Even with the introduction of new materials for furniture design, wood holds its own
Even with the introduction of new materials for furniture design, wood holds its own
TEAK
A tropical hardwood mostly grown in South-east Asia and usually brown to dark gold in colour. Extremely resilient to winds, teak also contains natural oils that makes it a popular choice for outdoor furniture.
OAK
Unlike other types of wood, this has a grain that’s evenly spaced out. It’s commonly used for flooring, thanks to its sturdiness and distinctive look.
PINE
Another softwood like cedar, pine is a favourite among carpenters as it is easy to shape. Although it ages well, developing a weathered patina that complements a country-style decor, it is susceptible to scratches, due to its softness.
For a timeless material, wood is experiencing a contemporary revival. With global interest in craft, collaborations between traditional craftsmen and designers are on the rise, making wood the material to watch. From the traditional woodworking enclaves of Asia, to the industrial workshops of Brooklyn, a new generation of designers is celebrating wood in all its natural glory.
Even in the world of modern designer furniture, wood has held its own against contemporary counterparts like plastic and steel. Michael Thonet’s iconic bentwood chair, one of history’s most successful mass-produced products, paved the way for an era of democratic design. Since the early 20th century, designers have long hailed the virtues of modern wood-based materials like plywood and veneers, making wood accessible to a wider population. Some of the most iconic pieces of the 20th century, like the Eames Molded Plywood Chairs, celebrate wood’s capacity to be bent and shaped into sumptuous pieces.
An age-old material, wood has never lost its appeal. But its unique qualities are perhaps increasingly relevant today. Malleable, strong, lightweight and, more crucially, renewable, wood is the sustainable material of choice for our eco-conscious world. Its simplicity and naturalness fulfils a modern need to be closer to nature.
And as traditional woodworking skills become increasingly rare, the appeal, and value, of owning a unique piece of hand-crafted furniture has only grown. Wood continues to bring forth a world of fascinating possibilities, be it expressing the delicacy of Japanese cypress, the unpredictable grain of suar, or the opulence of European walnut. Here’s more on the material.
CHERRY
A cheaper alternative to walnut and more malleable than oak, cherry wood is commonly used for cabinets as its susceptibility to scratches makes it unsuitable for high-activity surfaces like flooring. Cherry ages well, developing a richer colour over time.
ROSEWOOD
Prized by Asians, this hardwood scores high on the beauty scale. It’s appreciated for a dark core that gets lighter in colour towards the edges. The reddish hue of the wood enhances the appearance of the furniture.
CEDAR
Part of the conifer family, this wood has a sharp scent that is fragrant to humans, but repellent to insects, which explains its common usage for chest drawers and wardrobes. A relatively soft wood, it is nevertheless durable enough to handle moist environments without rotting.
WALNUT
This is one of the costlier hardwood options. Finding a sizeable block of walnut is rare, which means it tends to be used as a decorative headboard or a mantel piece. The grain lends itself to intricate carving.
LUMBER CHECK
Top tips from timber specialist Perswood on how to keep wood at home in prime condition.
RISKY STUFF
While a good quality water-based coating will prevent coffee or wine spills from seeping into the wood, solvent-based liquids are the true danger. Items like nail polish remover and hard liquors cut through coating to mar wooden surfaces. For coffee or food spills, wipe immediately with a dry cloth.
KEEP IT DRY
Dust-mop the floor or furniture with a dry towel to remove dust that can form a an unsightly layer of grime. Do not damp mop a timber floor, as it can cause the surface to dull over time.
SOS INSECTS
Termite infestation can be hard to spot, as they tend to infect places you are least likely to notice. For peace of mind, get a pest control specialist to do a thorough inspection (and treatment, if necessary) yearly of flooring and furniture.
PLANK SCRUTINY
Aaron Foeste, craftsman and founder of wood design firm Arthur Zaaro, tells us how to assess the quality of wood. MASTERS OF WOOD Four designers show how wood is a natural at bringing out the warmth in homes.
HOW DOES ONE TELL REAL WOOD FROM FAKE WOOD?
One of the easiest ways is to look at the end grain of the furniture. Check if the grain that runs across the piece continues to the sides. Normally, when it’s fake “wood”, you won’t see the continuity.
DOES WOOD FROM SOUTH-EAST ASIA WARP FASTER THAN EUROPEAN OR AMERICAN WOOD?
Don’t use the word warp; it means wood that is going out of shape. Use the term expand and contract instead, which is what wood does when seasons change. If you were to bring wood from Europe or American here, expansion would occur because of high humidity levels. This means you’ll find a chest of drawers, for example, sticking together a little bit. It’s not that it’s warping or cracking, the wood is just expanding and becoming a bit bigger.
Conversely, in Europe and US where they have winter and summer, the wood moves every season. So, when you are walking on the wooden floor and it is squeaking, it’s always in the winter because the boards have shrunk and they can move.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WOOD FROM ASIA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD?
Everybody likes what they don’t have. In Singapore, there’s a beautiful wood called nyatoh that is sold as exotic Asian hardwood in the US. But, if we sell it to Singaporeans here, they don’t think much of it. Similarly, Singaporeans find pine exotic but, in the US, we throw it away or make wood pellets out of it. It’s really about what you don’t have.
MASTERS OF WOOD
Four designers show how wood is a natural at bringing out the warmth in homes.
PLEASE DO TOUCH
Oversized tomes might make for good conversation starters, but a coffee table like the Miter from Hudson Furniture speaks for itself. The table is made entirely of walnut, with mitred sides (two pieces of wood cut at a 45-degree angle) and a natural finish that brings out the grain of the wood beautifully. Uneven curves along the sides give the table a rugged edge, though each crevice has been carefully sandpapered to protect against cuts when you run your fingers across – as you’re bound to do. 68A Club Street.
FROM WHERE YOU STAND
The Tractor stool from furniture store Arthur Zaaro takes inspiration from the glossy black seats in the powerful motor vehicle. Made entirely from solid Indonesian teak, with a stainless steel foot rest, the stool is finished with a black wash that is applied by first applying black wood dye, then washing it off and re-applying it again. Think of it as tattooing the stool – different grain in the wood absorbs the dye differently, causing the finished surface to have a purple, blue or green tint, depending on how the light hits it. #08-07, 122 Richfield Industrial Centre, Eunos Avenue 7.
WALK ON WOOD
It’s no secret that wood enhances the warmth in homes, and the Mirage Allways tiles are a cheeky play on that. Known for its porcelain and ceramic products, the Italian flooring brand retains the soothing coolness of its stoneware tiles while giving them a wood-effect finishing to capture the best of both worlds. Available at Rice Lab, #01-03, 213 Henderson Road.
SITTING PRETTY
Porada might have gone from producing just chairs to a wide range of home pieces in 1968, but the Italian furniture brand has stayed true to its mastery of woodworking throughout. Pieces like this quirky Gary floor lamp (comes in both big and small) designed by Italian carpenter Tarcisio Colzani is proof of this. A cool disc of Carrara marble acts as base, joined to a cotton shade by a tubular frame and a solid Canaletto walnut fixture that is subtle, yet a stand-out. Available at Marquis Furniture Gallery, Level 1, 16 Tai Seng Street.
