A flat grain Sapele mahogany island designed by Auer Kitchens. Courtesy Grothhouse Lumber.
Catherine Flynn’s Cedarcroft kitchen in Baltimore is a study in contrasts. Traditional painted wood cabinets combine with stainless steel appliances to give the 100-year-old house both a sense of history and a present-day vibe.
When it came to the countertops, however, Flynn decided against the “predictability” of granite in favor of the warmth of wood. “To be honest, I find granite a little…ordinary these days,” says Flynn.Ed Slater and Josh Nozick, co-owners of FreeState Timbers, would agree. Once considered the high-end “must have” for kitchen counters, granite is now available at a variety of price-points. While the higher quality and less common stones remain expensive materials, granite has become more prevalent; as a result, “it doesn’t have the same cachet anymore,” say the wood mavens from Timonium, Maryland. “Wood has become [an] attractive alternative to the cold, common stone.”
In addition to the custom manufacture of handcrafted wood countertops, Slater and Nozick also create custom mosaics, detailed inlays, roughly sawn edging…“anything you can imagine,” they say.
Flynn worked with Slater and Nozick to design a combination counter/peninsula that can also be used as a kitchen table. She chose the deep, lustrous tones of African Sapele, crafted by Slater and Nozick to form two-inch thick counters with a squared edge.
“What I like about the wood counters,” says Flynn, “is that they’re extremely resilient—they can take anything my seven-year-old has to offer; they were less expensive than granite or poured concrete, which I also considered, so I had the flexibility of being more creative in the design; and it’s a different, unusual, and unexpected look.”
Slater and Nozick are finding that more and more customers are rediscovering the beauty and flexibility of wood countertops, which works—as Flynn herself found—in virtually any type of décor, from modern to country. Sapele is just one of the many woods that the team suggests for kitchen counters. From white oak and teak, to cherry, walnut, pear, and maple, among others, there is a wide variety of wood species to choose from, they say.
This island top from FreeState Timbers is amde of one solid piece of bubinga, a West African wood.
“There’s a tremendous range of looks you can achieve,” says Nozick, both from the tone and texture of the wood to the finish (from a soft oil to a deeper oil and wax combination to a high-gloss polyurethane) to the edging (most popular is the graceful “roundover”).
Contrary to popular belief, adds Scott Waldhauser, co-owner of Kenwood Kitchens in Lutherville, Maryland, wood is extremely durable. And, say Slater and Nozick, it also blends well with a variety of surfaces.
“Kitchens today are so large that to use just one material is too much of a good thing,” they say. “You can combine wood with granite or other stones and they’re a perfect match for each other.”
Washington, D.C. kitchen and bath designer Cheryll Bowie finds wood to be both practical and attractive. “When you have wood counters, you have more of the look of a piece of furniture,” she says. Or a piece of history. A plank of reclaimed timber from an old barn, for example, can give your kitchen a sense of timelessness.
A maple and wenge checkerboard countertop makes this island a standout while still complementing the modern design. Courtesy Grothhouse Lumber
When it comes to designing your kitchen, say Slater and Nozick, if you’re looking for counters that will stand out in the neighborhood, consider the old-but-new-again wood. “There’s so much variety that you can do just about anything.”
HOW TO CARE FOR A WOOD COUNTERTOP
When using wood, a natural, living material more resilient than stone, severalguidelines are helpful to know for a successful project, advise Ed Slater andJosh Nozick of FreeState Timbers.
• Both sides of the top must befinished for water resistance.
• Installation must allow for somewood movement.
• All backsplashes or wall seams mustbe sealed properly.
• Final fixture holes can be drilled on-site if needed.
• Custom finishes should follow manufacturer’s instructions.
Carol Sorgen is a frequent contributor to ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
Cheryll Bowie Design: ckbdesign2@yahoo.com or 202-714-9080
FreeState Timbers: freestatetimbers.com or 410-561-9444
Kenwood Kitchens: kenwoodkitchens.com or 1-800-211-8394
