kitchen conversations

Is it any wonder people are drawn to the natural beauty of wood?  It’s enduring warmth and vibrancy makes wood, especially hardwood, the ideal material for fine cabinetry.  At Holiday Kitchens our craftsmen have the privilege of working with the art found in each piece of wood to create cabinets of superior quality.

Unlike man-made materials that can be manufactured to consistent specifications, wood is a product of nature.  Natural imperfections are part of its appeal and character.  Every piece of wood, even within the same tree, is slightly different in color, texture and grain.  How wood looks and feels is dictated by a number of factors, including: climate, soil nutrients, growing season, season of harvest, and age at harvest.  Nature appeals to us because of its infinite, imperfect variety – when we look at wood, we want to see the randomness that gives character.

Let’s look at some of the natural characteristics of hardwoods that can affect its appearance and, ultimately, the look of how the cabinet looks in a kitchen.

Grain – general direction of the fibers that fives the wood a unique pattern and defines its character.  Varieties include straight, spiral, interlocking, wavy, and curly.  Grain plays with light in different ways, affecting the perception of color.  Should be used to determine the cabinetry finish – a rich grain should not be obscured by an opaque finish.  Term is also used to describe how the wood is cut or worked – “against the grain,” “with the grain” or “across the grain” – which determines how the wood accepts stain.

 

 

Mineral streaks – dark brown to black area where the tree absorbed nutrients.  Quantity varies from board to boar, giving depth to custom kitchen cabinets, doors, drawers and panels, especially evident in lighter woods and with lighter stains or natural finishes.

 

 

 

 

 

Natural color – varies depending upon species from shades of white, green, red and black.  Variations in grain, texture and color will affect how a stain/finish appears.   Kitchen lighting and the angle at which it hits the wood will affect the appearance of the cabinetry wood color.  Depending on the species, cut, and finish, most wood darkens as it ages.  Environmental conditions – ultraviolet light, cleaning chemicals, and smoke – also affect color, making it difficult to exactly duplicate an existing finish when adding or replacing cabinets.