The New Natural

White is king in kitchens and throughout the house, but there is a trend towards lighter natural woods. Each with varying degrees of light stains for flooring, furniture and cabinetry. It is a movement that brings the outdoors in and creates a connection with nature. Being forced inside for months may be a contributor to this trend!

From natural wood flooring to cerused finishes on cabinets we are seeing a resurgence of a somewhat Scandinavian theme on materials. Quartersawn White Oak in weathered finishes or white accents are being pulled for clients more frequently now to show that light and bright does not always mean white.

One of our more design forward clients bucked the dark stain trend and asked us to neutralize the mellowing that happens with polyurethane and add a slightly opaque look to the floor back in 2017. This has been a progressive trend and you only have to look at national brands like Pottery Barn to see there is a definite interest in this look. We even snuck a dark gray finish into the shot in case dark stains are still your thing with some grain texture coming through.