Reclaimed iroko worktops have become synonymous with our design studio’s aesthetic, and the most popular material available from our London shop.
Largely sourced from schools and university laboratories, this tropical hardwood is favoured for its excellent durability and resistance to moisture, making it a fantastic option for the kitchen.
In this blog post we’re sharing a dose of inspiration from some of the kitchens we’ve designed, showcasing the various ways that reclaimed iroko could be incorporated into your project.
If you’re considering reclaimed iroko it’s important to understand the material you’ll be working with. We stock worktops in vastly varying dimensions, many with sink holes, graffiti and the odd piece of chewing gum.
Once we have your required dimensions, we can start the process of looking through our stock to find the closest match. Remember, this isn’t an off-the-shelf product. Every piece of timber has its own quirks and character, which is what makes it such an exciting material.
Our aim is to minimise the need to cut your iroko into smaller pieces, as every cut comes at the cost of future reuse potential. Any unavoidable offcuts can be saved and used for details such as upstands, shelving or to elevate the edges of your joinery. Even the smallest piece can become a coaster!
Most of our reclaimed iroko worktops are sold graffiti-and-all, something we love to make a feature of. If you look closely at the staircase in our London shop, you’ll spot many musings of teenage minds.
In this Parisian kitchen (below) organ knobs used as handles add to the playfulness.
If you prefer a refined aesthetic, holes can be filled and profanities sanded to reveal a smooth, chocolatey timber.
Over time, your iroko will naturally turn a silver colour if exposed to moisture. Preventing this is relatively straight forward – we recommend treating with a high-quality oil such as Timber Tect and drying up any standing water. At home, we keep an absorbent dish drying mat next to the sink for mugs and glasses and make sure that any drying racks have a drip tray.
Iroko can be contrasted and complimented by other reclaimed timbers. In this London kitchen (above) the geometric cabinet fronts are made from tulipwood shelving that were salvaged from the Patent Office, whilst the worktop and lower cabinets are reclaimed iroko.
Photographed by Michael Sinclair
Practical as they are, American-style fridges can feel overbearing when plonked against a wall. Encasing them in timber (as above) gives a sense of place as well as creating additional storage. We also love the aesthetic of iroko worktops with an iroko door on an integrated fridge/freezer.
The suede-clad kitchen in our London studio (below) is wrapped in iroko that’s been oiled to a rich and chocolatey finish. It incases the windows and fridge, creates handy worktop storage, and runs down the wall as cladding.
In Laura Jackson’s London kitchen (below) iroko shelves sit above the countertops instead of cabinets, a place to display your prettiest china, pot plants and artwork. The joinery below it is fronted in reclaimed parquet flooring.
Photographed by Taran Wilkhu
Our prices start at £200 + VAT / Sq M for smaller iroko worktops (< 2m) and up to ≈ £275 + VAT / Sq M for larger pieces (> 3m).
You can visit our London shop to view stock in person. It’s best to book an appointment so we can make sure a member of the team is available to help (020 8960 6060 / mail@retrouvius.com).
Alternatively, we can work together remotely to pair you with the perfect timber for your project (delivery available).
Enquire here or send an email to mail@retrouvius.com to discuss your requirements with our knowledgable team.
VIEW RECLAIMED TIMBER STOCK
