8 of the Best Tongue-and-groove Ideas for Your Kitchen
Check out these gorgeous schemes where wood panelling has been used in fresh and creative ways
Amanda Pollard
13 December 2018
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors and architecture.
Senior Editor at Houzz UK and Ireland. Journalist and editor specialising in interiors... More
Remember when wood panelling meant orange pine walls resembling an Alpine lodge? Well, the contemporary way to use tongue-and-groove is much fresher, as these stylish kitchen designs demonstrate.
Mix finishes
There’s a combination of rustic and industrial in this kitchen. The sawn wood base units contrast with jet black features, and the crisp white tongue-and-groove panelling adds another rustic element. It provides a strong contrast against the angled wall lights and the modern metro tiles inside the glass cabinets.
The monochrome colour scheme is simple and minimal, so the wood panelling helps to add texture to the space.
There’s a combination of rustic and industrial in this kitchen. The sawn wood base units contrast with jet black features, and the crisp white tongue-and-groove panelling adds another rustic element. It provides a strong contrast against the angled wall lights and the modern metro tiles inside the glass cabinets.
The monochrome colour scheme is simple and minimal, so the wood panelling helps to add texture to the space.
Style a breakfast bar
If you’re adding an island or breakfast bar to your kitchen, make the most of the surface below to add a tongue-and-groove detail. Here, a blue-green Shaker-style kitchen sits behind a peninsula unit lined with wood panels.
A plain surface would have been fine, but the long lines of timber create another feature in the space, adding pattern without overwhelming the rest of the room.
If you’re adding an island or breakfast bar to your kitchen, make the most of the surface below to add a tongue-and-groove detail. Here, a blue-green Shaker-style kitchen sits behind a peninsula unit lined with wood panels.
A plain surface would have been fine, but the long lines of timber create another feature in the space, adding pattern without overwhelming the rest of the room.
Smarten cupboard doors
Liven up flat-fronted cabinets by using a panelled surface on the doors. The pale units in this space have been given a layer of texture with tongue-and-groove, and the long, dark lines are echoed in the slim black handles.
To add a softer contrast to the linear shapes on the cupboards, the designer had chosen shell-like wall tiles with a pale pink shimmer.
Liven up flat-fronted cabinets by using a panelled surface on the doors. The pale units in this space have been given a layer of texture with tongue-and-groove, and the long, dark lines are echoed in the slim black handles.
To add a softer contrast to the linear shapes on the cupboards, the designer had chosen shell-like wall tiles with a pale pink shimmer.
Emphasise the aesthetic
Tongue-and-groove walls work well in a Shaker-style kitchen, and tie in with the handcrafted aesthetic. Use long panels in place of a tiled splashback and paint them to harmonise with the kitchen.
Here, the designers have completed the look by hanging a line of Shaker pegs along the panelling for storing aprons, oven gloves and utensils.
Planning a new cookspace? Find kitchen designers and fitters in your area.
Tongue-and-groove walls work well in a Shaker-style kitchen, and tie in with the handcrafted aesthetic. Use long panels in place of a tiled splashback and paint them to harmonise with the kitchen.
Here, the designers have completed the look by hanging a line of Shaker pegs along the panelling for storing aprons, oven gloves and utensils.
Planning a new cookspace? Find kitchen designers and fitters in your area.
Trick the eye
This idea uses the look of tongue-and-groove, but is in fact a clever illusion. The designers have had some fun by creating their own version of the classic boards. There are no panels here, just a wood stain with bare wood showing through in horizontal lines.
This idea uses the look of tongue-and-groove, but is in fact a clever illusion. The designers have had some fun by creating their own version of the classic boards. There are no panels here, just a wood stain with bare wood showing through in horizontal lines.
Get in the zone
If you want to create a separate zone in your kitchen, you can use panelling to give the area a look that’s distinct from the rest of the space.
In this galley kitchen, the designers have used a curved worktop to create a breakfast spot along the wall. The tongue-and-groove panelling behind helps to zone off the area, and gives it a cosy feel to boot.
If you want to create a separate zone in your kitchen, you can use panelling to give the area a look that’s distinct from the rest of the space.
In this galley kitchen, the designers have used a curved worktop to create a breakfast spot along the wall. The tongue-and-groove panelling behind helps to zone off the area, and gives it a cosy feel to boot.
Make it multi-task
Be clever with your panelling by turning it into a wall of shelving, as the designers have done in this kitchen. Long boards have been laid horizontally, with gaps between them into which shelves can be slotted.
To ensure it feels ordered rather than cluttered, they’ve kept the scheme simple – bare wood on the panels and cabinets contrasting with black surfaces that match the lines on the wall.
Be clever with your panelling by turning it into a wall of shelving, as the designers have done in this kitchen. Long boards have been laid horizontally, with gaps between them into which shelves can be slotted.
To ensure it feels ordered rather than cluttered, they’ve kept the scheme simple – bare wood on the panels and cabinets contrasting with black surfaces that match the lines on the wall.
Highlight beautiful lines
Here’s a very modern take on a Shaker-style kitchen. Plywood cabinets with smooth blue fronts are complemented by a row of Shaker pegs. The wall of tall units, covered with tongue-and-groove panels, ties the two styles together.
The long, lean lines on the tall units are worth showing off, so the designers have added lights above to cast a soft glow along the front of the cabinets and highlight the grooves.
Tell us…
Are you thinking of using tongue-and-groove panelling in your kitchen – or have you already? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
Here’s a very modern take on a Shaker-style kitchen. Plywood cabinets with smooth blue fronts are complemented by a row of Shaker pegs. The wall of tall units, covered with tongue-and-groove panels, ties the two styles together.
The long, lean lines on the tall units are worth showing off, so the designers have added lights above to cast a soft glow along the front of the cabinets and highlight the grooves.
Tell us…
Are you thinking of using tongue-and-groove panelling in your kitchen – or have you already? Share your ideas and photos in the Comments section.
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I just don't see how tongue and groove it can work behind a sink and a hob, but then I regret having ever having a wooden worktop and Shaker cupboards installed over 22 years ago and long so much for clean lines. I will, eventually, get them!
practical & stylish wall with upstand & shelf
T&G worked well for the back of this cottage seating nook - walkid.co.uk