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Traditional Kitchens with Proper Joinery
Traditional kitchens are built the way kitchens were before flat-pack: in-frame cabinetry with cock beading, mantels and dressers. They are substantial and quiet, and made to be handed on. Essex Home Kitchens designs, supplies and installs complete traditional kitchens, and our own time-served fitters scribe every cabinet to the room, which matters in older houses where walls and floors are rarely straight.
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10 years
Installation guarantee on every kitchen
£5m
Public liability insurance
NAPIT
Registered Electricians
Essex, since 2012
Established company, local teams
The style
What is an in-frame kitchen?
In an in-frame kitchen, each door sits inside a solid frame rather than over the front of the cabinet. The frame shows around every door and drawer, which gives the furniture its depth and its sense of craftsmanship. Cock beading, a fine rounded moulding around each opening, adds a shadow line that catches the light.
On top of the cabinetry, a traditional design often includes:
- 01A mantel over the range or hob, turning a chimney breast into the focal point
- 02A dresser, with open shelves for everyday china or cookbooks
- 03A butler sink, as on our in-frame kitchen in Ingatestone, which pairs a hand-painted finish with a mantel
Finishes
Finishes and colours
Our traditional range comes in three finishes:
| Finish | Character |
|---|---|
| Hand-painted solid timber | In the colour you choose, with a soft brushed finish |
| Natural oak | Warm, with visible grain that deepens over time |
| Walnut | Darker and richer, a striking choice for an island or dresser |
Hand painted kitchens let you choose almost any shade. Heritage greens, warm greys, off-whites and deep blues all suit in-frame furniture. Mixing finishes works too, for example a painted run with an oak island or a walnut dresser.
Pairings
Worktops and handles that pair well
Granite and solid timber are classic partners for a traditional kitchen. Quartz with a soft vein gives the look of stone with less upkeep, and a timber section on an island adds warmth beside painted cabinets. Every worktop is templated by laser after the cabinets are fitted, so it follows the furniture exactly. Compare the options on our kitchen worktops page.
For handles, round knobs on doors and cup handles on drawers are the traditional choice, in aged brass, polished nickel or antique bronze. Keep the same finish across handles, taps and lighting.
Layouts
Layouts traditional kitchens suit
The style suits detached family homes, farmhouses and listed properties. Bigger rooms can take a central island or a long dresser wall, and a range cooker under a mantel anchors the layout. In older houses, a chimney breast, an awkward alcove or a sloping ceiling can become a feature rather than a problem. Your designer checks the services and structure on the first visit before anything is drawn.
Lighting matters as much in a traditional kitchen as in a modern one. We plan task, ambient and feature lighting on separate circuits, wired and certified by our own electricians, so the room is practical for cooking and warm in the evening.
Cost
What a traditional kitchen costs
Complete kitchen projects with Essex Home typically range from £18,000 to £50,000 and above. The figure depends on the size of the room, the cabinetry, worktops and appliances you choose, and any building work. Every element is itemized in one fixed quotation.
Not sure which style suits your house? Compare in-frame with our Shaker kitchens, or book a free design consultation and talk it through in your own room.
Our work
One recent project, start to finish
A family home in Brentwood: a load-bearing wall removed, a new quartz island and a full rewire, completed in three weeks on site by our own team. See the full project.
Handleless kitchen
Brentwood
Handleless
★★★★★
"Everything was handled by Essex Home. The electrician, the plasterer and the tiler all turned up when we were told they would, and Dan managed it all. We never had to chase anyone."
Sarah & Mark T.
Questions
Traditional kitchen FAQs
What is the difference between in-frame and Shaker?
A Shaker door is a framed door with a recessed centre panel. An in-frame kitchen sets the door inside a frame on the cabinet itself, with proper joinery detail such as cock beading, mantels and dressers.
Do you fit traditional kitchens in listed homes?
Our traditional style suits listed properties, farmhouses and detached family homes. Every design starts with a home visit to check the services and structure.
What colours can a hand-painted kitchen be?
Hand-painted solid timber can be finished in the colour you choose. Your designer will talk through colours during the design stage.
How long does a traditional kitchen take to install?
Typical installations take two to four weeks, managed by one project manager to a written programme.
Other styles
Explore our other kitchen styles
Get a Quote
Book a free home design consultation
Our designers will visit, measure up and talk through what would work in your room. The design and quotation for traditional kitchens are free and there is no obligation. Call 01268 264240 or get your free design & quotation online.
Bespoke kitchens designed, supplied and installed across Essex. Part of the Essex Home group.
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Essex Home Kitchens
Unit 4, Warley Business Park
Brentwood, Essex CM14 5NA
Mon to Fri 8am to 6pm
Sat 9am to 4pm, by appointment
Essex Home Kitchens is a trading name of Essex Home Ltd. Fully insured with £5m public liability cover.
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