The trend is back to nature at home…with “green” materials that bring the great outdoors inside. And oak is once again appearing everywhere—as cabinets, floors, and sophisticated surfaces. Designers are rediscovering quarter sawn oak, with its tight even grain and subtle coloration, to create furnishings along classic Scandinavian lines. Its strength and hardness make it perfect for countertops in “fitted” kitchens, where old and new, traditional and contemporary happily co-exist.

New finishes take maximum advantage of the strong character and bold grain of traditionally-cut oak, making it an ideal choice at either end of the finish spectrum. Bathroom vanities with dark expresso finishes speak to Pacific Rim aesthetics. Bleached oak, on the other hand, is a dramatic counterpoint to the complex and richly colored patterns of granite and marble so popular in today’s kitchens. In between, pale blues and greens offer designers scope for the imagination—for home furnishings that adapt to a variety of individual tastes and lifestyles.

Attractive, functional storage is becoming increasingly important in today’s marketplace. Urban dwellers are looking for high quality, multi-use, flexible pieces that adapt to their environments. Oak’s strong personality both suits today’s eclectic, mix and match styles, and stands up to bright and bold colors on walls and carpeting.

For remodelers, renovators, and preservationists, oak represents the ultimate in a high quality legacy material. Textiles that include plant, animal, and mineral designs complement oak’s warm tones and natural appeal.

Send us photographs of your oak furnishings and interiors. We’ll celebrate them on www.thenewoak.com.