Oak Wood

Overview

According to Craftsman Style, "The characteristics and the sterling merit of oak are so well known to all that it would seem like a waste of time to describe it. Since the very earliest records of man oak has played an important part in life. Its fruit, acorns, has fed man and beast and its wood has served every conceivable purpose from that of forming humble huts to stately castles and mansions, from shrines and churches to battleships."  Oak has been the wood of choice for many of America's most beloved mission and craftsman-style furniture makers, like Gustav Stickley, Greene and Greene and Frank Lloyd Wright.

Oak Heartwood versus Sapwood Grain

At Vermont Woods Studios we use White and Red Oak --long favorite woods for furniture building. Oak is a solid, sturdy and very durable hardwood with generally uniform coarse texture and prominent rays.  It is not uncommon to find different grain contrasts in the same piece of solid oak wood furniture.  The lighter, almost white grain was closer to the tree’s bark (sapwood) and the slightly reddish tan colored grain was closer to the tree’s center (heartwood).   Oak wood may darken slightly over time, taking on more amber tones however the change is very subtle, unlike the significant color change with cherry wood.   As you can see in this picture of a cross section of an oak tree, the contrast is much less than for a cherry tree.

Natural Oak Wood Furniture

Our craftsmen typically use oak wood that is grown right here in Vermont, as it is native to our Green Mountain Forest and grows in abundance here.

Check out photos of our oak wood furniture, for example our Dorm Style Nightstand.

Each piece of furniture on our website can be custom made in red oak or white oak wood, even if the feature photos show cherry, maple or walnut wood.

 

Copeland's Solid Oak Frank Lloyd Wright Furniture Collection

We are now carrying the world's premier luxury collection of craftsman style, solid oak furniture-- The Frank Lloyd Wright Colletion crafted by our friends down the road at Copeland Furniture.  This luxury, high end furniture collection includes reproductions of the original dining tables, chairs, love seats, buffets, small tables, sofas and bedroom furniture that Frank Lloyd Wright designed for his prairie style homes of the early 1900s.  View the entire Frank Lloyd Wright Collection here and give us a call to discuss your questions or place an order.
 

Learn More About Oak Wood Furniture on Our Blog

1. Mission, Arts & Crafts and Stickley Style Furniture
2. Luxury Frank Lloyd Wright Collection by Vermont's Copeland Furniture
    

See Also

Cherry Wood	Walnut Wood	Maple Wood