When people decide to personalise an IKEA kitchen, the first instinct is often to turn to colour. But the most powerful personalisation, the one that creates the greatest contrast with the IKEA origin and ages the best, is genuine wood. And among woods, oak is the obvious choice.
In this article
1. Why genuine wood rather than a coloured lacquer
2. Why oak in particular
3. How to choose your oak for an IKEA project
4. Jacamar: the genuine oak specialist for IKEA
1. Why genuine wood rather than a coloured lacquer
Wood responds differently to light: its fibres create a play that changes at every hour of the day, unlike a lacquer that stays the same. Wood is meant to be touched: you open your kitchen doors dozens of times a day, and that tactile relationship is underestimated. Wood ages with you: it develops a patina that strengthens its character instead of diminishing it.
2. Why oak in particular
Oak is one of the densest species in Europe, with a tight-fibred structure that gives it remarkable dimensional stability. It copes well with changes in humidity and temperature. Its pronounced grain is more visually interesting than any other material at this price. And its neutral colour makes it compatible with every other material.
3. How to choose your oak for an IKEA project
Oak comes in natural (golden blond, the one that ages best), honey (warmer, for kitchens that lack warmth) and dark (more graphic, more contemporary). On the market, oak is laid on chipboard or on high-density MDF: MDF is clearly superior in stability and durability. It is the core we use at Jacamar, 750 kg/m³. Always order samples: oak in a photo and oak in your hand are two different things.
| Finish | Character | For which kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Natural oak | Golden blond, the one that ages best | The safe choice, compatible with every interior |
| Honey oak | Warmer, more golden | Kitchens that lack warmth |
| Dark oak | More graphic, more contemporary | Bright rooms, with a confident stance |
The workshop's advice
A genuine oak front is heavier than an original melamine front. Before you order, open and close a door of your current kitchen: if it already has some play or the hinge creaks, replace the hardware at the same time as the fronts. A few euros per hinge saves you from seeing a beautiful door sag after a year on a tired mechanism.
4. Jacamar: the genuine oak specialist for IKEA
Our workshop, at the heart of the Transylvanian forest, produces fronts in high-density MDF veneered in genuine oak, with wood-veneered edges and a finish of three coats of matt lacquer. Every order is approved by Luc Deniel, our founder, before dispatch. Price: €110 to €160 for a 60 × 80 cm door. Lead time: allow 6 to 8 weeks for production, plus one week for delivery on average. Kerbside delivery in France, by appointment.
Frequently asked questions
Does natural oak suit every interior style?
Yes. Its neutral colour and natural character make it compatible with every style.
Conclusion
Personalising an IKEA kitchen with genuine oak means choosing an authentic, technical and durable material. At Jacamar, it is what we have been making since 1865.
Key points
Wood changes with the light and invites touch: a lacquer stays the same.
Oak combines density, stability and a neutral colour.
The core matters as much as the species: high-density MDF rather than chipboard.
Plan to replace tired hinges at the same time as the fronts.
The same IKEA base, a material that is anything but: that is where all the personalisation happens.
Natural oak finishes: the guide
Luc Deniel, founder of Jacamar
