Hope this doesn't leave a STAIN on our relationship
, by Shelley Swanson,
2 min reading time
We are often asked to stain our custom designs, but the answer will almost always be no. For us, the shades of wood that nature offers is all the palette we need to create timeless pieces of furniture.
Going out on a limb for the natural look of wood
Whether your style is coastal, farmhouse, french country, minimalist, maximalist, mid-century modern, or rustic - there is a shade of wood that nature offers all on its own to complement any of those design approaches. Just don't ask us to stain any of them, cause we'll be a real PINE about it.
The shift toward stained woods - especially in the kitchen in the last few years is not a design trend we've adopted here at BirchBarn. It's not that we don't appreciate it. We think a white oak or black walnut countertop is a great counterpoint to bold, painted cabinets or stained flooring. We stick to our palette but we know there's plenty of room on the canvas for contrasting styles.
We are often asked to stain our custom designs, but the answer will almost always be no. Matt can count on one finger the number of times he has stained one of his designs since starting the business. For us, the shades of wood that nature offers is all the palette we need to create timeless pieces of furniture. Matt would cringe at the mention of him being an artist (artisan maybe), but when it comes to his palette, it is strictly the natural colors of wood.
"Stone and wood are a popular combination these days in interior design. Function plus warmth - you can use and abuse that stone island and enjoy the warmth an accompanying wood countertop brings to the kitchen," said Matt.
So what happens when you use and abuse a piece of piece of wood furniture? A big part of this no stain ethos also has to do with that. The reality is a piece of furniture is going to get scratched over time and when it does, it adds to the beauty.
"I am blunt about scratches. Those scratches are the story of time passing. When you scratch stained wood, it tends to stick out in a way that does not add to its beauty," said Matt.
The project highlighted below is a great example of how our custom designs can complement the look of painted wood. Contrasting wood tones bring character and conversation to a space. Those cherry and walnut tractor stools we designed, along with the walnut bar bring organic tones to a boldly-designed space.
