I am currently designing new furniture for my office at work. I’ve worked out satisfactory plans for my computer workstation, credenza, and two bookcases: one floor and one hanging. I’m going with a somewhat modern look, birch with some aluminum trim and draw pulls. What I’m trying to figure out is this: what trim wood would look good with birch and aluminum. I thought about maple, but I don’t think that’s enough contrast. Oak? Mahogany? What would provide a nice contrast without being so far removed as to look silly?
I’m thinking that the trim wood would be used around the plywood desktops and maybe as face frame material around the drawers. I’m not really sure. Maybe the birch ply would look good without a trim around it with the plys exposed and finished. This is my first project using multiple species of wood.
Rob
www.geocities.com/robntweber
Replies
Rob-
Maple and cherry are commonly mixed. So, birch and cherry, or mahogany, would seem to be fine. I like the light and darker reddish contrasting look.
Alan
I'm with Alan -- a darker wood as contrast. IMO, oak would look out of place and not be as interesting or as elegant as cherry. What about walnut?
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Padouk or purple heart would be great with the modern look.
Wow, talk about a quick response. You know, I really like the idea of walnut. I think that the exotics might push this over budget, but the walnut might provide a really nice contrast. I'll post some drawings as I get them readied. Thanks, so far, everyone.Rob
http://www.geocities.com/robntweber
I agree that maple is not enough contrast to birch. To my eye, I also don't like woods with pronounced grains against woods with subdued grains, so oak against birch would not look good to me.
I don't have experience with too many unusual woods, but I think cherry and walnut as others have suggested would be good choices. I think walnut would be a bit too dark when finished, so cherry would look better to me. Or both. Walnut looks good as small accents, such as plugs. Both woods are easy to work with.
I agree with Shopmole. When I think back on contrasting wood projects, the ones that offer the most satisfying "look" IMHO tend to be dramatic contrast but very little of it. Thin holly stringers in walnut or mahogany. I would go with redheart or padauk in very moderate quantities. (Also easy on the budget.) Try some sketches, color them and see what you like.
BJ
I did some bookcases last year; birch ply banded with Sapele.... they complement each other well....
Mike Wallace
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