Shou Sugi Ban Kitchen Cabinets

Published: February 3, 2025

Contemporary, sleek kitchens remain a consistent trend in cabinet craftsmanship, but there’s one ancient technique that’s gaining popularity with a modern twist. “Shou Sugi Ban” is a traditional Japanese method of preserving wood through charring. The result of this specialized craftmanship is beautiful wood with variegated shades and details that gleam confidently.

Today, modern manufacturing allows for the replication of charred wood on alternative materials, such as HPL or wood fiber laminate surfaces. These alternatives offer an authentic wood look and feel, without the high price tag. With a spectrum of shades available, discover how warm or cool wood-inspired surfaces elevate the kitchen with intricate texture and elegant complexity.

Warm It Up

warm hue Shou Sugi ban kitchen cabinets rehab rauvisio

Imbue the kitchen with sophistication by choosing a warm luxurious cabinet surface, such as REHAU RAUVISIO ingrain Roasted Oak. Pair the burnished tones of this wood fiber laminate surface with brass hardware for a timeless look. Photo credit: Eric Sun Photography

The vast shades created by Shou Sugi Ban result from the intense temperatures of fire, making a bold design statement. Bring this heat to the kitchen with deep brown wood-inspired surfaces, an excellent choice for cultivating a warm ambiance.

Pair luxurious burnished wood tones with brass hardware, white walls and a dark unhoned soapstone backsplash to imbue your client’s space with balanced sophistication. Through this interplay of colors and textures, the charred wood invites a second and third glance, inviting you to revel in its intriguing details.

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To elicit the feel of a golden-hour glow, couple chocolatey surfaces with honey-toned countertops and backsplashes. Extend these welcoming wooden tones from your kitchen into the living room by adding a charred wood accent wall, giving the space a refined yet cozy feel.

Cool It Down

cool tone shot sugi ban kitchen cabinets in black and white modern kitchen

 by selecting The silvery grain of REHAU RAUVISIO terra Loft Oak creates a deeply textured focal point. This soft, textured HPL surface grounds any space, and pairs well with black and white color schemes. Photo credit: Cleary O’Farrell

Cool-toned charred wood might sound like an oxymoron, yet the style proves its appeal again and again. Graphite and pewter tones, reminiscent of the ash from the Shou Sugi Ban charring process, create sophisticated and modern spaces. These fashionable gray shades add a touch of cosmopolitan flair to a kitchen.

Surfaces with a silvery grain deliver mod appeal without sacrificing character, coupling excellently with black hardware, white upper cabinets and quartz countertops. For a serene yet chic atmosphere, pair nearly black charred-wood surfaces with blue accents and stainless steel appliances. The deeply textured cabinets can act as a focal point, offering tasteful variance when featured in kitchens with classic black and white color schemes.

Whether you want to warm up or cool down your client’s space with charred wood cabinets, you won’t miss out on curating captivating natural designs when you opt for textured wood-inspired surfaces.

—By Jesse Collins, Director of Marketing Communications, REHAU

Tagged with: REHAU, shou sugi ban

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