Thingz Contemporary Interior Design Blog » Interior Design Tips & Advice

Popular Exotic Wood Finishes for Contemporary Interiors

Ivy — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:00:39 +0000

When modern décor is mentioned, the ordinary layperson usually envisions lots of chrome perhaps partnered with black or white leather. It looks very streamlined, rather minimalist, perhaps a little futuristic… We know that is not always the case for modern or contemporary interiors. All sorts of materials are possible elements in contemporary décor. A favorite and very tasteful feature in many a contemporary interior is an exotic wood finish.
Wood can be very stylish. It adds the suggestion of nature in a decorative setup. Of course, in picking wood furniture, you have to be mindful of practical things such as durability, style associations, staining, finishing, etc. Nowadays, wood finishes figure prominently in contemporary design. The choices for wood finish are more than ever now. Many like the appeal of a wood finish and the organic touch it brings. In the past, exotic wood was ordinarily used for such things as musical instruments, jewelry and decorative accents, but now entire furniture sets can be made of it. Naturally, it takes an expert furniture builder to be cognizant of such things as natural oils and resins to know how to properly finish an exotic wood.
Two of the primary factors to consider when choosing what type of wood finish to go for are the purpose of the furniture and the environment it will be in. You have to know how and for what the furniture is going to be used. For instance, you may want to use a non-toxic oil finish for something like a butcher’s block, an easy to clean glossy paint finish for a kitchen work surface, or a finish with fungicide for something that may be exposed to the elements. Exotic wood is preferably finished with oil as an oil finish brings out the natural beauty and the grain details of the wood.
Some popular exotic wood finishes are dark mahogany, macassar ebony, natural walnut and zebrawood. Of course, you have to realize that color is also an important element in choosing a wood finish. Dark colors such as those on mahogany and macassar ebony tend to be more transitional, complementing both traditional and contemporary settings. Lighter colors blend in better in a casual setup.
Mahogany is exceptionally popular as it is both practical and attractive, not to mention highly versatile. Dark mahogany furniture makes a smart investment as it is easy to find separate pieces in the same material or finish. Dark mahogany, as is typical in dark wood colors, never goes out of style.

Redefining Seating: What Is Hot in Contemporary Living Room Space Planning

Ivy — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 10:00:21 +0000

At Thingz, we know that planning your living room space is always an exercise of creativity, aesthetics and practicality. There are hard and fast rules to guide you, but at the same time, you have to make yourself aware of the changing trends in home furnishing if you want a home that is stylishly up-to-date. We feel fortunate that many our our client use our complimentary interior design services to help space plan and select fabric because we absolutely love it!

Customizable Wall Art Pixels

Ivy — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 10:00:52 +0000

If you have been to Thingz then you already know. Expect the unexpected! We recently created a bed and headboard in our Scottsdale showroom out of a wonderful new, customizable fabric panel. Why you ask? Because we can of course! In truth, many people find it better to go for a bed without an attached headboard. An existing headboard is somewhat limiting. A headboard, after all, goes beyond its function of retaining your pillows and bed linens. Many headboards have become the focal point in a bedroom. They are there to offer drama, beauty, and function. Using our customizable wall panel system, you can do so many things with your headboard. You can style up a bare wall. You can pad it with upholstered cushions to have something soft to lean against when you sit up. You can even add a shelf for books and knickknacks or a hidden compartment for keeping important stuff safe. In any of these cases, it would be smart to maximize the presence of a headboard to highlight your sleeping quarters.

Green Furniture Using 98% Recycled Steel

Ivy — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 10:00:30 +0000

It is not wrong to want nice things for your home or office. And of course at Thingz we believe that a beautiful, well decorated home is an essential right! But in today’s environment, it is certainly considered environmentally conscientious to be aware of how something was made, of what it is made and where the materials originates before you acquire and enjoy it. After all, you wouldn’t want to be part of a system that includes things such as child labor, deforestation, and illegal mining … right?

Custom Furniture: Creating Your Own Entertainment Center

Ivy — Sat, 22 May 2010 10:00:17 +0000

Home entertainment has come a long way since the television first became a household staple. As technology simplifies – or complicates, depending on the way you look at it – entertainment media, you have to keep pace with it to accommodate whatever upgrade it comes up with and allow the easy inclusion of new products in your home.

Bing Hu – One of Arizona’s Finest Architects

Ivy — Wed, 19 May 2010 21:16:19 +0000

I recently saw a magazine spread featuring one of our client’s homes. It is always a thrill when we see some of great contemporary furniture and lighting from Thingz in a magazine! It is especially thrilling when the house is as beautiful as this one. We will likely feature a spread of this home once we secure some photos from the owner but until then I thought that instead we would discuss the projects brilliant architect Bing Hu.

Just the Right Shade of Rug

Ivy — Sat, 15 May 2010 10:00:41 +0000

It’s very rare for a home, even the most minimalist ones, not to have at least one rug on the floor. Rugs are present in most cultures and there is such a variety to choose from that they literally come in all shapes, sizes, materials and designs. They can be extremely functional or highly decorative. Certainly, they can be both simultaneously. Many rugs function to be protective.

Let the Colors in! Using Color in Your Modern Interior Design Project

Scott — Wed, 05 May 2010 10:00:19 +0000

Many homeowners try to play it safe by using neutral colors for their rooms. After all, moods change, preferences change, and color trends change. This is why many homes stick to variations of white when it comes to their walls. A monotonously neutral room can get boring though.

Customizing Is the Answer: How to design your own custom furniture

Scott — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:00:35 +0000

If you’re the type who is very particular about design or the type who wants her furniture to be absolutely unique, then custom furniture is the way to go for you. If you just can’t seem to find something that you’re looking for, customized is also the answer. If you’re creative and prefer to add your own twist to furniture, customization gives you the freedom to express and put your mark on pieces.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

Scott — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:00:48 +0000

People have long been fascinated by mirrors. It probably dates back to a couple of millennia before the birth of Christ, starting from reflections in the water and polished volcanic stones. Later, shiny metals came about and before anybody could ask who the true fairest of them all is, glass mirrors were invented.