5 Wood Kitchen Designs to Inspire You for 2026

Timber has a way of anchoring a kitchen. It brings warmth, texture, and a welcoming presence that’s hard to achieve with other materials. We've pulled together five projects that demonstrate different approaches to wood kitchen design, from recycled Kauri with genuine history to contemporary takes on classic shaker cabinetry.

These projects show the creative potential of wood kitchen benchtops and timber cabinetry in real homes. From subtle grains to bold tones, timber offers a wide range of design expressions, allowing each space to feel warm, unique and deeply crafted. Its natural character evolves beautifully over time, bringing richness and personality to any kitchen.

1. Margaret St: USA Oak Shaker Style with Coloured Oil

This Freemans Bay kitchen centres on USA Oak shaker doors finished with coloured oil. The dark, saturated tone creates a luxurious atmosphere, especially when paired with the marble backsplash and brass hardware throughout the space.

Shaker doors have been around forever, and there's a reason they keep showing up in kitchens. The frame-and-panel construction is inherently adaptable. You can finish the timber in any colour that suits your scheme, from pale neutrals to deep, moody tones like this one. The panels themselves offer room for variation, too. Matching veneer keeps things cohesive, glass works for display cabinets, or you could opt for something textured like a Latho Move panel to add depth and pattern.

Designed by Izzard Design and built by Greenmount Interiors, this project demonstrates how traditional joinery can feel completely current when the finish and fixtures are considered. The wood kitchen doors provide both visual weight and practical durability.

2. Clayden Rd: Recycled Kauri from Villa to Kitchen

Some kitchens with wood benchtops have a story behind them, and this Warkworth renovation is one of them. The clients had Kauri from their old villa, and rather than letting it go to waste, they worked with us to turn it into benchtops for their new kitchen.

Designed by Lisa Bremner of Matakana Kitchens, the space pairs white shaker cabinetry with the warm, honey tones of the Kauri. The timber becomes the focal point, standing out against the white cabinets and black hardware. We finished the benchtops with Hi-Build Resin, which gives them a silky-smooth surface that is fully waterproof and stain-resistant. These tops will hold up for decades.

There's something meaningful about repurposing timber from your own property. The Kauri that once formed part of the villa's structure now sits at the heart of the kitchen. It's a connection to the home's past that you can't replicate with new materials, and it adds a layer of significance to a space where the family gathers every day.

If you're planning your own timber kitchen, explore our project gallery for design inspiration.

3. Milford Beach: USA Oak with Integrated Seating

The Milford Beach project takes a different approach to wood kitchen benchtops by incorporating a bar and dining table directly off the island. Designed by Gunnar Friese and manufactured by Hewe Architectural Cabinetry, this USA Oak piece functions as a bar leaner and dining table combined into one elegant form.

The Oak was whitewashed before we applied our durable Resin coating on top. This creates a lighter tone that contrasts nicely with the darker Neolith Corten steel-clad island. The whitewash finish keeps the space feeling open and bright while still maintaining the natural grain and character of the timber.

We're seeing more clients ask for integrated seating areas like this. It makes better use of the island footprint and creates a more social cooking environment. This particular design merges the breakfast bar seamlessly with a dedicated dining area, which works well for families who want flexibility in how they use the space.

4. Vale Garrão: Latho Veneer Panels

This Portuguese project by Justina Klybaite of Coast Projects demonstrates how textured wood veneer can define a wood kitchen without overwhelming the space. The project uses Latho veneer panels in the Milled Grappa profile across the cabinetry, creating a cohesive, contemporary look.

The vertical ribbing adds tactile depth and visual interest without introducing busy patterns. Its consistent texture unifies the different cabinet runs and keeps the focus on the natural timber. This approach works particularly well in spaces where you want wood to be the dominant material, as the fluting creates dimension while maintaining a calm, refined atmosphere.

The result is a kitchen that feels both warm and modern, proving that texture can do the heavy lifting when it comes to visual impact.

5. Dairy Flat: USA Oak Meets Dekton Liquid Shell

This Dairy Flat kitchen, designed by Michael Robertson of Kitchen Studio North Shore, shows how wood kitchen benchtops can work alongside other premium materials without competing for attention. The USA Oak benchtop, finished in oil, sits next to a Dekton Liquid Shell surface, creating a balance between warm timber and cool stone.

The oil finish on the Oak brings out the natural grain and texture without adding gloss or sheen. It's a subtle approach that lets the timber speak for itself. Throughout the space, timber accents repeat in the wall slats and other details, tying the design together and preventing the wood from feeling like an isolated element.

The combination works because neither material tries to dominate. The Dekton Liquid Shell provides clean, bright work surfaces, while the wood benchtops add warmth and tactile interest. It's a good example of how mixing materials can create depth in a design without making it feel disjointed or overthought.

Bringing Your Own Project to Life

What these five kitchens have in common is thoughtful material selection and proper finishing. The timber in each space does real work, standing up to years of use while developing the kind of patina that only natural materials can achieve. The finishes we've applied, from colored oils to Hi-Build Resin, protect the timber while bringing out its character.

Your wood kitchen will have its own character, shaped by your lifestyle, your needs, and your aesthetic preferences. These projects simply show what's possible when you start with quality materials and skilled, caring craftsmanship.

Want to get a sense of what your wood kitchen benchtops might cost? Our benchtop calculator gives you an estimate based on your measurements and timber selection.