Long gone are the days of every house being absolutely covered wall-to-wall with dark, high-gloss wood paneling. We let that drab fad live on for way too long, but wood is making a comeback now, and we’re totally on board with it!
Wood fixtures and features create a modern look and increase functionality.
Don’t be scared of utilizing wood to create fixtures, focal points, or design aspects in your home. With the right information, you can make selections that enhance the aesthetic and more importantly, the functionality of your space.
Here’s a few of our favorite renovations where wood played a leading role, along with some tips and tricks on what to keep in mind when making choices for your renovation.
This functional stair-end offers shelving and design (walnut).
TYPES OF WOOD
There are over 60,000 species of trees globally, so choosing which type of wood to use for your home is not always an easy choice. In our renovations, we often use burl, white oak, walnut, or birch because of their durability and longevity. If you want to paint the wood, then go with a paint-grade option such as, maple or birch.
To learn more about different types of wood, here’s a great slideshow from Real Simple.
A dark stain was used on this white oak to create a modern, masculine look.
TYPES OF FINISHES
Your selection for a finish will make a big impact on the final product of your wood. There’s a few points to keep in mind here: appearance, durability, and maintenance.
- Stains and oils will create a soft, warm finish with a matte sheen, but they may need to be reapplied monthly or annually depending on wear.
- Shellac, varnish, and lacquer will create a durable coating that does not need to be reapplied, but the finish is more noticeable with a semi or high gloss appearance.
The unique grain pattern you see on this beautiful burl wood is caused by a disease in the tree. The result is gorgeous, but it makes this wood selection rare.
BUDGET
We recommend deciding on a budget before coming home with 38 beautiful different samples of wood. Some woods are rare and gorgeous but come at a high cost. And always remember the golden rule of wood, do NOT over-sand the wood. This can ruin the wood and make it unusable.
Take a look below at some of our favorite renovations using wood and please reach out to us if you’re interested in something similar for your home!
