Human beings have surrounded themselves with wood products throughout the ages, both by necessity and by choice. As the most abundant and
ubiquitous natural resource on earth, wood is an intimate part of all of our lives, whether we realize it or not. Exotic Hardwoods take us a step
further by transporting us to far off lands and giving us a grand sense of our global kinships
As science and technology have developed numerouse alternatives to natural wood, we are pushed towards synthetics more than ever before.
Our present culture steers us away from wood in order to "save a tree". However, educated consumers have found that choosing wood products is actually the friendliest environmental choice!
Wood, unlike most natural resources, is completely renewable. That means we can use it and it will return in time, using only light, water and nutrients from the soil. With modern forestry management, more trees are being planted than are harvested, and as a result, forests are growing by 27% each year.
Wood products are highly recyclable and can be used many times over. And because wood is all natural, it is also completely bio-degradable. With time, it will decompose and return to the primary elements of the earth.
Forests are abundant. over 1/3 of the earth's land surface is covered by forests, which absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen into the atmosphere. Trees release no toxic elements into the air in their natural state.
Wood is an energy saver! Using wood conserves energy in two important ways. First, the lumber industry uses far less electricity and fossil fuels to harvest and process their product than is needed to produce steel, brick, or plastics. There are no waste products in the lumber industry, as
all parts of the trees are used completely. Secondly, when used as a building material, wood is a top insulator in applications such as doors and windows, saving on heating and cooling bills.
But wood is even more than these things. As part of our living world, trees share a closer bond with the human species than any other earthly materials, and it is primarily to the forests that people retreat to find solace in the peace of nature.
Today the word "green" is used to describe all those things which aspire to be friendly and safe for the environment. Interestingly this "green" movement has spurred within the design industry an even greater interest in natural materials such as exotic woods, as people desire more and more to reconnect with nature.
With education, consumers have come to understand more clearly that wood is a renewable resource that can be a source of great pleasure while still being non-threatening to the well being of the planet. As a result, we see an explosion in the use of natural woods in decorating to enhance our surroundings and delight our senses.
According to the "trend curve" a newsletter that focuses on interior color trends, neutral colors are currently dominant, but accented by colors from nature such as soft golds, greens, blues and roses. Against this palette, medium to deep wood tones, the richly colored woods from around the world, take center stage in capturing the eye wherever they are used.
Since every living tree is a unique specimen, the wood products coming from it are in their own way singular. The markings that identify each
species can still include a stunning array of matchless detail. These natural designs cannot by any means be reproduced artificially, nor can the natural warmth
and luster of wood be infused into imitations
The use of wood products, especially exotic woods, has come to be the hallmark of the luxury goods market. Think Rolls Royce, Bently, Jaguar. Think yachts, private aircraft, rooms at the Plaza and dinner at the Four Seasons. All of their lavish interiors surround the visitor with comfort and beauty
that of course includes fine wood in the decor and amenities.
In many ways the presence of fine wood is always an announcement of luxury to the guest, and its use should not be underestimated as an intimate emotional connection.
Although the forest contains 40,000 different species of wood, there are only 600 species that can be used commercially, and of those, about 200 for highly decorative purposes in the form of fine veneers, both domestic and exotic. Within these species, however, is nearly infinite variety, as the range of characteristics is influenced by countless growth factors in the lifespan of each tree. It would be impossible to imagine that any taste or preference could not be served within this vast arena of choices. In other words, there is a perfect wood for you!
