6 Tips & Ideas to Choose Solid Wood for Kitchen

A solid wood kitchen is beautiful and luxurious but expensive and problematic to maintain. If we consider all the nuances, then it will turn out to find a wooden kitchen that will delight the eye for many years, and even the cost is acceptable. Yes, yes, this is entirely possible if you learn how to choose solid wood kitchens correctly.

Solid Wood Kitchen: Pros and Cons

Let’s note right away that most solid wood kitchens are not 100% made of wood. Often, only facades or even parts of them are made of solid wood, incl—doors, drawer fronts, open shelves, etc. The kitchen frame is rarely made of solid wood – more often, it is made of MDF or chipboard – so the furniture turns out to be cheaper, lighter, and its appearance does not suffer a bit.

Wood is not the best option for a work surface either. The material very quickly absorbs moisture and all impurities, and it can be colored under the influence of dyes (wine, juice) and get mechanical damage. We recommended combining solid wood fronts with stone countertops. In order not to overload the structure, you can choose an artificial stone. However, wooden work surfaces are also actively used. Their durability depends on the protective treatment made by the manufacturer and your desire to renew the protective varnish layer constantly.

A solid wood kitchen has several undeniable advantages:

• Wood is an environmentally friendly and natural material that does not emit toxic substances, but, on the contrary, gives a pleasant aroma.
• Wood is wonderful. The solid wood kitchen will decorate the apartment, emphasize the taste and status of the owners. Since wood is a relatively malleable material in processing, finished products amaze with various designs. Doors and shelves can be either simply smooth or decorated with carvings of varying complexity. we can give thanks to various varnishes, oils, and patina, the material an original appearance. The tree, despite its severity, allows you to create furniture in different styles: classic, Provence, country, and even minimalism.
• We can quickly restore the tree. Scratches, which will indeed appear during operation, are easily sanded, and you can update the appearance of the facades by applying a new layer of varnish, oil, or paint.
• Wood is a durable material. If the material is processed with high quality by the manufacturer, and you, in turn, provided him with proper care, then the kitchen will certainly last at least 20 years and, most likely, much longer.
• Wood never goes out of style.

Not without its drawbacks:

• Wood is a delicate and even finicky material. Moisture and temperature changes adversely affect it, causing cracks and dark spots. Dry air is also harmful to wood, so keeping the relative humidity at 60-75% in the kitchen is better. If a liquid is spilled on the tree, it is necessary to eliminate the accident as soon as possible, and the brighter this liquid has a shade, the more promptly it will be required to act.
• Under the influence of sunlight, the tree can change color over time.
• The need for proper regular care using particular products. It is not so difficult as it might seem at first glance, and if care becomes a habit, then the furniture set will live for a very long time.
• For all its flexibility, the tree does not allow the use of some processing techniques. For example, we cannot obtain curved facades from it.
• Wood is not a cheap material. Therefore, such a kitchen will cost several times more than an analog made entirely of MDF or chipboard, but we cannot compare them in terms of durability. The combination of materials and the use of inexpensive species can significantly reduce the cost of wooden kitchens.
• Significant weight complicates installation.

In many ways, the quality of a wooden kitchen and its durability depends on the manufacturer. It is important that he uses dried wood properly and treats it appropriately.

Wood Species

We will not open America if we say that the performance of kitchen furniture directly depends on the type of wood. Most often, we can use the following breeds for the production of kitchens:

• Oak is the “king of beasts” in the world of wood. It is a strong, dense, complex, durable wood that tolerates moisture well, does not rot, and has a luxurious texture. It can have a shade from light yellow to reddish-brown. The only negative is the high price.
• Beech is also solid and durable. As a rule, wood has a light shade and lends itself well to tinting to be given almost any color. It is believed that beech has a positive effect on home energy. Whatever it was, but with its aesthetic appearance, such a set can positively affect household members.
• Ash is just slightly inferior to oak in strength. The color of the wood ranges from light pink to dark brown, with a characteristic texture and beautiful shimmering in the sun. You will have to pay dearly for beauty and high performance. Still, if you consider this an investment in a harmonious kitchen interior and the absence of problems with constant furniture replacement, then an ash kitchen becomes a profitable investment.
• Cherry is inferior to the previous options in strength but pleases with an unusual reddish tint and a beautiful texture. It happens that we can only realize dreams of an ideal kitchen interior with the help of such a headset.
• Pine is one of the cheapest wood species. Softness makes it quite pliable in processing but affects the strength of the finished furniture. A more or less decisive blow such a headset may not withstand – a dent or scratch will appear on it. Another drawback is low moisture resistance, so if the manufacturer violated the production technique and did not carry out the processing promptly, get ready for the appearance of mold. Pine is a wood with a high content of resins, and they begin to stand out when the temperature rises (for example, from a working oven ).
• Birch is a good compromise, is inexpensive, has a beautiful yellowish tint, pleasant texture, is easy to process, but at the same time more durable and resistant than pine. If the manufacturer has adequately processed the wood, it will not be afraid of moisture and temperature extremes and will delight the owners with durability.
• Alder is another example of inexpensive wood. The material is entirely plastic, easy to process. Of course, it is inferior in strength to oak, but it will be much more practical than pine.
• Maple is solid wood, but it is used much less frequently in kitchens than other types of wood.
• Larch is highly resistant to moisture if appropriately dried, making it a great option in the kitchen.

Solid Wood Kitchen Design

The plasticity of wood allows you to create almost any decor on it. We often decorate facades with carvings, pilasters, balustrades, cornices, and other figured details. Thanks to the aging technique, you can make an antique item from any modern headset, and if you also use the appropriate fittings, you can achieve excellent results. The furniture is aged by patinating, brushing, and creating small cracks. Fans of luxury choose gilded furniture.

The doors of cabinets and drawers can be completely smooth. Glass inserts look beautiful, and stained glass inserts are appropriate in some places. The choice of decor and the degree of its activity depends on personal preference, and the style of the kitchen, and the size of the kitchen space:

• If the kitchen is small, then the abundance of carved and gilded elements will be excessive. Such a headset will look disproportionate and ridiculous.
• The more pronounced the texture of the wood, the less decorative elements should be.
• Furniture should match the chosen interior style. In kitchens in the style of minimalism, wooden headsets have not taken root, but if you want to, then you can take a model with the most simple, smooth, and monochromatic facades. Provence involves painting the facade in white or another light shade, panels, and floral motifs. The country is rougher wood furniture with accentuated texture and minimal decor. In classic interiors, furniture of darker saturated colors is usually used. The decor is present but in moderation.

Remember that the more decorative elements on the facade, the more difficult the furniture will be to clean because dirt will clog into all the recesses. Keeping such a kitchen clean is, of course, quite realistic, but it will take more time and effort from the hostess.

We cannot consider the issue of kitchen design in isolation from the type of topcoat of the headset:

• Varnish allows you to highlight the natural beauty of wood and give it powerful protection. The varnish can have different degrees of gloss: if you like surfaces with a glossy effect, it is better to take a headset with a polished finish. Just keep in mind that such furniture can glare strongly in the sun. That is why matte varnishes and varnishes with a minimum degree of gloss are usually used to cover kitchens.
• Oil and wax also effectively protect the surface from harmful factors, allow you to get a pleasant-to-touch surface.
• Paint is rarely used, as the pigment clogs the natural shade and texture of the wood. However, there are some exceptions. For example, Provence-style kitchens are often painted in light shades. Also, painting is used during the restoration of old headsets.

Close Inspection of the Kitchen

It’s good if you have the opportunity to see samples of the manufacturer’s kitchens before buying. Suppose you order a kitchen, and you are required at least a partial prepayment. In that case, you must carefully read the contract, paying attention to the possibility of refunding the prepayment after inspecting the made kitchen. What should be considered when examining a solid wood kitchen:

• The wood must be dry. If the surface is a little damp and as if resinous, then, most likely, the drying technology has been violated, which means that even without significant influences (and in the kitchen they are substantial), the set can “lead,” and the facades can bend.
• No cracks, potholes, and roughness in the tree are allowed, except that the surface is artificially aged. We also pay attention to the edge seams, which must be carefully processed to smooth.
• Mounting holes should be neat and smooth. If there are cracks near them, then soon the fastening will weaken, and an expensive kitchen will require repair.
• All decorative elements must be neat. Separately, it is worth examining all the details of the fittings. The shelves should slide in and out without much effort, without rattling, and Lockers should open without squeaks or difficulties. The handles must be solid and free from damage.

Be sure to check with the seller for the warranty. If the kitchen is made of raw wood, it can be finished in 1 month, and then the varnish will begin to peel off. Experts say that even large and eminent firms are not immune from some mistakes in preparing raw materials. Only now a responsible company will replace the furniture, and an unscrupulous manufacturer will blame the buyer for everything. In the worst case, you will not find a seller and manufacturer at all. 

Features and Caring for a Solid Wood Kitchen

MDF kitchens, for example, require minimal maintenance. It is enough to regularly wipe the surfaces with a damp sponge or use a detergent, and the furniture will sparkle. With wooden surfaces, everything is somewhat more complicated:

• For washing, use unique products suitable for cleaning wood. They should be pH neutral and preferably contain oils, silicone, or wax to help further protect the surface. The composition should not contain alcohol, solvents, and ethers – these substances dry the surface of the tree, causing the appearance of cracks.
• Use only soft sponges and rags – stiff brushes, like abrasive detergents, can scratch the lacquer coating and then begin to destroy the wood, significantly reducing the durability of the kitchen and spoiling its appearance.
• It is better to clean the surface along the grain of the wood. Even after processing, the wood remains slightly rough, and if you clean the surface across the grain, there is a risk of driving dirt deep into the wood rather than cleaning it.
• Every time after cleaning the surface, it is better to use unique polishes or other strengthening compounds to protect the surface from deformation and the influence of bacteria. Particular attention is paid to the work surface if it is made of wood.
• Try to limit the amount of direct sunlight falling on the furniture;
• Promptly remove all contamination.
• As far as possible, maintain an optimal microclimate in the kitchen. The air should not be too cold or hot, dry or humid. Use a cooker hood to maintain optimal conditions, and a humidifier may come in handy in winter to keep the humidity between 40-60%.

Most Italian manufacturers of solid wood kitchens may refuse to fulfill the warranty if you have taken care of the furniture incorrectly. Therefore we should pay maximum attention to the care.