What type of wood to use?

[LI Pets]

In redoing the interior petitions and cabinets my wife and I are trying to choose a type of wood to use that won't be too dark but look good against the freshly painted white interior skin.

In conjunction with the walls and cabinets what color to use on the floor.

Our first choice is cherry finished natural, we think if its a dark color it will make the space feel small?

We're keeping all the tambor, painted white.

[mustang]

I thought the color that matched stock in my airstream was a walnut
It is dark but the lighter walls alway make up for the darkness

Cherry is somewhat of a dark wood ( pink and red) and it oxidizes when exposed to light and gets darker as it ages. If left in light with nothing but an oil finish it will eventually become a muddy brown. Most Cherry for furniture or cabinets is stained to produce a more even color: although not all. Birch ply (1/4") would probably be a better choice for partitions as the wood is almost white to light tan and could still be stained if desired without becoming too dark. It is also 1/2 to 1/4 the cost of Cherry ply. Maple would also be another good choice but it's much heavier than Birch for solid wood trim. A 3/8" medium honey colored oak floor would look good if your going with wood.

[wahoonc]

I am contemplating an full custom interior on my 1980 Excella II. About 2/3rds of th orginal is missing. The orginal was that plastic laminate wormy oak looking stuff. I am leaning heavily towards either natural finish Birch or maple. I love Cherry in it's natural state, but it does darken with age. Also my Excella has the dark tint windows so anything to keep the interior lighter is a plus.

Aaron

[Fyrzowt]

I agree, Birch, maple or alder are light in terms of color, and can be stained to personal taste.

[wahoonc]

I might also add that the hidden cabinet frames will be something inexpensive and light weight, we used to call it "whitewood" but typically was magnolia or beech.

Aaron

[Janet]

We've been looking at Bamboo Ply for walls - it's available in 1/4" 5 ply from specialty wood places and looks just amazing.

[LI Pets]

I was told that if the cherry is sealed with a "wash" before the clear finish coat it will remain natural, which is lighter than most furniture you see.

I don't want a dark color, birch doesn't have the grain of other hardwoods.

Alder is nice, but bamboo is something I haven't seen yet.

I'm going to go to a place in NY that specializes in all the hardwoods
ML Condon.

[Foiled Again]

Birdseye Maple would be my choice. The grain is very fine and close with swirls and little circles - "birds eyes". Finish it with tung oil (several coats) and it will be a beautiful light blonde color.

Paula

[LI Pets]

Anyone seen this wood?

Creamy in color with a slight pink tinge, this African hardwood has been a popular choice for highend furniture, decorative veneer and architectural uses. Other uses for Anigre include: cabinetry, high-class joinery and light construction. It is also used for general carpentry and furniture components.
The wood has a natural luster and a natural cedar-like scent. It also has a slight silica content that accounts for its blunting of hand and machine tools. The heartwood is a yellow white, pale tan or pink brown.

The heartwood is not clearly differentiated from the sapwood. Anigre's texture varies from medium to coarse. It most often has a straight grain, but the grain can also appear to be wavy.

[soldiermedic]

I must say that my favorite two woods to use would be "birds eye" maple, or a nice rich mahogany. That would be awesome!

[vswingfield]

Another wood to consider is Zepra Wood (AKA Zebrano). It has pale yellow and mahogany stripes about 1/8" with good figure. It complements mahogany very well. I covered the sliding doors in the front cap of my 67 with it and it complements the birtch in that trailer very well too. Birdseye maple is also very beautiful. A friend has new edge bamboo floors in her house, and I am considering that for my Excella. It is very light in color, and I have dark brown carpet. I think the zebra would look good against the white, but could be pricy.

[AYRSTRM2]

Originally Posted by LI Pets

Anyone seen this wood?

Creamy in color with a slight pink tinge, this African hardwood has been a popular choice for highend furniture, decorative veneer and architectural uses. Other uses for Anigre include: cabinetry, high-class joinery and light construction. It is also used for general carpentry and furniture components.
The wood has a natural luster and a natural cedar-like scent. It also has a slight silica content that accounts for its blunting of hand and machine tools. The heartwood is a yellow white, pale tan or pink brown.

The heartwood is not clearly differentiated from the sapwood. Anigre's texture varies from medium to coarse. It most often has a straight grain, but the grain can also appear to be wavy.

It also has a slight silica content that accounts for its blunting of hand and machine tools

That right there should tell you to stay away. It might be good for veneers, but for cabinetry, stay away, unless you like blunting $60 table saw blades and $30 router bits, effectively ruining them.

I use oak ply in our '66, stained with golden oak Danish Oil, for a perfect match. Baltic Birch ply would also be great for bulk heads and cabinet carcasses, and use maple for the frames. Kitchen grade for homes uses pretty much 3/4" plywood and frames, but I would not go over 5/8" and use 1/2 wherever you can, unless it's for none supportive panels, and use 1/4", just like Airstream did. This will save you weight.

[Blu_Hwy_Lady]

The carpenter that made my cabinets found some beautiful birch plywood that has a very "old" look to it. I wanted the new cabinets to have a retro feel. Since I didn't want to go to the trouble and expense of completely tearing out the old cabinets, he made frames out of a nice alder which contrasts well with the birch doors. Some of the cabinet doors even have little birdseyes like birdseye maple. I faux-painted the ends and underside.