{"id":2470,"date":"2024-05-31T10:20:55","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T02:20:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/2024\/05\/31\/ikea-elevated-kitchen-cabinet-fronts-made-of-a-surprise-sustainable-material\/"},"modified":"2024-05-31T10:20:55","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T02:20:55","slug":"ikea-elevated-kitchen-cabinet-fronts-made-of-a-surprise-sustainable-material","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/th\/ikea-elevated-kitchen-cabinet-fronts-made-of-a-surprise-sustainable-material\/","title":{"rendered":"\u0e2d\u0e34\u0e40\u0e01\u0e35\u0e22\u0e22\u0e01\u0e23\u0e30\u0e14\u0e31\u0e1a: \u0e2b\u0e19\u0e49\u0e32\u0e1a\u0e32\u0e19\u0e15\u0e39\u0e49\u0e04\u0e23\u0e31\u0e27\u0e17\u0e35\u0e48\u0e1c\u0e25\u0e34\u0e15\u0e08\u0e32\u0e01\u0e27\u0e31\u0e2a\u0e14\u0e38\u0e22\u0e31\u0e48\u0e07\u0e22\u0e37\u0e19\u0e2a\u0e38\u0e14\u0e40\u0e0b\u0e2d\u0e23\u0e4c\u0e44\u0e1e\u0e23\u0e2a\u0e4c"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Who knew bamboo could look this good? Of late, we\u2019ve seen an array of cabinet fronts designed to elevate Ikea kitchens. Ask og Eng\u2019s of Oslo, Norway, are our latest favorites\u2014and among the only to approach the challenge with high-style green design in mind.<\/p>\n

Like so many small workshops, owners Kine Ask Stenersen and Kristoffer Eng tell us they discovered their corner of the market by creating something for themselves.\u201dWhen we were renovating the kitchen in our first apartment, we were both very specific about what we wanted,\u201d says Kine. Unable to find \u201cbeauty, functionality, and sustainability,\u201d all at an affordable price, they decided to build what they were after.<\/p>\n

It helped that Kristoffer is an architect. Kine, meanwhile, has a background in environmental geography. She\u2019s the one who suggested applying bamboo fronts to Ikea cabinets. The idea worked, and several moves\u2014and kitchens later\u2014in 2016, they opened their workshop Ask og Eng, specializing in kitchens and accessories all of bamboo that\u2019s been converted into wood-like panels. They offer bespoke services as well as an extensive line of fronts made for Ikea cabinets. Join us for a look at the latter\u2014and stay tuned for more.<\/p>\n

Photography courtesy of Ask og Eng.<\/p>\n


Above: Kine and Kristoffer are currently in the process of setting up a big new studio and showroom in Oslo. Ask og Eng incorporates their two last names and translates as \u201cAsh and Meadow,\u201d which Kine points out, \u201csays something about what our ideology is based on.\u201d <\/p>\n

Bamboo Fronts for Ikea Cabinets<\/h2>\n


Above: Ask og Eng\u2019s A Collection is a group of handmade bamboo cabinet fronts designed to fit Ikea\u2019s Metod cabinet system. They offer four handle options\u2014three cut-out designs as well as reveal pulls\u2014and eight finishes that give bamboo a surprising range of guises. The Stone finish, shown here, accentuates the vertical graining.,

Above: Ask og Eng\u2019s Bean finish is dark brown with \u201csubtle grain stripes that shimmer and change in the light.\u201d All of the company\u2019s Ikea fronts are sanded smooth, treated with pigmented oil, and then sealed with hard wax oil from Osmo to make them water- and spill-resistant. Because countertops are heavy and costly to ship, most customers source their own locally.
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Above: All of the finish names are borrowed from land and sky; this one is called Soil. <\/p>\n

The couple get their bamboo from \u201ccertified plantations\u201d in Asia that follow responsible business practices. Not only sustainable but durable, bamboo is actually a grass that grows significantly faster than trees (it typically matures in four to six years, vs. 50-plus years for trees, and after being harvested, it grows back). \u201cDuring growth, bamboo absorbs more CO2 than is released during production, which makes it CO2 neutral over the complete lifecycle,\u201d explain the couple on their website. \u201cAnd it flourishes without pesticides, herbicides, or artificial fertilizers.\u201d<\/p>\n


Above: To achieve the horizontal Grain finish, shown here, the bamboo is \u201chard pressed, a procedure that leaves beautiful flowing streaks.\u201d In the workshop, the fronts are \u201coiled with a hint of gray to ease the warm tones.\u201d,<\/p>\n

All of Ask og Eng\u2019s prices are on request. Kine and Kristoffer say a set of cabinet fronts for a small kitchen project averages \u20ac3,560, a medium runs \u20ac4,770, and a large kitchen is approximately \u20ac6,450. They currently only ship their fronts throughout Europe, but are open to requests.<\/p>\n

\u00c0 la Carte Kitchen Furnishings<\/h2>\n


Above: Ask og Eng also offers a few smaller designs that make use of every scrap of bamboo. \u201cWe try to think about sustainability in every step of the process, and throwing away as little as possible is a key part of that,\u201d says Kine, who notes that they can ship smaller items all over. The A9 Box Shelf, a slim storage alternative to over-the-counter cabinets, includes a brass hanging bar and can be made in custom sizes.
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Above: Designed to \u201ckeep your glassware, plates, and other necessities in close perimeter,\u201d the All Basic Shelf comes in three sizes and finishes.
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Above: Like all of Ask og Eng\u2019s designs, the A3 Dining Table is made of bamboo; it has a gracefully thin top.
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Above: The table\u2019s three finishes include Snow, shown here. Tour Ask og Eng\u2019s studio in progress and keep up with the couple\u2019s latest on Instagram @askogeng. <\/p>\n

Looking to upgrade an Ikea kitchen. Take a look at:<\/p>\n