Veneer is just like the boob job of the furnishings trade. It may look amazingly pure and idiot pretty discerning eyes, or it will probably stick out like a rock-hard and overly perky boob sore thumb. To not even get began on the “that is dishonest” dialogue on both subject. And readers, as somebody with each a really giant born-with-it chest and a penchant for preferring stable wooden each time within the title of “higher,” I’m right here to say, after some thorough analysis, that “pretend” isn’t at all times the cop out you assume it’s.
Let me rewind.
For so long as I can recall, stable wooden furnishings has reigned supreme in customers’ minds and held up high of their psychological pedestals, whereas veneer tends to get the stink eye for being low cost, low-quality, and destined for the landfill. I get it. I used to be that individual for many of my buying years, however I’m not so positive I aspect with this angle anymore.
I wished to study extra and get the true intel from individuals elbow-deep within the sawdust (a.okay.a. within the furniture-making world). So, I reached out to a handful of corporations, each new, hip and direct-to-consumer and dyed-in-the-wool American classics—assume Bassett, Baker, Century—to ask all of them in regards to the inside observe of veneer versus stable wooden. Is it as unhealthy and low cost as so many people assume it’s? Is it…completely positive?
After which…
Nobody received again to me. Severely. This seldom occurs. So I plucked round my contacts and located a couple of extra individuals to ask, and at last heard again from somebody at Hedge Home Furnishings, however that was it.
I used to be decided to get this story going, so I placed on my “took-one-investigative-reporting-class-in-college” hat, and received to researching. If the consultants wouldn’t come to me, I’d go discover what the consultants have already written on the topic.
Readers, design lovers, associates…I realized a lot! And at present, I’m sharing with you all of the truths I discovered about veneer throughout my Web deep dive. Some issues I knew. Some issues I didn’t. Some issues stunned me.
Truth #1: Veneer is actual wooden.
As talked about, there have been some info I already knew, and that is one among them, but it surely’s necessary to start out off right here as a result of not everybody is aware of this. Veneer is certainly actual wooden, if solely only a very skinny sliver of it. I feel it’s a typical false impression that veneer is pretend. Printed or paper or fake. Nope, that’s laminate, and we’ll speak a bit of extra about that in a bit. However sure, the wooden grain in veneer is actual. This skinny sliver is bonded to a backing materials comparable to plywood and even stable wooden.
Truth #2: Veneer isn’t at all times used because the “low cost cop-out” by producers.
By far, this speaking level educated me probably the most. So, right here’s the factor: We frequently assume veneer is a few type of cop-out. Like utilizing polyester for a shirt as a substitute of silk. However it’s merely not true. Whereas stable wooden has so many deserves, veneered furnishings does, too. For example, many furnishings items which have a extra complicated design than simply straight angles would possibly require veneer to make it potential. All of these sinuous curves all of us love a lot proper now? Not really easy to perform in stable wooden. It may be completed, sure, however the price to cowl the craftsmanship can be significantly limiting to most.
This level isn’t only for fashionable furnishings. Veneer has been used for hundreds of years—it actually dates again to Historical Egypt circa 3000 BC—although it reached its heyday throughout the mid-century. So many collectible favorites like Eames lounge chairs, Broyhill Brassilia case items, Kent Coffey Perspecta items…all of them use veneer to perform their elevated design. Even a few of the most famous furnishings designers like Chippendale used veneer strategies like marquetry. And again in these days, veneer was hand-cut, which made it much more of a labor-intensive course of than utilizing stable wooden. So the truth is, it wasn’t a cop-out however quite a specialty method to make extra distinctive furnishings!
One other consideration is that some wooden varieties are simply not obtainable within the measurement you want for, say, a eating desk high or the lengthy stretch of a credenza. That is very true in uncommon and unique wooden species, like burl, rosewood, teak, macassar ebony, zebrawood, wenge, even walnut. Utilizing veneer of those wooden varieties truly helps to protect these timber as one lower goes endlessly additional in a veneer software than utilizing it stable.
Truth #3: Veneer is superior to laminate, so learn carefully.
Allow us to be clear. Veneer doesn’t equal laminate. Should you took a veneered nightstand and checked out it aspect by aspect with a laminate nightstand of the identical coloring, you’d immediately see the distinction. An IKEA Besta or Hermes? Laminate (therefore the price). You possibly can see from the screenshot under that it makes use of advertising converse like “white stained oak impact” as a substitute of “white oak laminate.” Laminate is a printed image of the wooden both in paper or vinyl. Therefore, not pure supplies.
When shopping for furnishings on-line, you’ll need to remember to dig by the specs. Sometimes, someplace on the web page, you’ll find the supplies used to make the furnishings piece. It’s not at all times easy, thoughts you, however you’ll be able to learn between the traces usually. I pulled the small print of that IKEA Besta with the “white oak stained impact,” and you may see that it’s manufactured from particle board and fiberboard (a type of MDF) with a “paper foil and plastic edging,” which suggests laminate.
Should you can’t discover this info on the web site, you’ll be able to at all times attain out to the producer and request it. Shopping for by a classic/vintage vendor? They need to additionally be capable to inform you in regards to the guts of the piece, although understand that when you’re buying second-hand from just a few common Susie on the web, you won’t be capable to get this stage of element.
Truth #4: Veneer may be far more steady and fewer vulnerable to warping than stable wooden.
I watched a handful of furnishings restorers on YouTube present stable wooden dressers, for example, the place the highest had fully warped and was now not flat. I imply, I’ve by no means personally seen this however I possible simply haven’t owned something for lengthy sufficient and even been alive lengthy sufficient. However it occurs. Particularly if the wooden is a thinner piece, like on bookshelves, for example. One thing like plywood is far more steady, which is why many cupboard doorways each on furnishings and in kitchens/loos are manufactured from veneer-wrapped plywood. I at all times dreamed of getting a stable wooden kitchen, however now I’m questioning if that’s even probably the most sturdy alternative.
Susan Bower of Hedge Home Furnishings stated the next: “Plywood maintains structural integrity higher and is lighter than stable hardwood. Veneer accommodates actual wooden grain patterns, for a similar visible attraction. Plywood is mostly stronger and extra sturdy than MDF, particularly in moisture-prone environments. Plywood can be sturdy and proof against bending, warping, and affect.”
Truth #5: Most furnishings is manufactured from a mix of stable wooden and veneer over plywood, MDF or particle board.
By “most” furnishings, I imply most fashionable furnishings, by the best way. For a wooden storage piece, you’ll usually discover veneered plywood or MDF on the backs, undercarriage, and even the underside of drawers. Bower talked about even utilizing it at Hedge Home, who makes stunning heirloom-quality furnishings nearly solely out of stable hardwoods. “We use high-quality plywood with matching veneer for our backings on items with doorways, in addition to the bottoms of drawer bins and for some components on different objects, like the perimeters of our Avers items. The veneer is glued onto the high-quality plywood, with the plywood itself additionally produced from skinny wooden layers. Technically, it’s an engineered product containing actual wooden.”
In keeping with Dashner Design & Restoration, 80-90% of American manufacturing facility furnishings makes use of some veneer in its development, particularly if it’s walnut or mahogany). Birch, maple or oak has a greater probability of being stable wooden.
Truth #6: Veneer isn’t at all times the cheaper possibility as in comparison with stable wooden.
I used the comparability of polyester to silk beforehand as a result of it feels apt to this dialog. And I do know some individuals will nonetheless assume veneer is crap after studying this BUT, as a result of it’s the truth is a pure product and used usually to perform some increased design items, don’t assume that simply because one thing is dear that it’s freed from the “dreaded” veneer.
Take the Maiden Dwelling Rivington Dresser above, for example. (I reached out to Maiden Dwelling for remark however I heard nothing again, sadly). This piece is over $4,000 however incorporates a white oak veneer. The form and elegance of this dresser would in all probability simply not be made utilizing stable wooden. And from what I perceive, Maiden Dwelling doesn’t make low-quality furnishings, so whereas that is veneer, sure (and fairly expensive for a dresser), so long as the craftsmanship is there within the supplies and development, it’ll possible final simply so long as one thing related in stable wooden.
Truth #7: Veneer may be mounted and refinished, however not as simply as wooden.
There are craftsmen devoted to fixing and restoring veneer furnishings, as it’s an artwork type. The place a stable wooden piece may simply be sanded, restained, and holes crammed with putty, one thing with veneer takes a bit extra finesse (however sure, it may be completed).
Truth #8: Identical to stable wooden, veneer furnishings can final for hundreds of years, if well-maintained.
At this level, I really feel like I’m working for “Large Veneer” making an attempt to persuade those that it’s “similar to wooden!” As in each corn syrup or Splenda business from my youth, I’m about to say one thing to the sound of “It appears like wooden as a result of it comes from wooden!” However nicely, it’s true. Keep in mind that many items, particularly from the Artwork Deco interval and onward, had to make use of wooden veneer to perform a design just like the Bo Lindahl cupboard under. This one makes use of Rosewood marquetry—a wooden that’s extremely regulated now due to being endangered—and it completely gorgeous. It’s in beautiful situation from the Nineteen Fifties. And sure, it prices simply south of $28,000, the identical as an entry stage Ford Escape, although I assure this cupboard will last more than that automobile.
What to search for to verify your veneer is top of the range.
Alright, now that I’ve laid out the info, I need to dive into what it’s worthwhile to know if assessing a veneer piece of furnishings. Simply because it’s veneer doesn’t imply it’s low- or high-end. With something within the furnishings world, there are ranges, and the identical performs out right here.
#1: What’s beneath the veneer is most necessary to longevity and sturdiness. You’ll need one thing that has a body manufactured from actual wooden or plywood. Particle board or MDF are vulnerable to moisture harm and simply aren’t as top quality (to not point out a lot more durable to recycle after the tip lifetime of the product).
#2: Effectively-made veneer furnishings ought to have easy, even edge finishes and constant grain patterns. Search for one thing a minimum of 0.6mm thick if you’ll find that info. You shouldn’t even discover seams or a change in grain sample except it’s low cost. Dashner Design & Restoration says that when you comply with the grain sample over the sting and it continues, it’s stable wooden. If it modifications, it’s veneer. A high-quality piece can have the identical veneer piece alongside the sting, however a low-quality one can have one thing totally different; you’ll discover a distinct colour and even wooden grain.
#3: Building issues nonetheless, whether or not veneer or stable wooden. Search for dovetail joints or mortise and tenon joints on drawers.
Nonetheless simply need stable hardwood? Learn carefully and ask questions.
Very well-done veneer can idiot lots of people, sure, even you. BUT, I get when you’re nonetheless similar to “nah, no thanks.” “Large Stable Wooden” has us all satisfied it’s the excelsior stage of furnishings for a large number of causes. Learn product descriptions carefully. Something manufactured from stable wooden goes to put on it like a badge of honor, so search for that. If it’s an present firm, ask questions on development. Is it fully stable wooden? Are there any components which might be engineered? You’ll have to leap by a couple of hoops to get your solutions, but it surely’ll be value figuring out for positive.
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In order that’s it, associates. My deep dive into the misunderstood world of veneer. I hope all of us realized one thing collectively and may have a larger appreciation for the fabric, whether or not we in the end need to spend our cash on it or not. To depart us with a ultimate quote from Susan Bower, “I consider the principle difficulty with veneer is public notion. The seller and producer course of determines high quality. If correctly cared for, veneer will final for a lot of, a few years.”
Till subsequent time…
Opening Picture Credit: Left: Design by Arlyn Hernandez | Styled by Emily Edith Bowser | Picture by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: 3 Years In The Making Then An Sudden Transfer: Arlyn’s Bed room Reveal Is A Lesson In The Magnificence Of “Unfinished” Design | Proper: Design by Arlyn Hernandez | Picture by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Arlyn’s Vivid & Comfortable Rental Residing Room Makeover
