Can you have too much wood?

16 years ago

Have started building our dream home which is kinda lodgy-craftsman style. Great room has cathedral ceiling, with 22 ft peak & a huge beam down the center. House designed with kitchen, D.R. & G.R. across back of house (52 ft) very open, lots of windows to take in view. Looking at knotty alder cabinets in kitchen, built-ins between D.R. & G.R. and same knotty alder cabinets on either side of FP. All window casings, baseboards, doors, etc, stained. Plus wood floors in entry, hallway, D.R. & Kitchen. I have been concerned that we may have planned too much wood, now hubby is set on putting T & G pine or cedar on the G.R. ceiling (between beams)Want lodge look, but don't want things to get too dark. Any pictures our there of T&G vaulted ceilings?

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Comments (9)

craftsman_lodge
16 years ago
Here's a link to a craftsman timberframe home with lots of wood, including wood floors, cabinetry and ceilings. We like this house alot!

Here is a link that might be useful: Craftsman/farmhouse timberframe
susanka
16 years ago
I think so. My sis has a log home on top of a mountain, wood ceilings, walls, and LR and DR floor, and moose heads on the wall (not my style!) but she put tile and drywall in her kitchen just to have some variety, and was happy with her choice.

DH and I don't have a lot of wood in the house itself, but just today I was noticing how much oak we have in furniture and accessories, and cabs. I've always liked oak, but I think I'm ready for a little variety myself.
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I know someone who has light oak floors and walls covered with light oak bookcases, with light oak, mission style furniture. I joke about it being a squirrel's nut store, but with the shelves full, paint on the walls, some Persian rugs and brightly colored art, it really looks fine. I don't remember what your floor is. If you have some contrast with the cabinets, it'll be fine! I've seen a lot of wood kitchens with wood walls and wood floors in wooded glades, and done right they actually look fantastic! Very easy on the eyes, and all the wood inside doesn't compete with the views. Instead it makes them come alive. The green would be pretty too, though I think white would be distracting if you have a lot of windows. I know how you feel. I have vertical bamboo, and put cabinets wherever I had a wall. I was worried it would be a bamboo forest and considered painting the pantry. My GW friends called it "gumby" (it was just computer generated green). I didn't do it. There's a lot of bamboo, but with all the other finishes, it doesn't loom, and isn't overwhelming after all. My advice? If you still love the oak, get the oak. And choose a contrast wall color (such as the green), and put some bright accents in, maybe some shiny or light colored hardware, and enjoy it!
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ajpl
16 years ago
We have all wood in our post and beam house. It's too much for some people including myself. We will be having some drywall in the new house. DH prefers the all wood look.
cindylou2006
16 years ago
We are building the same style home with the same description. We will have knotty alder cabinets and built-ins plus bookshelves on each side of the fireplace. I have seen many homes in our area with this much wood and love it! We won't have the TG ceiling, but a home with the same layout as our did have it on the vaulted ceiling with a stone fireplace and it looks wonderful. It really gives it the lodge style feel- I say go for it!
allison0704
16 years ago
What color stain have you selected?

The thing to do is leave the T&G natural or not as dark as the beams....If you darken everything, it will be too dark. Also, go for lighter wall colors.

Our house is almost as your described yours, but our kitchen, breakfast, sunroom, pantry, powder and laundry have travertine flooring instead of wood. Our great room peaks at 22ft, but no T&G ceiling...which we did do on our verandas. MBR is also cathedral, no T&G.

Housewitch has a home like you are describing. You could try searching her name.

Picture showing hardwood, travertine, beams and window/door trim.

{{gwi:1441162}}

Please do not post pictures or link elsewhere. TIA.

Good luck with your project!

Here is a link that might be useful: More pictures
carolyn53562
16 years ago
I don't think you will have too much wood. But, we had a T & G wood ceiling in our old house and you should spend extra time on your lighting plan as a t & g wood ceiling really sucks up the light and can make a room feel dark at night. With the right lighting it will be great. Comparing this house to our last house, I'd say you need twice as much light in a wood ceiling room as you do in a white painted ceiling room.
rosefolly
16 years ago
I think you can have too much wood, but not very easily. How about wood walls and ceilings, but tile floors? Or wood ceilings and floors, but plaster walls? Two out of three would be rich and satisfying, but not overwhelming.

I just noticed the date on this thread. You have probably finished your house by now. I'm curious to know what you decided, and whether or not you were happy with your decision.

Rosefolly
kay5
16 years ago
Our house is similar to your description also and we thought of doing the same type of ceiling, but decided against it because of the winters in Oregon (I see you are from Oregon). They can be a bit grey -- I agree with Carolyn more lighting would help lighten up the ceiling.
nancyboregon
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all the input!
Rosefolly - no we aren't in yet - in fact we are just at the sheetrock stage. We came to the conclusion that we would not use the T&G on the ceilings, except in my husband's loft area. Oregon weather can get a bit dreary in the winter, so wanted as much light as possible. And actually after talking more with our finish carpenter, the wood was just more $$ than we wanted to spend. I'm going with the approach that "less is more".

Can you have too much wood?

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Can you have too much wood?

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