What wood, where and why

Lets take things right to the start of the bespoke kitchen and joinery journey. Before you pick handles, worktops and evencolour. The first thing we need to look at is wood.

Here, Jack invites you to see which woods he prefers as Workshop Manager to use and why.

Oak

This is one of my favourite hardwoods.Oak can be very versatile, with green oak for external joinery such as orangeries and porches, or joinery oak which we use internally for our kitchens. The different textures, knots, grains and even smells is what gives Oak its unrivalled character. I like that the variety of stains can give oak a dramatically different appearance from one piece to another.

Ash

This is what we prefer to use as our painted kitchen option. Its similar to oak, so can be paired beautifully in the same setting. The lighter grain looks nice when painted, allowing the texture to come through. It is also a very durable and stable wood making it ideal for kitchens.

MDF/ veneer

The common view of MDF is that it is a cheap, knock off material. However, that is all down to the quality of MDF that is chosen. To produce MDF, the broken hard or softwood fibres are mixed with a wax and resin. These are then pressed into boards. We use Hidrofugo  moisture resistant MDF boards which contain huge qualities superior to general MDF, such as excellent machining, painting and strength. Perfect for kitchens, wardrobes, media units and bookcases.

Engineered Red Grandis

We always encourage clients to work with engineered Red grandis especially for windows and doors, as it is one of the worlds most sustainable hardwoods. When working with the wood, it also comes with the advantages of being easy to paint, mould and machine.

Sapele

We have used this hardwood before, and recommend for exterior work. It is often chosen because it is similar to oak, with a beautiful dark/reddish brown, but is not quite as expensive.

Idigbo

This is another contender in the exterior joinery hardwoods. It is lighter than Sapele and nice to stain. It is also similar in character to Oak, but less expensive. We have used this wood in the past for doors, gates and windows.

Although these are the woods we traditionally find ourselves using, we are always open to clients preferences. We work closely with our timber suppliers, to ensure we find the perfect material to suit its end use. For me, it is important that whatever we make, lasts.