| Issue #47, March 2, 2007 |
Going With the Grain
by Kelly Merritt
As springtime approaches, many of us start to think about cleaning and redecorating our homes. The winter months have left us indoors, feeling the need for a change or a project. March is upon us. Soon we will hear the birds chirping, telling us that it’s time for another season to begin. Get an early start this year on making your home ready for the season. When contemplating buying new wooden furniture we must remember a few things. First, the location of the furniture – do you plan to redecorate outdoors or in? Then, the color, grain, texture and its ability to stain become important. Luckily, wood comes in a wide variety of colors, ranging from cream to purple, and is usually easy to care for.
Outdoor furniture needs to be extremely durable and able to resist warping in any weather. Teak, Eucalyptus, and Oak make classic, sturdy woods for outdoor furniture. Teak is one of the most beautiful and popular woods used for fine outdoor furniture. Teak is a hardwood that resisting moisture, warping, decay, cracking, and termite infestation well. Teak is usually straight-grained and has a coarse, uneven texture. Eucalyptus is much like teak in the fact that it is also a naturally resiliant hardwood. It is
pinkish-brown in color and turns reddish-brown with age and light exposure. Eucalyptus is a less
expensive alternative to Teak because Eucalyptus trees are fast growing and more readily available. Oak is another popular choice for outdoor furniture as it is a very tough wood with a pronounced grain. Oak is available in two colors – white, which ranges from nearly white sapwood to a darker, gray-brown heartwood, or red, which ranges from a white-cream color to a pale, brown heartwood tinted with red.
The possibilities are almost endless when it comes to choosing wood for indoor furniture. Birch, Cherry, Walnut, and Mahogany are only a few of the rare, beautiful woods available for crafting fine furniture. Birch is a common North American wood that is
yellowish with a tint of red. It is has an attractive, wavy or curly close grain and stains well. Cherry is one of the most unique hardwoods used for crafting fine furniture and cabinets. It has a very attractive, distinct grain and ranges in color from light brown to a deep reddish brown. Walnut grain looks very
strikingly attractive paired with its unique purplish color, making it perfect for fine furniture. Walnut is often veneered to protect its unique beauty. Mahogany, known as “the cabinet wood,” is also a diverse, durable wood. Mahogany can withstand the wear and tear of everyday family life and, when stained or veneered, boasts a beautiful sherry color. Mahogany looks and behaves much like walnut but lacks Walnut’s unique purplish tone.
When furnishing rooms in your home, remember that you can always use outdoor woods indoors. I have seen many beautiful, teak coffee tables used as living room centerpieces. If you have an active
family, using these durable woods in your home may better suit your lifestyle. Softer indoor woods like Cherry, for instance, do not withstand abuse very well. One of the most versatile and popular woods, Cedar can be used both indoors and out. Cedar is a light red wood with streaks and knots and is known for its beautiful fragrance. When using cedar for its scent in closets, cedar chests or cabinets, the wood should be left untreated on the inside and coated with a clear finish on the exterior.
Whether you are planning to purchase new
furnishings for the interior or exterior of your home, you have many decisions to make. The type of wood you choose is just the beginning.
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