Oak is No Joke! Revisiting a Classic Cabinet Wood Species

Lately, Oak has had a reawakening, and today’s design trends have given me a new appreciation for it and it’s different cuts. As stained cabinetry starts to make a comeback, designers are once again turning to this classic wood species for cabinetry, but they’re updating the look and feel by using finishes that are true-brown tones (see out last blog to catch up on that trend). With its prominent grain, our special weathered finish or even (gasp!) paints displays well on Oak and adds visual texture to a room when combined with other finishes. Oak is starting to regain the clout it once had, and I am welcoming it back into kitchen design!

Oak comes in different cuts that affect how the graining will look on the surface. Typically, you will see plain-sawn, quarter-sawn, or rift-sawn when it comes to case goods like cabinetry. Each cut starts with a full log cut at a different angle, allowing for graining to be more open and prominent, or closed and fine. At Dura Supreme, we offer both plain-sawn Red Oak and Quarter-Sawn White Oak (QSWO).

Plain-sawn Oak is typically used in more traditional designs. It is a premium hardwood recognized for its prominent, open-grain pattern and texture, which varies from a tight, straight grain to a distinctive, arched pattern. Color can range from light to medium brown with red hues. Occasional pin knots and mineral streaks may also occur.

Quarter-Sawn Oak (QSO) is a premium hardwood admired for its distinctive grain pattern, which became especially popular in Arts and Crafts furniture design. The cutting method is more costly but gives planks a consistent, straight grain pattern with an intriguing “fleck” across the grain. The color may range from light to medium brown with reddish hues.

Both cuts of wood absorb stains readily, from pale browns to deep, espresso-like finishes, due to their large, open-grain patterns, and they do not get blotchy with darker finishes like some woods do.

Red Oak

Red Oak is a classical wood species that offers visual texture to any room. Our Red Oak Stains are what we see trending in design – true-brown tones; some with a grey undertone that softens the look. Gone are the golden or honey oak finishes that both designers and homeowners balk at. They’ve been replaced with rich finishes like our Praline, Hazelnut, and Clove, or lighter, softer tones like Cashew or Toast. These stains have an old-world look and feel about them, and a better longevity due to the fact they blend so well with painted finishes.

The project below uses Red Oak with Hazelnut stain as an accent in this kitchen. What could have been a typical two-tone kitchen now has the added dimension of a third finish that also brings texture to the painted finishes.

The project below is a great example of the warm and natural feel our Cashew stain applied to Red Oak brings to a room. It is a neutral color that blends well with other stained finishes as well as other neutral tones. 

Contemporary styled kitchens using Red Oak as a wood species adds dimension and depth, especially when using a slab door such as Dura Supreme’s Camden door style with the Pebble stain. Add a striking contrast, such as the Allura acrylic door in Gloss White, it elevates the design even more and brings a certain juxtaposition to the textures being used.

Below is a transitional style bathroom with a vanity in Dura Supreme’s Carson door in Cashew stained Red Oak. The distinct cathedral graining of the wood is highlighted by the stain and brings warmth and texture for a spa-like feel.