Oak remains the gold standard of bespoke designer kitchens. The timber is undoubtedly one of the most sought-after natural materials. Thanks to its quality, durability, tonal warmth and ability to be both elegantly timeless and contemporary, oak continues to inspire designers and homeowners alike.
However, raw oak comes with its own set of challenges. It is unyielding, extremely tough, and cannot, and will not, be uniform. For the bespoke kitchen designer, oak timbers require careful consideration and should be left to expert cabinet makers who understand their unique qualities. Oak reacts with moisture and iron; it’s porous, so it absorbs moisture and naturally expands and contracts if exposed to cooking and prep elements. The challenge in bespoke kitchen design lies in selecting a timber treatment that provides robust protection without sacrificing the wood’s organic texture, depth, and tactile luxury.
At Papilio, we have worked with oak for over two decades. We know its aesthetic and practical benefits, how to utilise it in our designs, and how to finish it in our designer kitchens. Here, we explore oak finishes that let its natural beauty tell a design story.
The Cowbridge Kitchen in Wales
The Cowbridge Kitchen in Wales project is our most recent example of a stunning contemporary kitchen in an architect-designed home in the Vale of Glamorgan.
We designed an understated yet distinctive statement in timber and stone, focusing on the beauty of the materials. The showpiece of the designer kitchen is the contemporary kitchen island. Purposefully positioned as the focal point, it remains in constant dialogue with the views beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass.
The bespoke kitchen island was constructed in three distinct aspects. It features constructional oak veneer, a single oak plank, and an engineered worktop crafted from deep black Richlite.
Island Drawers: The drawers on the front side of the island, which is the feature side, are constructed from a single solid oak plank. We filled the naturally occurring voids and cracks with resin, allowing the grain to run from side to side and top to bottom for an organic look. Our master cabinetmakers meticulously finger-joint each drawer. This detail speaks quietly yet confidently of craftsmanship, with intentionally visible joints that become part of the furniture’s story.
Island Finish: We chose to finish both the solid oak and the constructional oak veneer in the perimeter with a natural Osmo finish. Osmo is a professional-grade, natural hardwax-oil wood coating made from sustainable plant oils and waxes. It bonds at a molecular level to wood fibres, creating a microporous, breathable, water-repellent surface that won’t crack, peel, or flake. It is widely considered the benchmark hardwax oil for bespoke oak joinery and cabinetry. We layered up to six coats because it seals oak from within while allowing the timber to breathe. We hand-finish all our furniture, sanding and denibbing between each coat for durable protection.
Island Worktop: We chose the highly versatile and ultra-engineered Richlite for the worktop. We love working with this positively sustainable material because it’s hardwearing, offers great finishes and works beautifully with natural materials such as oak. Its soft, matt finish provides a striking contrast to the warmth of the handmade oak cabinetry below—the balance of natural and engineered materials performing in harmony in the contemporary kitchen.
