Open-plan kitchen-dining or a narrow galley space, our design director, Fred Horlock, shares his expert tips onÌýhow to make the most of your °ì¾±³Ù³¦³ó±ð²Ô’s footprint.Ìý

NO. 1

Open-plan rooms can be generous and airy, but »å´Ç²Ô’t feel the need to fill every inch of wall space with fitted cabinetry. This roomy layout enables keen cooks to maximise storage and prep areas and introduce flexible pieces like an extending dining table. Use furniture and rugs to clearly define the different areas.Ìý

NO. 2

A symmetrical floorplan, with the dining table at the centre, helps the room feel balanced and calm. You can change the pace with shortened stud walls (‘nibs�) or even a bank of high bookcases to create a dual-use room with a cosy living area away from the kitchen action.

NO. 3

Tuck domestic elements out of the way by building a pantry or utility room so the remaining kitchen space can be focused on relaxing, entertaining and socialising. A circular dining table works well in a smaller footprint and softens the flow of the room. Adding bi-fold doors will connect inside and outside.

FRED’S DESIGN TIPS

Meet the freestanding heroes

Borough islandÌý

This freestanding, marble-topped island makes a great centerpiece for those who »å´Ç²Ô’t have the floor space for a more permanent statement island. Crafted from natural oak, and gently softened at each corner, its sleek, slimline design allows for effortless versatility, seamlessly adapting to the style and flow of any kitchen. Complete the look by tucking a pair of our new Tilbury woven bar stools underneath.

Borough chopping blockÌý

Solid but not chunky. Traditional and yet refined. The Borough chopping block is perfectly proportioned to sit at the end of a row of cabinetry, serve as a mini-island in a smaller kitchen, or elegantly occupy an unused corner. Its robust, end-grain oak surface allows you to treat it as a functional chopping board, creating a lived-in look that will enhance its enduring appeal.Ìý

Farlow larderÌý

A contemporary take on a centuries-old design, the Farlow larder cabinet features clean lines, and fluted glass doors, and can be easily moved around your kitchen-dining space â€� a convenience that will ensure its longevity as your home evolves. Crafted with a painted tulipwood frame, exposed oak interior and adjustable zig-zag shelving, ¾±³Ù’s a functional design built to last a lifetime.Ìý

Discover all our freestanding pieces, crafted to complement any kitchen.Ìý

Cook’s space

A well planned kitchen layout is your best friend at busy times like Christmas. The classic triangular arrangement of fridge, sink and hob is an old favourite but a wonderfully efficient way of working. Nerine, kitchen designer at Neptune Fulham, explains, “The cook needs to be in the middle of the action - in the middle of the triangle - all the helpers should work around this space, ideally not crossing paths or walking through the cook’s space.� She also suggests positioning your festive helpers on the opposite side of a kitchen island or table, away from the main action.

And next to helpers, plug points are the most useful asset when you’re cooking up a festive storm. Nerine recommends fitting them at the end of island units or in the back of larder cupboards where the microwave - or even a kettle - can be positioned, keeping the cook’s area clutter free.

Easy access

Access to essentials is key for a smooth running kitchen - and that doesn’t just mean having oils and salts near the stove for cooking. Nerine recommends installing your spice rack and knife block in a drawer adjacent to the prep area to keep your space tidy.

Any food prep requires plenty of handwashing, so a soap dispenser and plenty of freshly laundered towels hung on a built-in sliding towel rack will also be well used.Ìý

Slim, integrated chopping block units, plate racks and open racks are all useful design solutions for busy cooks who need equipment close to hand, but cumbersome items like extra large roasting tins and deep saucepans might need to be extracted from their usual place at the back of a cupboard ahead of the big day.Ìý

Order within

There’s plenty of organisation that can be done ahead of the big day â€� the benefits of which will be reaped for months afterwards. We all have a junk drawer, a muddle of ³¦²¹²Ô’t-throw-away things - Blu Tac, string, pens, the odd nail varnish and batteries of varying sizes. Drawer dividers will section off cutlery trays (our Barlow or Ratcliff dividers are a good option), or even shallow boxes, are a great way of making sure all the muddle is sorted.

And if you’re fond of a gadget, a built-in charging station is a handy device for keeping electronics (and their leads) out of sight too. Our Chichester charging station is made of oak with a leather surface that slots into a drawer that can be used to charge - and hide - up to six devices. An essential for Christmas lunchtime, surely.

No. 1
A one-hundred-year mindset

We believe your kitchen should be with you for the long haul. ±õ³Ù’s why we design furniture to last for a hundred years and more. The timeless styles, quality materials and classic joinery of our kitchens take an enduring approach that stands firm against fleeting trends and champions anti-waste and anti-throwaway culture.

No. 2Ìý
Lifetime guarantee

Ì첩ÌåÓý¹ÙÍø should be able to withstand everyday family life and still give you a lifetime of use. ±õ³Ù’s why, when fitted by our accredited installers, our kitchens come with a lifetime guarantee: a promise to continue to care for and maintain your °ì¾±³Ù³¦³ó±ð²Ô’s cabinetry, handles, hinges and more, so you can continue to enjoy them.

No. 3Ìý
Paints, with conscience

While you may have pondered the colour of your kitchen paint, you might not have ever considered its formula. Made in Britain by our partner with five generations of expertise, Neptune paint is waterbased, low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and practically odour free. This means ¾±³Ù’s a good option for your home, the environment and your health. With our kitchens built to last a lifetime, the painted cabinetry can also be touched up over the years, giving it a new lease of life.

No. 4
Smart solutions

±õ³Ù’s often the clever details in a kitchen â€� like fold-out drying racks or built-in bins for recycling, general waste and food â€� that you might not have thought about, but that will help you lead a more eco-conscious lifestyle. We offer three types of bin cabinetry, which can be used individually in smaller spaces or mixed together, and then discreetly hidden behind a run of beautiful cabinetry.Ìý

No. 5
Material matters

No. 6
Traditional craftsmanship

The beauty in a more sustainable kitchen should go far beyond the exterior. Open the doors of our cabinets and you’ll find precise mortise-and-tenon joints; pull out a drawer and you’ll see that ¾±³Ù’s secured with classic dovetails. Everything we do is rooted in traditional cabinet-making principles that have proven their strength and endurance over centuries â€� and look beautiful, too.

No.7
Planting for our planet

No. 8
The flexibility of freestanding

The most sustainable kitchen designs should evolve to reflect your needs. Each Neptune cabinet is crafted as an individual piece of solid wood furniture, meaning the footprint of your kitchen can be completely reimagined as your family changes and living spaces adapt. Cabinets can be moved from room to room (or even to a different house altogether), just as our co-founder John Sims-Hilditch has done with his original, twenty-five-year-old Chichester kitchen.

Ìý

Book your first kitchen consultation.

Think for a moment about your favourite mug, the one you always reach for. Chances are the thing thatâ€�draws you to it each time (rather than the host of other mugs sitting in your cupboard) is the way it feels when ¾±³Ù’s cupped in your hands. Its weight. Its ³Ù²¹³¦³Ù¾±±ô¾±³Ù²â.â€�Well, the same thing could be said for the hardware in our kitchens. The handles, the hooks, the rails and the knobs. Afterall, these are the things your hands reach for every day, when you open and close cabinet doors and drawers.â€�Ìý

±õ³Ù’s for this very reason that companies like solid brass hardware producersÌý believe the upmost attention should be paid to the design and construction of our kitchen hardware. And ¾±³Ù’s not a new belief of theirs either. The ethos of this uniquely British brand has been passed down through generations for nearly a century. From brass fittings founder Harold McGrail to his great grandsons and now joint CEOs, Richard and Robert McGrail, the company has continued to masterfully manufacture its fine brass products in the heart of Birmingham.

That family approach is something Armac Martin prides itself on; in the factory too, there are parents who are passing on skills to their sons and daughters. ‘We have multiple generations of family members honing their craft here,â€� says Richard.ÌýÌý

And while some equipment may have been modernised over the years, the overarching craft process remains much the same. ‘Once we have the raw component, pretty much everything else is going through ³ó²¹²Ô»å²õ,â€�continuesÌý ¸é¾±³¦³ó²¹°ù»å.â€�These experienced makers are sticklers for attention to detail and each product is reviewed at every stage of the process. ‘Ensuring the quality is at the level it should be is a commitment we’ll always make,' explains Richard.â€�Ìý

±õ³Ù’s pledges like these that attracted Neptune to working with Armac Martin. Our new collaboration reflects the synergy between the two British brands and has culminated in the release of ourâ€�Oscott collection: aâ€�solid brass contemporary take on a classic bar handle with traditional ball joints. And whileâ€�Oscott was ultimately a design-led partnership, because of the brass’s pure weight and tactile nature, it feels good in the hands, too. â€�Ìý

Small but mighty

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The beauty of a more compact space is its ability to work efficiently and have everything needed within arm’s reach. Less time is spent rummaging through drawers and cupboards because everything is (hopefully) organised with precision and space in mind. If you’re after the illusion of a larger room, the key is to utilise vertical spaces and scale upwards. ‘Using the walls efficiently and effectively and adding a ladder rail to reach high cabinetry can look very dramatic,� explains Jackie, kitchen designer at Neptune Edgbaston. If ceiling height is restricted though, avoid the space feeling boxed in with wall cabinetry by opting for open shelves that can still be used as storage for glass jars filled with ingredients that you regularly reach for.

In small spaces, it can be worth embracing strong colour. ‘Using a darker tone all over can make a room really cocooning,� says Jackie. If you want to go for bolder colours on cabinetry, Claire, a Neptune Bath kitchen designer, recommends ‘keeping work surfaces and flooring lighter, as they will bounce the light upwards.� Other considerations such as integrated microwaves and boiling water taps help to reduce the amount of worktop space used. And finally, remember that space saved equals more opportunity for displaying personal touches that will give your room a sense of individuality.

The in-between

Ìý

Curious configurations and clever storage can help add interest to medium-sized kitchens. These ‘fall-between� sized spaces will benefit from tall larder cabinetry and deep drawer storage (which often conceals further drawers within) like those found in our Henley collection. These configurations create a streamlined look in a busy room while still maximising storage space. Similarly, an integrated bin drawer installed close to food-prep areas, below-counter slimline chopping block units, and a dedicated breakfast larder which holds the coffee machine, kettle and toaster all reduce the number of excess items on display. If you’re keen to include a dining area within a medium-sized kitchen but are wary of eating into precious floor space, Claire suggests continuing the flow of worktops or an island to finish with a wrap-around bar seating area with under-counter space for stools. By maintaining the flow of cabinetry and work surfaces into an eating area, you continue the unfussy design while gaining additional, sought-after space.

A large welcome

Ìý

Space to play with? Many larger kitchens work with open-plan living in mind, combining a dining area and maybe a relaxed snug too. When contemplating the layout and flow of a larger room, your kitchen designer can help you consider what Jackie calls ‘traffic managementâ€� â€� ensuring an easy route to the fridge, for example, to avoid having to cross someone else working in the prep area. For large kitchens to work best, they need zoning with layered lighting, pattern and texture to create pockets of interest. Overhead spots and task lights, pendants above islands, and floor and table lamps in dining spaces help to define different zones and create appropriate atmospheres for cooking or entertaining. Upholstered bar stools, Roman blinds, and patterned rugs under dining tables add textural points of interest. You might even consider zoning the floor â€� with a hardy herringbone tile or chequered stone around the prep areas, for instance, and warmer wood flooring for the relaxation areas. Finally, when furnishing a larger space, ¾±³Ù’s important to consider proportion and scale. Avoid filling every wall with cabinetry as it will feel like living in a wooden box. Instead, mix open and closed shelving and leave space for artworks, plants or bookshelves. When it comes to styling, encompass the room’s sense of generosity with tall vases or urns on a worktop, super-sized fruit bowls, and displayed items shown in multiples. Combining these elements of scale, zones and storage will help the large kitchen look impressive but still feel welcoming. In other words, your kitchen will be ‘just rightâ€�.

To get started on your kitchen project book a free design consultation here.Ìý

Whether a kitchen is big or small, you’re sure to fill it, so the same rules apply. Chloë Locherty, a Neptune kitchen design specialist, stresses the importance of planning your space. ‘A kitchen is a jigsaw puzzle,â€� she says. ‘Decide on appliance placement first, then plan storage around it â€� spice racks and utensils near the hob, for instance.â€� Every kitchen needs at least one deep pan drawer, she adds. ‘You can get so much more in them than cupboards, and you »å´Ç²Ô’t need to get down on your knees to reach the back. Maximise space with dividers inside.’Ì�

Neptune kitchens have intelligent features with Tardis-like powers. Even something as simple as the zig-zag shelf fittings magnifies storage potential, letting you position shelves at precisely calibrated levels so none of the cupboard’s height is wasted. ‘You can use them in our base and wall cupboards, larders and broom cabinets, so they work with everything from mugs to the vacuum cleaner,â€� says Chloë.Ìý

How to avoid the perennial problem of things lurking at the back of the cupboard? ‘Use our shelf risers,� she suggests. ‘They raise storage towards the back, so things are visible and easier to reach.� In many Neptune kitchens, you’ll also find small drawers concealed inside larger ones (useful for keeping cutlery organised alongside crockery) and larder doors that swing out with shallow shelves on the back and more racks inside. This is an excellent way to create a pantry � the dream kitchen feature � in a small room.

Making use of ‘hidden� space is another tip. If you have high ceilings, consider a pantry cupboard that goes all the way up. ‘Our Chichester kitchen has an oak ladder that hooks on so you can reach the top shelves,� advises Chloë. ‘If the cupboard is half-depth, you can still have worktop space in front. I’ve even created a corner arrangement with brilliant L-shaped storage.� She also suggests hanging racks and pegs underneath cupboards � or on the sides. ‘Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most effective. I love our Ashcroft baskets, which fit inside other storage to keep things organised.�

Even the humblest kit can be enhanced with smart details: drawer inserts for spice jars that let you see the labels clearly; drawer dividersÌýand knife blocks that stop them knocking against each other so they stay sharp; narrow niches for chopping boards and tea towels; and the Orford wet store tray, which sits inside your sink cabinet and stops damp cloths cluttering the worktop. Think of it as elevating the everyday.

To keep your kitchen clutter-free, shop our storage edit that considers beauty and utility in equal measure.Ìý

What’s the first step in the process if ±õ’m thinking about choosing a Neptune kitchen?

Ìý

I’d say that the very first step would be to come along to one of our stores if you can (and you haven’t already). You can see and find out a lot about our kitchens online and in our inspiration book, but nothing beats seeing them in person. There’s no need to book an appointment, just come and have a look around. You’ll be able to explore our fourÌýcollections in pretty much any of our storesÌýâ€� and when I say explore, I mean really explore! They’re all designed as proper kitchens, rather than kitchen-like setups, so you can get a real feel for how they might look and work in your own home. Some of our stores showcase ourÌýlaundry and utility rooms, presenting additional spaces which you may not have considered. Our home specialists will be on hand to chat to you about the kitchens too, but equally, they won’t hover over your shoulder. We want visiting us to be a relaxed experience.

So where do I go from there? Even if ±õ’m still not 100% sure?

Ìý

Our initial design appointments are absolutely free for exactly that reason: even if you’re not certain that a Neptune kitchen is right for you yet, you can sit down with your local store’s designer and go through everything in a fair amount of detail (this first appointment’s usually about 90 minutes long) so that, if you do decide to go ahead with us, you can be absolutely sure. You just need to get in touch with a store to book your consultation, or you can request one online here and we’ll get back to you to find a date and time that suits you best.

Sounds good, but what kind of thing will we talk about at this stage? Do I need to know what I want?

Ìý

If you’ve got a clear picture in your head of what you would like for your kitchen, then that’s wonderful. But if you »å´Ç²Ô’t, that’s also completely fine. If you do have any images that you’ve seen â€� whether in our inspiration book and on our website or from somewhere else â€� then definitely bring those along as it’ll help your designer get a feel for what you do and »å´Ç²Ô’t like, although you’ll also walk through the collections together so they’ll be able to discover more about your style then too. They’ll also ask you lots of questions about how you use your space, what kind of cook you are, things like that, which will inform which appliances and storage solutions you’ll need â€� and the things that are more of a want than a need!

Your designer will also start mapping out ideas for your °ì¾±³Ù³¦³ó±ð²Ô’s layout at this point, so we’ll ask you to bring along some room dimensions. They can be quite simple â€� the width and depth of the room, how high the ceilings are and where the windows and doors are placed â€� because we’ll visit to get more detailed measurements ourselves later. If you have architect’s plans, then so much the better! But »å´Ç²Ô’t worry if you »å´Ç²Ô’t.

At the end of your first consultation, you should have a good idea of what your kitchen might look like, which collection you’re going for, and, importantly, how much it’ll cost. These things aren’t final, but they’ll certainly help you make a clear and informed decision.

Do I have to make a decision there and then? Will my designer pressure me to at all?

Ìý

Absolutely not! You’ll have all the time and space you need to decide. In fact, we think ¾±³Ù’s always better to go away and sleep on things than to jump into a decision. And that’s true for every stage of the process.

I have a small kitchen and a tight budget, is it even worth having a consultation?

Ìý

It definitely is, because there’s a lot we can do with small spaces and budgets. Most of our kitchens that you’ll see in our brochures and online are quite roomy, ¾±³Ù’s true, but that’s as much because they’re easier to photograph as anything else. We’ve designed tiny city kitchens, single runs of cabinetry for galleys, even standalone utility rooms.

There are so many aspects that can change the °ì¾±³Ù³¦³ó±ð²Ô’s cost, from the collection you choose (Henley, for instance, is a little more than Chichester because it has parts made from oak, whereas Chichester is entirely made from less expensive, but still solid and sturdy, painted tulipwood) to the types of cabinetry (using more cupboards than drawers can help bring the cost down) and even the colour (each collection comes in a ‘standardâ€�, neutral colour that costs less than our bespoke paint service). So »å´Ç²Ô’t be put off â€� come and talk to us and we’ll work out a solution that you’re happy with.

My style is quite different to yours, does that matter?

Ìý

At Neptune, we definitely have our own kind of aesthetic, which leans towards classic, but the beauty of our kitchens is that they can pretty much do any style because their simplicity and timelessness is a blank but beautiful canvas on which you can paint your own personality. We’ve designed very clean, minimal and modern kitchens, and we’ve designed bright and colourful ones full of pattern, and we’ve loved both! We have a range of shades to choose from and you can have a different colour inside to out too. And even if you choose to go for that collection’s standard, neutral colour, we can help you add personality through things like handles, wall colours and accessories � our design service doesn’t just stop at cabinetry.

So what happens after my first consultation if I decide to go ahead?

Ìý

This is when your designer will really get down to the nitty gritty. There’s a £350 fee for our full design service, redeemable against your kitchen orderÌýand it includes an in-person survey of your kitchen, moodboards and computer-aided drawings showing you the plan and elevations in 2D and 3D, including colours, finishes and accessories. You can make changes as often as you like at this stage, talk to your designer as much as you need, and take as long as you like too. We »å´Ç²Ô’t hurry you at any point (although if you’re in a hurry, we can usually work to that). Your designer will help you choose appliances too and, when you’re ready, organise all the ordering, delivery and installation.

We know that a kitchen is a big expense, so we’ll only ask for a 20% deposit when you place your order. You »å´Ç²Ô’t need to pay the rest until 21 days before we deliver.

Ìý

Ready to get started? You can book an in-person consultation with your nearest designer here. Or, if you’re not quite at that stage yet, why not search for your local store to visit, browse our online journal, or take a look at our kitchen inspiration book?

Nooks, beams, chimney breasts or sloping walls. The bones of most kitchens include a smattering of awkward or irregular ‘features� (to be polite) that make a cookie-cutter kitchen design all but impossible. Add to that, the desire for a circular sink maybe or a particular sized cooker hood and many people find themselves needing cabinetry, fixtures or accessories that aren’t immediately to order.

ÌýAs kitchen makers of over 25 years, Neptune has designed pretty much every iteration of kitchen and resolved the most unusual of requests. From cabinetry created for the family dog to sleep in, to cupboards that work around a three-generations old AGA, or even the farm kitchen that needed to be painted in a shade that would disguise the mud when young lambs had to be nursed indoors - no challenge is too much.

Luckily the three main collections offer a great degree of flexibility just by the nature of their designs. Henley focuses on deep drawer cabinets, while Chichester has more cupboard options, and Suffolk is a combination of the two. And now, all the collections offer the option of plain or fluted glass panes for wall cupboards, while different larder cupboard options can be customised with interior lighting and marble or wood worksurfaces. Even furniture pieces like the freestanding Charlecote island can be adjusted to create an overhang for bar seating, or cabinets and drawers can be conformed to create an extra-slim � or extra-wide fitted island.

ÌýWorktops too can be specked to create a sense of originality, be it the thickness of a solid wood worktop or an elegant Ogee-edged finish on a marble surface to elevate a classic island design. Hardware is also a good way to add an individual touch and Neptune offers an impressive array of cupboard handles in up to four finishes from chrome to black bronze and brass that can be mixed and matched.

But what about those specific design elements that can make all the difference to the final result? Neptune’s UK workshops and in-store design teams are at hand to help with requests from an original paint combination for the exterior and interior of cabinets to sourcing a brass kitchen tap. And they do it all with an eye to a customer’s budget � if a bespoke option proves too costly, then they can suggest an inventive combination of existing cabinetry, meaning no two Neptune kitchens will ever look the same.

Below you'll find some of my favourite kitchen staples, each of which are integral to daily life in my new Neptune Henley kitchen.

My new larder cupboardÌýÌý

My favourite element of our new Neptune kitchen is the larder cupboard. Not only is it a beautiful design feature, but it also offers bucket loads of storage. We store everything from our blender and toaster to tins, jars, and spices, keeping our countertops mess-free.

An all-in-one pan

I ³¦²¹²Ô’t be without my . ±õ³Ù’s a frying pan come sauté pan, steamer, roasting dish, and saucepan all in one, and just proves you »å´Ç²Ô’t need every pan under the sun to make delicious recipes. It also matches the beautiful Cactus green of our Neptune kitchen which is rather pleasing.

A jar of harissa

The cornerstone of many weeknight suppers in our household, this humble jar packs a punch, giving maximum results with minimal effort. Sauté vegetables and chuck some harissa on them, serve with rice or pasta and you have that depth of flavour in a foolproof way.ÌýÌý

A petite food chopper

While large food processors have a time and place, the is my go-to for something more compact. If ±õ’m making a lentil ragu, I just chuck all the vegetables in and within seconds you have 10 minutesâ€� worth of chopping complete. ±õ³Ù’s such a hack for unlocking healthy eating.

Ìý

It was a gut feeling that morphed into a ‘certain stubbornness,â€� laughs Neptune’sÌýco-founder John Sims-Hilditch, that led him and partner Giles Redman to a fundamental decision about the materials they would and wouldn’t work with.

Early on in Neptune’s history, as the business progressed from garden furniture to designing kitchens, John and Giles made an important agreement: they would never use MDF or chipboard in any of their designs, focusing instead on solid timber frames and super-strong birch ply panelling for all the cabinetry they produced, and oak or tulipwood for furniture. ±õ³Ù’s a commitment that still stands today, and John explains why: ‘It goes back to our founding principles of ‘doing the right thingâ€�. Even at that early stage, I was aware that you need an awful lot of glue to make MDF and chipboard which couldn’t be good for people’s health, nor was it as durable as solid wood, and it simply wasn’t nice to live with.â€�

From a sustainability perspective, John notes: ‘The wonderful thing about working with natural timbers is that they are organic. With sensible practice, they will easily regenerate � removing vast amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere. Today, our timber comes principally from the Appalachian Mountains, where trees have been planted at a faster rate than they are felled for over 50 years � currently at a replacement rate of 2.5 times.�

ÌýThe duo therefore source timbers based on their durability, tactility, and beauty â€� always selecting the right material for the right purpose. Oak was top of the list. ‘Oak has a long history in British furniture-making,â€� explains John, ‘¾±³Ù’s incredibly strong but also naturally beautiful â€� it doesn’t need coating or finishing. I consider it a king amongst woods because of that.â€� Teak was selected for outdoor furniture for its high oleoresin content which means it performs well in harsh weather, and tulipwood for painted pieces because of its durability and perfectly smooth surface that carries paint well.

John was also an advocate for birch plywood for the inset panels on cabinetry, as they gave doors a rigid dependability without being heavy or clunky. Ply is created using thin sheets of wood which are layered over each other at right angles and built up to create a strong, stable panel that won’t expand or contract according to climate in the same way that solid timber will. ‘We use a similar technique in the central panels of our framed tables such as Arundel and Suffolk,â€� adds John. ‘We take 6mm thick sheets of oak and cross-bond them to achieve a super-strong panel that won’t warp, thus dramatically improving the performance and life of our tables. This technique isn’t widely used because ¾±³Ù’s hard to do, but we believe ¾±³Ù’s worth it.â€�

ÌýWith Neptune’s 100-year vision influencing all their design and material decisions, it was important to find a way to protect the timber without detracting from its natural beauty. Step forward ±õ²õ´Ç³Ò³Ü²¹°ù»å®, which John and Giles developed with a specialist coating company based in Belgium. Unlike a traditional varnish or veneer, which leaves a sealant layer sitting on top of the wood, ±õ²õ´Ç³Ò³Ü²¹°ù»å® works on a penetrative level, soaking into the wood and binding â€� at a micro-cellular level â€� to every piece of raw cellulose that it finds, coating it in a protective film while leaving the wood surface looking and feeling naturally beautiful. That tactility of timber â€� alongside its beauty â€� plays an important role in Neptune’s choice of materials. ‘Touching wood, you feel grounded; walking on wood, you feel grounded,â€� says John. ‘Having wood in our homes brings us closer to nature, a place where we can feel happier and calmer. And ¾±³Ù’s that sense of serenity that we seek in the natural materials we employ in our furniture.â€�