1 – More exotic timbers and veneers such as Paldoa or Birdseye maple can be made to look sleek and glamorous, and tend to be good choices for contemporary properties.

2 – In contemporary kitchens, dark timbers like American black walnut are still popular, but you can create a striking look with more unusual timbers like walnut sap and elm burr. You can even use wood stains to add different depths, emphasising the woodgrain of the timber and the different shades that naturally occur within it.

3 – To help narrow down your choice of timbers, it’s worth thinking about the strengths and weaknesses of each type. For example, woods with a tight grain are usually more durable, making them less prone to knocks.

4 – Because wood is a natural material, you can expect the grain and colour consistency to vary to some extent, but this happens with some more than others. Ash and sycamore are notoriously difficult to colour match, so it can be more expensive to source the materials to achieve a consistent look. As such, I wouldn’t recommend them as an obvious choice for a kitchen.

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Posted By: Stephanie Dedes, designer, Charles Yorke