Concept project — fictional brand

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Woods and finishes

We use six woods and finishes, all from European timber. Each one is shown by an illustration of its grain, not a colour dot.

Compare two finishes

Choose any two. The illustrations show the grain; the notes show how each behaves.

Close-up of light oak planks showing open, straight grain

Natural oak, oiled

European oak

Hardness
Hard. Takes a dent from a dropped fork, not from a dropped spoon.
How it ages
Warms slowly toward honey over two to three years in daylight.
Care
Wipe with a damp cloth. Re-oil lightly once a year; a 250 ml tin covers a dining table.
Close-up of dark smoked wood grain with a deep brown, even tone

Smoked oak

European oak

Hardness
As oak. The colour goes right through, so scuffs do not show.
How it ages
Changes very little. Faint lightening on surfaces that sit in direct sun.
Care
Wipe dry or damp. Oil once a year to keep the depth of colour.

Six woods and finishes

  • Close-up of light oak planks showing open, straight grain

    Natural oak, oiled

    European oak

    Pale, honey at the edges, with the grain left open. A thin hard-wax oil that you can touch up yourself.

    Hardness
    Hard. Takes a dent from a dropped fork, not from a dropped spoon.
    How it ages
    Warms slowly toward honey over two to three years in daylight.
    Care
    Wipe with a damp cloth. Re-oil lightly once a year; a 250 ml tin covers a dining table.
  • Close-up of dark smoked wood grain with a deep brown, even tone

    Smoked oak

    European oak

    Oak fumed until it turns deep brown through the board, not just at the surface. Sanding a scratch does not reveal pale wood.

    Hardness
    As oak. The colour goes right through, so scuffs do not show.
    How it ages
    Changes very little. Faint lightening on surfaces that sit in direct sun.
    Care
    Wipe dry or damp. Oil once a year to keep the depth of colour.
  • Close-up of pale ash wood with visible open pores and soft grain lines

    Ash, white oil

    European ash

    Light and cool, with a bold cathedral grain. A white-pigmented oil keeps it pale instead of letting it yellow.

    Hardness
    Hard and springy. A good choice for chairs and benches.
    How it ages
    Stays pale. The pigment softens a little in the first year.
    Care
    Damp cloth only. Re-oil with the same white oil every year or two.
    Pieces offered in this finish: 5 pieces
    Aske chair, Brae shelving, Pell stool, Twin side tables, Tolle desk
  • Close-up of walnut wood with fine, straight dark brown grain

    Walnut, hard-wax oil

    European walnut

    Chocolate brown with grey-violet streaks. The grain varies more from board to board than any other wood we use.

    Hardness
    Medium. Handles daily use; avoid dragging hard objects across it.
    How it ages
    Lightens a little and turns warmer in daylight over the first year.
    Care
    Damp cloth. Re-oil lightly once a year.
  • Close-up of pale birch wood with a smooth surface and faint grain lines

    Birch, soap finish

    Birch

    Fine, even and almost white. A soap finish leaves a matt, unvarnished feel that suits bedrooms and children's rooms.

    Hardness
    Medium-hard. Fine grain takes a very smooth surface.
    How it ages
    Yellows gently and evenly with age.
    Care
    Refresh with soap flakes and water every few months. Marks wash out.
    Pieces offered in this finish: 2 pieces
    Pell stool, Lowe bed
  • Close-up of reddish cherry wood with fine warm-toned grain

    Cherry, natural oil

    European cherry

    Pale pink when cut, then red-brown within a year. Smooth, quiet grain with small pith flecks that are part of the wood.

    Hardness
    Medium. Dents more easily than oak, and the dents polish out.
    How it ages
    Darkens most in the first six months, then settles.
    Care
    Dry or damp cloth. Keep out of strong sun while it settles.
    Pieces offered in this finish: 2 pieces
    Lowe bed, Marrow coffee table

Colour on a screen is not colour on a table. Ask for a sample board; in the real workshop this would be a 20 x 20 cm piece in the post. In this concept nothing is posted.