Fine furniture and cabinet makers have known for centuries that pine is a perfect wood choice for building their most distinctive pieces. It is not hard to imagine the old, rough hands of masters gliding gently over another finely crafted piece to feel the grain and smoothness of its offerings as the finish was applied and hand rubbed to a beauty that cannot be found in any other wood. If you are fortunate enough to own an antique that is other than oak, chances are it has some pine in it and unless it was abused down through the years it has probably stood the test of time when it comes to durability. In the shops of today pine still offers a stability, beauty and versatility that is hard to match.
Pine has a light cream to almost soft, yellow, natural colour depending on the species and where it is grown. The grain tends to be wider and more splinter free than other woods. It does therefore not appear to be "busy" such as oak or boring and plain such as maple. When put into the hands of a craftsman it can take on many styles such as modern, rustic, shaker or French provincial and still look unique and classic to that style. Rarely do you see other woods lend themselves to such versatility. When you add the fact that pine furniture can be made with knotty or clear (without knots) lumber the furniture buyer is sure to find a piece or an entire collection that will fit his or her home and look richer and warmer than many alternatives.
The durability of pine has already been alluded to. There are several reasons for this. When properly cured in preparation for fine furniture much of the moisture content is removed. This makes pine lighter and more stable than many woods. In addition, today's finishes are a lot more advanced than the old shellac or oil finishes that needed constant attention. They are water and even sun resistant keeping the original beauty constant for years of regular use.
While much of what we see mass produced today tends to be pressed wood particles covered with a vinyl coating to imitate wood, pine offers the buyer an affordable alternative. Because it grows quickly and tools easily it is less expensive than other woods making a pine wardrobe an attractive compliment to any bedroom in today's homes. Visitors to your home will notice the richness of your furniture made from pine that lends a feeling of elegance regardless of your style. Only the home owner needs to know that it was less expensive than it looks.
Pine has a light cream to almost soft, yellow, natural colour depending on the species and where it is grown. The grain tends to be wider and more splinter free than other woods. It does therefore not appear to be "busy" such as oak or boring and plain such as maple. When put into the hands of a craftsman it can take on many styles such as modern, rustic, shaker or French provincial and still look unique and classic to that style. Rarely do you see other woods lend themselves to such versatility. When you add the fact that pine furniture can be made with knotty or clear (without knots) lumber the furniture buyer is sure to find a piece or an entire collection that will fit his or her home and look richer and warmer than many alternatives.
The durability of pine has already been alluded to. There are several reasons for this. When properly cured in preparation for fine furniture much of the moisture content is removed. This makes pine lighter and more stable than many woods. In addition, today's finishes are a lot more advanced than the old shellac or oil finishes that needed constant attention. They are water and even sun resistant keeping the original beauty constant for years of regular use.
While much of what we see mass produced today tends to be pressed wood particles covered with a vinyl coating to imitate wood, pine offers the buyer an affordable alternative. Because it grows quickly and tools easily it is less expensive than other woods making a pine wardrobe an attractive compliment to any bedroom in today's homes. Visitors to your home will notice the richness of your furniture made from pine that lends a feeling of elegance regardless of your style. Only the home owner needs to know that it was less expensive than it looks.
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