It works well with traditional style but slowly it has made its way into a more modern feel as well. This is a wood that while rising in popularity has always remained among the top choices of wood species.
Modern Walnut Kitchens
Instantly tagged as 'outdated' or '70s' not so long ago, walnut now finds itself in much more contemporary settings. Walnut manufactured for use in modern kitchen is much more sleek than the old dark and dingy walnut cabinetry of yesteryear.
Regardless of what option you may choose, real or look-a-like, walnut wood is becoming a more and more requested item. Although walnut has been around for a while, we think this “trend” is here to stay. Walnut is recognizable, it's beautiful, and it's a rich-looking material for any kitchen space.
Teak, walnut and mahogany have fallen back in favour. Is dark wood making a comeback? 'After many years of lighter-coloured, Scandinavian-inspired woods dominating home trends, darker, more traditional woods – like teak, walnut, and mahogany – have fallen back in favour,' says Etsy's trend expert, Dayna Isom Johnson.
Walnut wood has been the first choice of north american woodworkers since the 1700's. It is the only rich and dark wood that is naturally found in the americas. Walnut is very commonly found in mid century modern furniture for it's classic timeless look.
Due to its premium quality, unique beauty and durability, walnut is considered a high-end wood. In fact, walnut is considered one of the most luxurious non-exotic woods available for home furniture. Walnut is highly desired for its rich, chocolate-brown color, and lends a feeling of luxury to any space.
At the beginning of the 18th century, during the Queen Anne period and into the early Georgian period, walnut was the most highly prized wood for making fine furniture.
Neutrals infused with earthy tones like green and brown work beautifully here. However, avoid overloading your interiors with too much walnut furniture, especially if it has a dark hardwood floor. Break things up with a neutral area rug or think about neutral upholstery.
It's prized by woodworkers for its strength, grain and color. It polishes to a very smooth finish, and the color ranges from creamy white in the sapwood to a dark chocolate in the heartwood. Over the years, natural walnut wood develops a lustrous patina.
Pros: Walnut is a very strong and stable wood that can take intricate carving. The color can be beautiful. Cons: Some may not like the variation from dark to light that's sometimes found on a single wide board. Walnut is also one of the more costly woods.
1. Lighter, Brighter Wood Finishes. Wood flooring with character-rich, lighter stains shows no sign of waning in popularity, says Margaret Donaldson, founder of Margaret Donaldson Interiors. “Homeowners are primarily using white oak, but walnut is starting to surface more, especially with lighter finishes,” she says.
In general, woods with a warm tone don't have a stain that changes their natural color — think natural birch, walnut, oak, maple, cherry, or even mahogany. Woods with a stain, particularly those finished in grey or black washes, tend to have cool undertones.
“Walnut has a warm undertone; it deepens and becomes richer and darker within the first year,” notes Laura. Walnut is becoming a top choice for several reasons. “So many people love the modern look but don't want it to appear cold.
Modern Walnut is a large-scale grey brown woodgrain with the casual features of knots and cracks.
Whether you opt for dark, mixed materials or shaker-style, walnut cabinets are a versatile choice that will always be in style. If you can't afford a full renovation, adding walnut accents such as drawers or a kitchen island can be a cost-effective way to bring a touch of elegance to your space.
After all, they're both materials that are popularly used for hardwood flooring. That being said, oak is a slightly stronger hardwood product than walnut. Oak is one of the stronger and more durable natural wood options available for kitchen cabinets.
Following are the reasons why Walnut wood is expensive.
The tree takes around 50 years to mature, it is longer than most other trees. It is in high demand due to its desired characteristics such as durability, strength or aesthetic making it one of the best wood species around.
When it comes to overall strength and durability, maple triumphs. Maple is a significantly stronger hardwood product than walnut. In fact, maple is one of the strongest and most durable natural wood options available. It holds up well resisting significant dents or dings.
Walnut is much more expensive relative to other wood types like oak, maple, and mahogany, but it's not the most expensive wood in the world.
Shades of Light
Light wood finishes are trending all over the place and look exceptional when teamed up with darker colors like black and navy. We love the stylish golden wood finish on this table by Tiffany Duckenfield who paired it the stark black chairs giving it a sleek modern sophisticated look.
Wax Finishes: Wax finishes provide a natural-looking finish without adding much gloss or shine to the wood. 4. Shellac Finish: Shellac is a versatile natural finish that enhances the beauty of walnut with its warm amber hue.
Use Contrast to Call Attention
Dark finishes, such as mahogany, walnut, or cherry, stand out in sharp relief against light colors, such as a pale green or blue or a hue from the sunny side of the color wheel.
Walnut is a moderately dense wood, which means that it'll be heavy but not so dense that you wouldn't be able to move it or add extension boards easily. Walnut's durability is one of the reasons why it's remained one of the most popular furniture options for furniture makers and homeowners.
' From the end of the 17th century, through to the middle of the 18th century, walnut was the most highly-valued timber choice for furniture in England due to its exceptional variation in colour and grain. Given the varying appearance of the timber, a clear hierarchy emerged in terms of the most desirable pieces.
New walnut has a consistent dark-brown color but as it gets older, two changes occur. 1: Unlike maple and cherry, it gets lighter. 2: A rich honey color starts to come through the grain.