Inside a Bespoke Japandi Kitchen with 19 Beautiful Drawers
Do you know what I loved most about this kitchen? The 19 drawers.
Let me tell you a bit about them.
They’re made from solid oak and dovetailed – proper craftsmanship that’s built to last. Inside, we fitted all sorts of clever touches: a bespoke magnetic knife block in one, a docking drawer charging station in another – a brilliant way to keep the family’s phones and tablets off the worktop and out of sight.
We designed custom drawer inserts for cutlery, spices, and utensils, plus deep drawers for things like baking trays and pans. Everything has its place, which just makes the whole space feel calmer and more functional.
The runners we used are Blum full-extension, soft-close – they glide like butter smooth!) and come with a lifetime guarantee. No wonky drawers in a few years’ time, thank you very much.
Read more about our kitchins here…
Now, did you notice the grain? If you did, you’re our kind of person.
Each drawer front was carefully mapped out and specially veneered so the grain could flow across the run – a detail you might not see straight away, but once you do, it’s so satisfying. The clients trusted us when we explained this deatil would make all the difference.
The handles were something special too – cut-out finger pulls, routed from solid oak. The clients wanted clean lines in their japandi kitchen. Each cut out handle needed careful sanding by hand. This took some time believe me! And the whole kitchen was finished in two coats of Osmo TopOil. We prepared several finish options for the clients so they could pick exactly the tone they loved.
Because the clients already had planned a beautiful wooden floor, we wanted to make sure the kitchen didn’t compete with it. we came upon the solution to use a black kickboard, to create a visual break between the two tones of timber. We made it from black Valchromat and finished in a black Osmo stain with Osmo Polyx to protect it – a subtle detail, but it really grounds the design and makes everything feel intentional.
The clients were building a brand new mid-century modern-style home right on the estuary in Portishead – starting from a completely blank canvas. They came to us knowing they wanted oak from the beginning. No sticking-out handles, no visual clutter – just clean lines, clever storage, and a calm, inviting space where everything had its place.
This project was a great fit for what’s often called Japandi Kitchen style. This is a blend of Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian warmth. It’s about simplicity, craftsmanship, and natural materials. It really is such a great style and would suit lots of different rooms. Less about showing off, more about creating a sense of peace and purpose in your home. It’s also a style we absolutely love working in, so if that’s your thing too, please do get in touch. Contact us here.
Another one of the standout features of this kitchen was the island. It is simply the biggest we’ve ever made. It had nine drawers (yes, more drawers!) and a breakfast bar that created a lovely spot for morning coffee or chatting while someone’s cooking. The worktop was from Bristol Marble and Granite, and featured a waterfall end – a gorgeous detail that adds weight and elegance to the space.
The end result is a kitchen that’s calm, warm, and packed with thoughtful details. Every bit of it was designed and made by us in our Bristol workshop, and the clients were involved every step of the way.
That’s what you get when you commission a Jim Sharples Furniture Japandi kitchen – quiet confidence, considered design, and furniture that’ll last a lifetime.
