Solid Oak vs Oak Veneer

When you are considering whether to choose solid oak or oak veneer for your furniture pieces or kitchen, there are a number of factors to take into account.

The main difference between solid oak and oak veneer is that solid oak is made of solid parts of wood, guaranteeing a consistency. Oak veneer, on the other hand, features wood slices that may be glued onto cheaper wood or fibreboard.

The process of making veneered wood involves slicing the timber to a thickness of between 2 and 3mm and then gluing it to panels in order to produce furniture or flooring. Veneered wood can also be peeled, rather than sliced.

Veneers are useful for large panels that are reasonably priced and for furniture which does not have a particular emphasis on style or design. Veneered wood can also be made to appear distressed and aged.

Solid oak is made entirely of solid wood (doing what it says on the tin, as it were). It gives an overall appearance of quality and style, with the grain of the wood visible throughout the furniture it is used to make. Solid oak has a great deal of character and weight to it.

Solid oak furniture tends to be very stylish and well designed and also highly durable because of the quality of the wood.

FourCorners Trading is a family business that handcrafts solid wood kitchens and furniture, with the emphasis being on the craft itself and strong design. They use traditional techniques to craft their furniture and create furniture that will last a lifetime in the home.

Four Corners have two showrooms, including a large one in Stratford on Avon and customers can come along and see the quality furniture for themselves.

The company offer home visits for designing kitchens and other rooms and they have their own professional fitting team.

Four Corners create their solid oak furniture in a workshop in Romania, surrounded by plentiful forests and where felling is licensed. They choose trees for their individuality and these are carted away by horses.

Their craftsmen will use the wood with interesting grains and knots to produce truly unique furniture from solid oak that oak veneer would not achieve.

Four Corners offer a bespoke service to customers and love the challenge of designing a special cabinet or bookcase to fit an awkward space or an uneven wall.

Image Courtesy: chilternmills.co.uk

Designing your perfect kitchen

A new kitchen can make a home truly special; this room is the heart of the house after all. Not only can it add value to your property, but your family and friends will love to spend time here.

Before you begin, consider what your needs are, how much space you have and what style of kitchen would suit your home (and your budget) the best. You might choose to remodel your existing old kitchen, making decorative changes and giving your kitchen a new vitality.

Handmade kitchens give your home a truly unique touch. Designers will discuss your needs and budget with you and also take into account the style of the house. They hand make bespoke kitchens and cabinets from high quality materials and can usually cater for any shape and size, from urban lofts or flats to period properties.

Many designers use computer aided drawings to cover every aspect of the design space and these are useful for showing customers how the handmade kitchen will look. Any amendments can be made based on this drawing.

The advantage of a handmade kitchen is that you get exactly what you want and don’t need to compromise, as you would on a ready made kitchen.

You will also have a kitchen that is different from anyone else’s.

Designers and suppliers of bespoke, handmade kitchens will offer a wide choice of quality materials for your cabinets and worktops, ranging from solid woods to painted finishes.

A handmade kitchen will fit in with other features of your home seamlessly.

There are now many companies offering bespoke kitchens, meaning that the choice is wider and kitchens are competitively priced.

Your bespoke kitchen will be fitted by professionals who are trained to a high standard.

Handmade kitchens are tailored to your own needs and specifications, but there will always be many variations available, in colour choices, materials used and the finish.

These individual kitchens allow you to design a room that reflects your own personal lifestyle and the pace at which you live it. If you have a fast paced city life, you might opt for an ultra modern and sleek kitchen that is accessible and easy to get around quickly. Or you might prefer more of a country cottage feel to your kitchen, with classic wooden cabinets and ornate handles.

Whatever your choice, a bespoke kitchen will meet your needs. 

Image Courtesy: fengshui.about.com