Greetings All,
I am undergoing a home renovation and have seen pictures of Asian
(mostly Japanese) styled interiors featuring a lot of native (to them ?)
wood details. If I had to guess what our equivalent here in the US
would be, it seems like straight grained Doug Fir may be close. As much
as I like trusty ol' red oak, I getting somewhat tired of using the same
material over and over. Does anyone have any experience with Asian
decor, with a recommendation of what type of wood will replicate a
typical Japanese interior? BTW, I will DAGS right after this and am
looking around for a few books also. But it seems like there's always
someone in the (Hard) wRECk that comes through. Many thanks for your time.
Mark L.
BTW, I am stocking up on teak, but at the bd ft prices I will save it
for bath cabinets only.
Try Japanese maple. If you do a google search for "tansu chest" I think it
indicates maple, and looks awesome. Only one example.
I have seen both natural wood finishes and lacquered finishes
(red/black/green). Spent a week in Tokyo and visited some temples...lots of
color. Homes seem to be more natural.
"Mark Johnson" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Mark L." <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:f%[email protected]...
>> Greetings All,
>> I am undergoing a home renovation and have seen pictures of Asian
>> (mostly Japanese) styled interiors featuring a lot of native (to them ?)
>> wood details. If I had to guess what our equivalent here in the US
>> would be, it seems like straight grained Doug Fir may be close. As much
>> as I like trusty ol' red oak, I getting somewhat tired of using the same
>> material over and over. Does anyone have any experience with Asian
>> decor, with a recommendation of what type of wood will replicate a
>> typical Japanese interior? BTW, I will DAGS right after this and am
>> looking around for a few books also. But it seems like there's always
>> someone in the (Hard) wRECk that comes through. Many thanks for your
> time.
>> Mark L.
>> BTW, I am stocking up on teak, but at the bd ft prices I will save it
>> for bath cabinets only.
>>
>
> I think cedar is one of the "traditional" woods, although fir seemed more
> common IME. Any clear softwood with consistent grain (straight grain for
> small peices, but larger peices often have some figure but few knots)
> should
> get the point accross. As for the finish, avoid filming finishes like
> poly.
> I think that the traditional clear finish was simply a friction finish
> that
> brings out the sap in the wood and rubs it to a polish. Penetrating/oil
> finishes would be a better modern translation.
>
> hth
>
> -MJ
>
>
Mark L. <[email protected]> schreef
> I agree about the homes being more natural. I really don't like the
> black lacquered furniture, mainly want to replicate the natural wood
> tones in the homes. Thanks, Chris.
********
The Japanese use a lot of woods but "cedar" (ie a softwood that is not fir,
spruce or pine) will be popular. In Japan "cedar" will most often be
Cryptomeria japonica. Also look at sen.
PvR
"Mark L." <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:f%[email protected]...
> Greetings All,
> I am undergoing a home renovation and have seen pictures of Asian
> (mostly Japanese) styled interiors featuring a lot of native (to them ?)
> wood details. If I had to guess what our equivalent here in the US
> would be, it seems like straight grained Doug Fir may be close. As much
> as I like trusty ol' red oak, I getting somewhat tired of using the same
> material over and over. Does anyone have any experience with Asian
> decor, with a recommendation of what type of wood will replicate a
> typical Japanese interior? BTW, I will DAGS right after this and am
> looking around for a few books also. But it seems like there's always
> someone in the (Hard) wRECk that comes through. Many thanks for your
time.
> Mark L.
> BTW, I am stocking up on teak, but at the bd ft prices I will save it
> for bath cabinets only.
>
I think cedar is one of the "traditional" woods, although fir seemed more
common IME. Any clear softwood with consistent grain (straight grain for
small peices, but larger peices often have some figure but few knots) should
get the point accross. As for the finish, avoid filming finishes like poly.
I think that the traditional clear finish was simply a friction finish that
brings out the sap in the wood and rubs it to a polish. Penetrating/oil
finishes would be a better modern translation.
hth
-MJ
I agree about the homes being more natural. I really don't like the
black lacquered furniture, mainly want to replicate the natural wood
tones in the homes. Thanks, Chris.
Chris Carruth wrote:
> Try Japanese maple. If you do a google search for "tansu chest" I think it
> indicates maple, and looks awesome. Only one example.
>
> I have seen both natural wood finishes and lacquered finishes
> (red/black/green). Spent a week in Tokyo and visited some temples...lots of
> color. Homes seem to be more natural.
>
>