9 Ways Designers Made Ply the King of These Kitchens
Plywood is hardwearing, typically sustainable, budget-friendly and stylish – as these Australian and UK kitchens show
Kate Burt
20 September 2020
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
From limewashing it or staining it black to using it for veneered door fronts or chunky benchtops, plywood has featured in numerous ways in kitchen designs on Houzz. Read about the clever ideas interior designers, architects and kitchen design teams have come up with to put this versatile, eco-friendly and beautiful material to good use. And as always, to ensure a product has been ethically manufactured without the use of formaldehyde, choose FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)-certified plywood.
1. Add colour
When UK-based architect Douglas Sutherland of Koivu was called in to redesign this kitchen in a London apartment, part of his brief was to ensure it felt in keeping with the mid-century building it sat within.
The communal lift features Formica finishes, and it was from this that Douglas took his inspiration, cladding the plywood kitchen in the same material in a zingy retro orange.
The design includes bespoke benchtops – birch ply laminated with Polar White Formica – cupboards laminated in Levante orange, plus full-height units made from Douglas fir plywood with an Osmo oil finish, for contrast.
“Plywood is much more durable than chipboard [a common material for laminate benchtops] and the laminate is as heat-resistant as Corian or quartz, but much cheaper,” says Sutherland.
When UK-based architect Douglas Sutherland of Koivu was called in to redesign this kitchen in a London apartment, part of his brief was to ensure it felt in keeping with the mid-century building it sat within.
The communal lift features Formica finishes, and it was from this that Douglas took his inspiration, cladding the plywood kitchen in the same material in a zingy retro orange.
The design includes bespoke benchtops – birch ply laminated with Polar White Formica – cupboards laminated in Levante orange, plus full-height units made from Douglas fir plywood with an Osmo oil finish, for contrast.
“Plywood is much more durable than chipboard [a common material for laminate benchtops] and the laminate is as heat-resistant as Corian or quartz, but much cheaper,” says Sutherland.
2. Let it shine
“Typically, we work with oak frames and doors and birch ply carcassing,” says Sam Shaw of Sustainable Kitchens. Here, however, in this Cotswolds kitchen in the UK, it’s the birch ply that takes centre stage. “It’s the best-quality plywood you can get for internal joinery, because it’s very stable,” he says.
“The door and drawer fronts were treated with lye to lighten them – it gives them a lovely soft, chalky feel,” he says, “but the end grain and the recessed handles were left natural for contrast.” The plywood was sealed with an eco-friendly, water-based matt lacquer.
“Typically, we work with oak frames and doors and birch ply carcassing,” says Sam Shaw of Sustainable Kitchens. Here, however, in this Cotswolds kitchen in the UK, it’s the birch ply that takes centre stage. “It’s the best-quality plywood you can get for internal joinery, because it’s very stable,” he says.
“The door and drawer fronts were treated with lye to lighten them – it gives them a lovely soft, chalky feel,” he says, “but the end grain and the recessed handles were left natural for contrast.” The plywood was sealed with an eco-friendly, water-based matt lacquer.
3. Craft benchtops
The benchtops, end panels and tall cupboard doors in this kitchen in Whitley Bay, UK, are all marine ply (the cabinet carcasses are from Ikea).
To create the luxuriously thick benchtop, designer Cathy Dean of Cathy Dean Interior Design glued together two sheets of ply. She also added grooves next to the sink to create a draining board.
“All [the ply sections] are different widths for differentiation,” she says.
Could your kitchen do with a rethink? Find a dedicated kitchen designer in your area on Houzz
The benchtops, end panels and tall cupboard doors in this kitchen in Whitley Bay, UK, are all marine ply (the cabinet carcasses are from Ikea).
To create the luxuriously thick benchtop, designer Cathy Dean of Cathy Dean Interior Design glued together two sheets of ply. She also added grooves next to the sink to create a draining board.
“All [the ply sections] are different widths for differentiation,” she says.
Could your kitchen do with a rethink? Find a dedicated kitchen designer in your area on Houzz
4. Give units an inky finish
“I used my knowledge of construction to work out if there were cost-effective ways to create the kitchen on a tight budget,” says architectural designer Richard Andrews of Richard John Andrews about his own kitchen, pictured here.
“I wanted to experiment with how we could finish it to look more expensive than it was to create,” he says. “My clients often want to push the boundaries, so that means you need to be a bit clever.”
Andrews’ calculations led him to construct his kitchen with carcasses made from moisture-resistant MDF, while the doors and benchtops are birch ply stained with Indian ink. “I wanted to keep the texture and grain of the plywood, but with a slicker, more fine-tuned finish,” he says. “We used a harder oil for the benchtop, which makes it very hardy.”
“I used my knowledge of construction to work out if there were cost-effective ways to create the kitchen on a tight budget,” says architectural designer Richard Andrews of Richard John Andrews about his own kitchen, pictured here.
“I wanted to experiment with how we could finish it to look more expensive than it was to create,” he says. “My clients often want to push the boundaries, so that means you need to be a bit clever.”
Andrews’ calculations led him to construct his kitchen with carcasses made from moisture-resistant MDF, while the doors and benchtops are birch ply stained with Indian ink. “I wanted to keep the texture and grain of the plywood, but with a slicker, more fine-tuned finish,” he says. “We used a harder oil for the benchtop, which makes it very hardy.”
5. Statement hanging storage
This simple yet ingenious storage idea came from Thomas Jones-Marquez of Bath Bespoke, who designed this kitchen in a townhouse in Bath, UK.
It’s a birch ply board fitted with magnets and hooks for storing knives, small utensils, little storage pots and paper towels.
The design team used plywood in much of the kitchen, including the units, which also feature Formica. “We use birch ply as much as possible in kitchens,” says Jones-Marquez. “It’s really stable and waterproof, and it doesn’t suffer from wear and tear like other materials.”
This simple yet ingenious storage idea came from Thomas Jones-Marquez of Bath Bespoke, who designed this kitchen in a townhouse in Bath, UK.
It’s a birch ply board fitted with magnets and hooks for storing knives, small utensils, little storage pots and paper towels.
The design team used plywood in much of the kitchen, including the units, which also feature Formica. “We use birch ply as much as possible in kitchens,” says Jones-Marquez. “It’s really stable and waterproof, and it doesn’t suffer from wear and tear like other materials.”
6. Carve out a nook
In the same kitchen, ply was used for another clever space-maxing purpose: to create a tiny reading nook next to the fridge. The overhead shelf provides storage for tall or bulky kitchen objects and also contains a spotlight for the nook below.
Browse more cool and contemporary kitchens
In the same kitchen, ply was used for another clever space-maxing purpose: to create a tiny reading nook next to the fridge. The overhead shelf provides storage for tall or bulky kitchen objects and also contains a spotlight for the nook below.
Browse more cool and contemporary kitchens
7. Build solid carcasses
Plywood doesn’t have to be permanently on show to be a workhorse in the kitchen. In this apartment kitchen in Edinburgh, Scotland, designer Karyn Limond of Naked Kitchens opted to build the kitchen units out of sturdy 18.7-millimetre oak-veneered birch ply.
“The brief was to create an eye-catching, frameless and contemporary kitchen that would effortlessly integrate with the period features across the kitchen,” she says.
The rich blue painted door and drawer fronts are complemented by solid oak inset handles, drawer boxes, cutlery inserts and a spice rack. These designed-to-last details give the kitchen an authentic look and feel that help it tie in with its historical surroundings.
Plywood doesn’t have to be permanently on show to be a workhorse in the kitchen. In this apartment kitchen in Edinburgh, Scotland, designer Karyn Limond of Naked Kitchens opted to build the kitchen units out of sturdy 18.7-millimetre oak-veneered birch ply.
“The brief was to create an eye-catching, frameless and contemporary kitchen that would effortlessly integrate with the period features across the kitchen,” she says.
The rich blue painted door and drawer fronts are complemented by solid oak inset handles, drawer boxes, cutlery inserts and a spice rack. These designed-to-last details give the kitchen an authentic look and feel that help it tie in with its historical surroundings.
8. Devise a pod
Here’s an interesting way to tackle the layout in a kitchen extension. Nest Architects designed a plywood-clad ‘pod’ to boost function and flow in a cramped worker’s cottage in Melbourne.
The pod contains a pantry on one side, which opens onto a new galley kitchen. On the other side, it houses a bathroom and storage, accessed through sliding doors. It has skylights to boost natural light and leads to the rear rooms in the house on both sides.
Here’s an interesting way to tackle the layout in a kitchen extension. Nest Architects designed a plywood-clad ‘pod’ to boost function and flow in a cramped worker’s cottage in Melbourne.
The pod contains a pantry on one side, which opens onto a new galley kitchen. On the other side, it houses a bathroom and storage, accessed through sliding doors. It has skylights to boost natural light and leads to the rear rooms in the house on both sides.
In terms of its aesthetic, the pod appears to float a couple of centimetres off the floor and ceiling because of the black shadow lines. The exterior is broken up with panels defined by similar shadow-line grooves, and the blonde tones of the material prevent the block from appearing too solid.
9. Design storage seating
The bulk of this stylish, contemporary London kitchen, designed by Lizzie Ruinard of Neighbourhood Studio, is made from solid oak. However, for a subtle contrast, this bench and cupboard along the side wall are made from white-oiled, oak-veneered ply.
The bulk of this stylish, contemporary London kitchen, designed by Lizzie Ruinard of Neighbourhood Studio, is made from solid oak. However, for a subtle contrast, this bench and cupboard along the side wall are made from white-oiled, oak-veneered ply.
The bench is designed for comfort and easy storage. “The top of the bench lifts up so the kids’ toys can be stored inside,” says Ruinard. The back of the bench is angled slightly for comfort. “It’s a nice spot to read a book or listen to music,” she says.
Your turn
Do you have ply in your place or would you introduce it to your interior? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story and save the images for inspiration. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Ready for more great design tips? Read up on 9 Ways to Disguise the Uglies
Your turn
Do you have ply in your place or would you introduce it to your interior? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story and save the images for inspiration. Go on, join the conversation.
More
Ready for more great design tips? Read up on 9 Ways to Disguise the Uglies
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Really dont like ply wood kitchens...they look unfinished and cheap.
Love my ply range hood that my hubby made me:)
#3 Whitely Bay Is devine, by contrast the industrial look of #4 is Uber cool.....if it’s used in the right context and application is to a high standard then it is Art. it should be seen as no less a product than any other.