Get the Showroom Look: V-Groove Kitchen


31 Jan 2023

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With their clean lines and subtle textures, tongue and groove kitchens – also known as V-groove kitchens – are a minimalist’s dream. Here’s how to get the look!

Bold yet understated, tongue and groove (or V-groove) kitchens are having a moment right now. And it’s easy to see why – they are the perfect way to add character to your home, while maintaining a clean, modern look. And they are surprisingly versatile too, blending seamlessly with everything from country and Hamptons-style homes to contemporary abodes.

Our Peninsula kitchen, one of four full-size kitchens on display at our Spectra Showroom, is a great example of the V-groove trend, and it’s one our customers love. Here, our interior designers share the secrets to creating this hugely popular look in your own home.

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Create the Peninsula kitchen look in your new home with this handy specification guide.

V-groove panelled doors

Kitchen doors take up a substantial amount of visual space within your kitchen and really set the tone of the space. Handle-free V-groove panelled doors are a lovely alternative to standard Shaker doors, creating visual interest without the clutter. Here, we’ve used Laminex Formwrap Country V in Surf with a Satin Finish on the upper and lower cabinetry and island facing.

We’ve opted for luxurious benchtops in a soft grey that ties in with the cabinetry – Caesarstone Noble Grey – which we’ve carried through to the splashback for a wonderful sense of cohesion.

Gentle, neutral colours

Keep the look calm and contemporary by layering similar shades of soft grey across your cabinetry, benchtops and splashback. Accents of timber on the island’s open shelves and the barstools add a natural feel. 

An island hub

With a kitchen as beautiful as this, chances are you’ll want it to be the centrepiece of your open-plan kitchen/living/dining area. Opt for a generous island with plenty of space to prep food and lay out dishes when you’re entertaining, with space for barstools so people can pull up a seat and chat or share a drink with the chef. 

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Add additional detailing to your island bench by inserting a V-groove panel to match your cabinetry.

Stainless steel appliances

Minimalist stainless steel appliances with touches of black add a contemporary edge. Here we’ve chosen a wall-mounted oven (Bosch Serie 6), a sleek induction cooktop (Bosch Serie 8), and an integrated dishwasher (Bosch Serie 4) and rangehood (Bosch Serie 8) that are concealed from view. A square, butler’s style sink (Everhard Excellence Squareline Double Bowl Sink) in stainless steel completes the stylish set-up.

Eye-catching tapware

The kitchen’s subtle colour palette and panelling create the perfect backdrop for a show-stopping tap, like this sculptural gooseneck style in classic chrome (Zip Hydrotap G5 BCS All-in-One Celcius Arc). It delivers both chilled and sparkling water, which is ideal for busy family homes!

Statement lighting and greenery

A curvaceous pendant in pale timber veneer and a medley of indoor plants bring the outdoors inside, while adding another layer of visual interest to the kitchen.

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Continue the look into your butler's pantry with two-tone cabinetry and textured finger mosaic tiles - both of which are great for hardwearing spaces.

And in the butler’s pantry…

To add a touch of drama to the butler’s pantry, we’ve gone for subtle, two-tone cabinetry in slightly darker greys than the kitchen.

For the base cabinets, we’ve used Laminex Oyster Grey in a PureGrain finish, a luxurious, woodgrain effect. We’ve contrasted it with Laminex Pewter in an AbsoluteMatte finish overhead – a solid grey with a super matte appearance.

A mix of open and floating shelves in the darker tone of Laminex Blacked Elm Chalk finish create space to store cooktops or display art and greenery.

For the benchtop and splashback, we’ve opted for a richer and more textural grey than the kitchen – Caesarstone Bianco Drift. Two walls of textured finger mosaic tiles (Beaumont Tiles Fire Fingers in Mist) create subtle but arresting focal points.

Stainless steel appliances from Bosch and simple D-handles in the same finish (Hafele 109.86.003 handles), along with a gooseneck tap in brushed nickel (Phoenix Prize Flexible Coil Mixer in Brushed Nickel), are the perfect balance of chic and practical. 

Come and view this stunning full-size kitchen and butler’s pantry, along with three other great designs, at our Spectra Showroom. Short on time? You can take a virtual showroom tour here.

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