If you think of a home improvement project as a production like a Broadway play, you are the playwright with a vision and your remodeling professional is the producer, assembling a team of specialists to pull everything together beautifully and successfully. But the stars in the production are the finishes and fixtures that are chosen to determine how the final design will shine.
Custom kitchen with stained cabinets by Metro Building & Remodeling Group
And one of the most important characters in the production is wood, not just for the structure itself but for the overall look and feel you want to create in your new space. Just think of the variety to be found in natural wood: tones from light to dark; grain that is prominent or subtle; colors either natural, stained or painted; and surface that is smooth and shiny or rough and rustic.
Custom kitchen with white cabinets by Metro Building & Remodeling Group
The Fresh Face
When you want a room with an up-to-the-minute fresh contemporary vibe, the wood is likely to be light, bright, and glossy. Many kitchens we remodel today feature white cabinetry complemented by other smooth surfaces and shiny fixtures. The white kitchen continues to be a popular choice for the sunny outlook it brings to your daily routine as well as the opportunity to add pops of color as the season and your mood change.
White custom kitchen by Metro Building & Remodeling Group
The Seasoned Pro
The warmth of light-to-medium stained cabinetry or soft colors of painted wood are perfect if your tastes lean toward transitional or farmhouse style. We have found that gray is a particularly appealing color for kitchen cabinets, used alongside a stained hardwood or light Luxury Vinyl Tile floor.
Warm tones in stained and painted wood cabinets with reclaimed wood shelves and butcher block in custom kitchen by MBRG
We’re also seeing increased interest in using reclaimed wood or distressed finish wood in various ways for cabinetry in kitchens, bathrooms, and finished basements. The vintage, rustic look brings a cozy, well-loved feeling to the space.
Distressed wood shelving in finished basement wet bar by MBRG
Metro has sourced shelving material and decorative beams from gorgeous, reclaimed beams pulled from an old barn to outfit a finished basement project with a wet bar, wine cellar and media room that has Old World ambiance combined with 21st century comfort and technology. A recent kitchen remodel used reclaimed oak to add rustic charm to shelves and a butcher block counter surface.
Reclaimed beams used in finished basement wine cellar and bar by MBRG
We have also added a distressed finish to cedar for custom basement shelving and created a basement wet bar with a natural-edge wood counter surface for a truly unique presentation. Lighting and plumbing fixtures with antique or brushed finishes complete the rustic look.
Natural-edge and rustic wood used in Metro remodeling projects
Set the Scene
There are so many options to choose from with wood finishes, it’s important to decide the style and mood you want to set. We have found that our experience with a variety of remodeling projects has given us the expertise to know what to suggest and where to source the wood with the perfect character for your project. Let’s talk!
