FAQ's

Use the quote request form on our website and upload your plans, sketches, or a list of what you need. We'll review your requirements and come back with a detailed quotation, usually within a few days. There's no obligation and no hard sell — just honest pricing.

Yes — browse our gallery on the website and follow @plyko_uk on Instagram for recent projects. We can also share additional images of specific styles or finishes if you're interested in something particular.

You'll work directly with John, the owner, designer, and maker at Plyko. Unlike larger companies where you might deal with salespeople, designers, and factory staff separately, at Plyko one person oversees your entire project from first enquiry to final delivery. This means better communication, fewer mistakes, and a genuinely personal service.

Our birch plywood is sourced through UK timber merchants who hold FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certifications. The birch itself typically comes from managed forests in the Baltic region, which has a strong tradition of sustainable forestry.

When sourced responsibly, yes. All our birch plywood comes from FSC and PEFC certified suppliers, meaning the timber is from sustainably managed forests. Plywood also uses wood more efficiently than solid timber — more of the tree becomes usable material. Our kitchens are built to last decades rather than years, which is ultimately the most sustainable choice. We don't use chipboard or MDF with high formaldehyde content.

It depends on the look you want. Plywood kitchens celebrate the natural beauty of wood — the layered edges are a design feature, not something to hide. Traditional painted kitchens (like Shaker style) hide the construction behind paint. Both can be excellent quality. If you love the warmth and honesty of natural materials, plywood is hard to beat. If you prefer a classic painted look, we also offer painted door options through our Outline range.

The UK has several excellent plywood kitchen makers including Pluck, Wood & Wire, Koivu, and Uncommon Projects. What sets Plyko apart is our combination of bespoke manufacturing, competitive pricing, and personal service. As a smaller workshop, you work directly with the owner-maker throughout the entire process. We're also one of the few makers offering both contemporary and more traditional styles through our Outline and Uform door ranges.

IKEA kitchens use standard-sized chipboard cabinets that you assemble yourself. A Plyko kitchen is completely different: made-to-measure birch plywood cabinets, precision manufactured on CNC machinery, delivered fully assembled, and built to last decades. There are no filler pieces or awkward gaps because every cabinet is made to fit your exact space. It's the difference between mass-produced furniture and genuine craftsmanship.

We're often asked this! Plykea makes replacement doors and worktops designed to fit onto existing IKEA cabinets. Plyko is completely different — we make entire bespoke kitchens from scratch, including the cabinets themselves. Our kitchens are fully custom-sized for your space with no IKEA components involved. If you want a true bespoke plywood kitchen rather than an IKEA upgrade, Plyko is the choice.

Absolutely. We design and make utility rooms, wardrobes, home offices, and living room furniture using the same materials and construction methods as our kitchens. Many customers order a complete fitted interior.

Yes, kitchen islands are one of our specialities. Because everything is made to measure, we can create islands in any size or configuration — with storage, seating, integrated appliances, or whatever your design requires.

Usually, yes. We have access to the full Formica colour range plus FENIX and various veneers. If you've seen something you like on Pinterest or in a magazine, send it over and we'll find the closest match or suggest alternatives.

We make three main cabinet styles: Layon (doors overlay the cabinet edges, like a standard modern kitchen), Inset (doors sit within the plywood frame, showing the distinctive ply edge — a mid-century modern look), and Handle-less (featuring a continuous finger-pull recess, popular in contemporary German-style kitchens).

All Plyko kitchens come with BLUM hinges and drawer runners as standard. BLUM is an Austrian manufacturer renowned for quality and reliability — their soft-close mechanisms are the best in the industry. We don't cut corners on hardware because it's what you'll touch and use every day.

We offer several door front options: Formica laminate (hardwearing, available in many colours), lacquered birch (showing the natural plywood grain), FENIX NTM (a premium matt laminate that's fingerprint-resistant), and real wood veneers (oak, walnut, and others). Cabinet interiors can be natural lacquered birch or white melamine-faced birch.

Extremely. Birch plywood can withstand up to 25% more weight than solid wood of the same thickness. Unlike chipboard, it won't swell or disintegrate if it gets wet. The layered construction makes it incredibly stable — it won't warp or twist over time. With proper care, a plywood kitchen will last decades.

We use BB/BB grade birch plywood sourced from FSC and PEFC certified suppliers through UK timber merchants. Birch plywood is prized for its strength, stability, and beautiful layered edge grain. It's significantly stronger and more moisture-resistant than the chipboard or MDF used in most conventional kitchens.

Cabinets are delivered fully assembled on a dedicated vehicle. We take care packaging everything to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. For larger kitchens, we may deliver in stages to make handling easier.

We supply kitchens ready for installation by your own fitter or contractor. Our cabinets arrive fully assembled — not flat-pack — which makes installation significantly faster and easier than conventional kitchens. Many fitters comment that Plyko kitchens are the easiest they've ever installed due to our precise manufacturing.

Yes, we deliver fully assembled kitchen cabinets to customers across the entire UK. We're based in the North East (Washington, Tyne and Wear) but regularly deliver to London, Scotland, the South West, and everywhere in between. Delivery is included in our quotations for mainland UK.

From confirmed order, allow 3-4 weeks for manufacture and delivery. Complex designs or busy periods may take slightly longer. We'll give you a clear timeline when you place your order.

Both options work. If you have plans or know roughly what you want, send them over and we'll quote accordingly. If you need help with the layout and design, we offer a dedicated kitchen design service where we create a complete design from scratch based on your space and requirements.

No, but some customer do prefer to visit the workshop. We work with clients across the UK entirely remotely — from initial enquiry through to delivery. We use detailed 3D visuals and design documents so you can see exactly what you're getting. That said, visitors are welcome by appointment if you'd like to see the quality of our work in person.

We start with your kitchen plans or measurements — these can be architect drawings, a sketch, or even a handwritten list of what you need. From there, we create detailed 3D CAD designs showing exactly how your kitchen will look. We refine the design together until you're completely happy, then manufacture your kitchen in our workshop. The whole process typically takes 8-12 weeks from confirmed order to delivery.

Every Plyko kitchen includes fully assembled cabinets made from birch plywood, premium BLUM soft-close hinges and drawer runners as standard, your choice of door fronts (Formica laminate, lacquered birch, FENIX, or veneer), and detailed design documentation. Worktops, appliances, and installation are typically arranged separately, though we can advise on all aspects.

Plywood kitchens cost more because they're genuinely handmade to your exact specifications. Unlike flat-pack kitchens with standard sizes and cheap chipboard carcasses, a Plyko kitchen uses premium birch plywood throughout, precision-cut on CNC machinery, and fully assembled in our workshop before delivery. You're paying for bespoke craftsmanship, superior materials, and cabinets that will last decades rather than years.

A bespoke plywood kitchen from Plyko typically starts at £15,000 with the average project around £24,000. The final price depends on the size of your kitchen, design complexity, and choice of finishes. Our BASIK range offers the same quality construction with a streamlined specification, making bespoke plywood more accessible. Every Plyko kitchen is made to measure — there are no standard sizes or flat-pack units.