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Forest-inspired surfaces add tactile depth to minimalist custom home
Outside of Las Vegas, a pair of local small business owners reached a milestone in their success: they were ready to build their dream home. They envisioned a modern and simplistic design, characterized by clean lines and a minimalist aesthetic. Yet, they knew simplicity didn’t have to mean predictability. The homeowners had an in-depth design…
Bringing depth to a home along the New River waterway in Florida
Located along the New River in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida, this newly constructed home strikes the perfect balance of modern elegance and coastal ease. The kitchen, laundry room, home office, powder room, serving areas, vanities, and primary bathroom all feature cabinetry from Häcker Kitchens to curate a unified, refined aesthetic. A sleek and streamlined look is…
A warm Scandinavian kitchen sets the tone for a Boston home
This wood-clad Boston home has a distinctly Scandinavian character, and the interiors follow the same warm, understated direction. Corner, a design-forward kitchen brand focused on making high-quality design accessible, built the kitchen cabinetry, pantry, bathroom vanity, and other custom built-ins throughout the home. Each space has its own identity, while the materials and detailing keep…
Optometrist office gets sleek modern look
At McWilliams Vision Care in Newburgh, Indiana, the design team set out to create a sleek, modern optometry practice. While daylight plays a major role in the architectural experience, the interior required materials that could deliver warmth, sophistication, and long‑term durability in a healthcare environment.During construction, the team revisited the originally specified laminate materials to…
Black locust: Decay resistant, tough & durable.
Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a member of the legume family; it can “fix nitrogen” in the soil. While native to the Appalachian Mountains, from Pennsylvania to Alabama, in the last century, it has spread to almost every state. With a widespread, shallow root system, it is ideal for thin soils where it will prevent…
Giant chinkapin: Species not well known outside of Oregon & California
Giant chinkapin (Chrysolepis chrysophylla), sometimes called golden-leafed chinquapin and golden-leafed chestnut because of the minute golden scales on the leaf bottom, is a western hardwood and is an evergreen. It grows in the coastal mountain ranges from southwestern Washington south to central California at elevations up to 6,000 feet. It also occurs inland in the…
Balsam fir: Pale white lumber ideal for furniture, construction
The true firs, called true firs to distinguish the wood from Douglas-fir, consist of more than 40 species in North America, but only seven species produce commercial lumber. In eastern North America, there is one main species, balsam fir (Abies balsamea) ranging from Alberta to Newfoundland, south to Wisconsin and New York. In the western side…
Northern white-cedar
There are two tree species that are called white-cedar. Northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis), also called arborvitae or just cedar, grows from Quebec to Maine to New York and westward to Minnesota as well as down the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Tennessee. Atlantic white-cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), also called southern white-cedar and boat cedar, grows in…
Andiroba: Mahogany alternative in fine furniture, cabinets, flooring
Andiroba (Carapa guianensis) is found throughout Central and South America, from Cuba to Peru and Brazil. It is an extremely tall tree, reaching heights of 100 to 170 feet. Diameters are often 5 to 6 feet. The central stem is often straight and free of branches for 50 feet or more. As a result, clear…
Longleaf pine: Strongest of the southern pines
Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris and Pinus elliottii of the family Pinaceae), also called fat pine or heart pine, is one of the four major species making up the southern pines. It is the strongest of the four, the tallest (over 100 feet) and the most fire resistant.While the tall, stately longleaf pine once covered 30…
Brazilian rosewood: Highly prized but highly restricted
Brazilian rosewood, also called jacaranda, is perhaps one of the most beautiful woods in the world. However, extensive harvesting over the past three centuries has virtually eliminated this tree from the Brazilian forests, so that today it is not supposed to be harvested. The only material that can be sold legally is old stock; such…
