Worktop Contrast

A brightly coloured worktop offers a modern contrast to the wood kitchen cabinets, and makes a refreshing feature. A window above the sink area slides all the way open, connecting the space to the outdoors.

TROPICAL FLAVOUR

TROPICAL FLAVOUR

Handleless eucalyptus wood units and a living moss wall bring verdant rainforest styling to the kitchen. Get the look The kitchen units are by Prototype Design Lab. This is the KWC Eve mixer tap with light. The coffee maker is by Gaggenau.

TOTALLY FLOORED

TOTALLY FLOORED

The bespoke kitchen units were made from recycled floorboards, then painted and waxed. Marble worktops like these are available at carraramarble.co.uk. Get the look The floorboards are made from reclaimed pine and stained with a white-pigmented oil for a softer finish. Find reclaimed floorboards at Masco Salvage.

chalk and cheese

chalk and cheese

The bespoke cabinets are made from reclaimed floorboards. They and the table are lightened with quick-drying chalk paint, which the owner says is a decorator’s dream due to its malleability. Get the look The cabinets are painted in Chalk Paints in Paris Grey and French Linen by Annie Sloan, sealed with dark wax. For a bench and table like this, try Harvey Jones. The fridge is by Smeg. The wall tiles are from The Reject Tile Shop.

RAW EDGES

RAW EDGES

The owner isn’t keen on the generic, stainless-steel finishes of most modern extractor hoods, so he had the cover made to fit in with the industrial look around the flat. It brings a modern edge to the timber cabinets too. Get the look The cabinetry and bronze, liquid-finish worktop were created by Tekne. The base for the island was made from reclaimed plaster pillars sourced from Retrouvius. The ‘Nice’ plate is by Tracey Emin – similar limited editions are available at the Hang-Up Gallery. The bar stools are from LASSCO.

LAYER CAKE

LAYER CAKE

Created by designer, Amelie von Caseling, the finish on the cabinetry is put together with layer after layer of different patinas and then rubbed down to create a textured appearance. Get the look The bespoke kitchen units have washed wood-effect doors and hammered metal spray-painted doors. See the Dagg vase at Svenskt Tenn.

MIXED MATERIALS

MIXED MATERIALS

The rustic-looking cabinet doors are sawn oak with a white finish. They look like reclaimed timber, but it’s engineered. Reclaimed wood isn’t so hard-wearing and you can’t wipe it easily. The kitchen is full of clever design details – from the metro tiles inside the kitchen cabinets to the telescopic wall lights. Get the look: Jamie Blake of Blakes London made this kitchen from sketches drawn up by the home owner. The cabinet doors came from Waxed Floors. The wall lamps were bought on eBay.

RUSTIC STYLE

RUSTIC STYLE

Wood is the dominant factor here, from the beams and floors to the cabinetry and fittings. Get the look: The kitchen units are a bespoke design by Danish manufacturer Garde Hvalsøe. The iron spotlights were also specially made for the house. The painting hanging over the sink is by the late Danish artist Kurt Trampedachs. The worktop running along the wall is made up of a single piece of Dinesen HeartOak flooring, measuring 5.6 metres in length.

RAW TEXTURES

RAW TEXTURES

A rustic feel has been created in the kitchen with reclaimed scaffold boards, concrete worksurfaces and plenty of wood and aluminium accessories: utilitarian, practical and beautiful. Get the look: The cabinet doors are made from reclaimed scaffold boards.

GOOD CHEMISTRY

GOOD CHEMISTRY

The worktops and door front are made from old cherry wood chemistry lab worktops, complete with Bunsen-burner holes. A skinny pantry room next to the kitchen means surfaces stay relatively uncluttered. Get the look: These are vintage machinist chairs from Australia. The chinaware and tray are by Rory Dobner. The concrete Edison lamps are by Tove Adman at Scandinavian Design Center. The dual-fuel range cooker is Aga.

COOL AND CALM

COOL AND CALM

Calm and considered with natural textures, there’s an air of serenity in this kitchen. Get the look: The dining table is bespoke from Another Country. The bench with built-in drawers is by John Eger. The chairs are Longworth from Garden Trading. This is the Sebastian Cox kitchen by DeVOL.

SECOND LIFE

SECOND LIFE

The wall of kitchen cabinets is made from Ikea carcasses fronted with plywood. They reach from floor to ceiling, a clever solution to prevent any dust from accumulating on the tops of cupboards. Reclaimed timber originally used for school science-lab tables now fronts one side of the cabinets and lines the alcove shelving. Get the look: The kitchen carcasses are from Ikea. The polished-concrete worktop is by Mortise Concrete.

MADE TO MEASURE

MADE TO MEASURE

The kitchen was made by a local joiner. It was designed for cooking in, rather than sitting in with islands or wall cupboards eshewed in favour of low-level surfaces. The bench conceals waste pipes, hidden by the previous kitchen units. Get the look: Ebonised cabinet, dining table and dining chairs, all Fontaine. Rubbed-bronze mixer tap, Barber Wilson. Henry IV marble, MGLW. Teti ceiling lights by Vico Magistretti, SCP.

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

Walking into the kitchen is an instant mood-lifter, with windows looking out over London, and the lofty atrium above the kitchen adding great height to the space. The creative vision behind this marriage of English formality and Californian Stateside cool was architect Andy Martin. The owners wanted a Malibu beach house vibe. Andy’s solution was to extend out while also digging down into what had been ‘a dingy cellar, with barely enough space to stand up in’ to create a generous space fit for family life. Get the look: The kitchen is bespoke through Andy Martin with a worktop by Diespeker & Co. The pendant light is also by Andy Martin. The Déjà-vu stools are by Naoto Fukasawa for Magis at Viaduct.

RICH CONTRAST

RICH CONTRAST

This oak cabinetry has been beautifully handcrafted and stained in a darker shade. Get the look: Bespoke solid-oak joinery from AJ&B with integrated Miele appliances. The worktops, splashbacks and plinth are all Carrara marble. The tap is from Dornbracht. The bench is from Another County.

Jacky Parker is a London-based freelance journalist and content creator, specialising in interiors, travel and food. From buying guides and real home case studies to shopping and news pages, she produces a wide range of features for national magazines and SEO content for websites


A long-time contributor to Livingetc, as a member of the team, she regularly reports on the latest trends, speaking to experts and discovering the latest tips. Jacky has also written  for other publications such as Homes and Gardens, Ideal Home, Red, Grand Designs, Sunday Times Style and AD, Country Homes and Interiors and ELLE Decoration.