Where have the days since Thanksgiving gone! Time is certainly flying by. This is traditionally our “quiet” time of year as no one want “remodel destruction” around the holidays. That said, some are looking ahead and beginning the planning process for the new year. One huge consideration that has to be made is what type of finish to choose for your cabinetry. 
While “white” is the go-to choice for many nowadays, I do have certain designers looking for something special in the finish department.
It used to be that oak was a bad word in Florida but grainy woods have made a comeback. I think it all started when someone figured out that you could achieve an interesting textural look by combining oak with a dark coffee, or espresso finish. The result actually looks a lot like the popular (and pricier) Wenge wood! There are two main types of oak to choose from, white oak and red oak. Red oak is what you’ll typically see here in the US. White oak is usually a custom option. Oak in any color is a sturdy choice and is classified as a hard wood, unlike pine for example. You can get knotty oak, sometimes referred to as character oak or you can get a clear oak with minimal or no knots.
The door below is an example of quarter sawn red oak and is by Dura Supreme as shown on Houzz. This is typical of what you would get if you were looking for a Craftsman style door for your kitchen. The hallmark of Arts and Crafts design is an emphasis on the natural quality of the material without excess ornamentation.
The other request I get is for quarter sawn oak. This refers to how the planks are cut from the log. It is a more expensive option and it incurs a lot of waste in the process. The benefit is even straighter wood graining and increased stability. Sometimes the terms "rift cut" and quarter sawn are used interchangeably but rift cutting is actually even more expensive and involves some complicated cutting. You can read about the differences here. 
Another term that’s starting to come up is “cerused oak” which is really interesting. Basically the prominent oak grain is filled with white for an interesting textural effect. The British refer to this as “liming, or limed oak”. Pair this with all the popular shades of gray and you have a really updated version of a look that was also in vogue in the 1950s. (Yes, Mom, your china cabinet from the fifties is cerused oak) I found this great article if you want to know more. So there you have it. If you’re looking for cabinets with interesting natural texture, oak can be a great choice! Want to know more about how to specify the right cabinets for you or your clients? Drop me a line!