I know I’m not the only one who loves white oak. Its the perfect wood tone, that warms up the space without needing any staining or adjusting to the coloring. Neutral and beautiful. In the past, I have purchased different types of woods, and stained them to try to get the coloring similar to that of White Oak. I finally said- WHY am I doing this to myself? Just buy the wood you love and use it in your projects. WITHOUT HAVING TO STAIN THE WOOD!
White Oak is not available everywhere you buy lumber. You can find a good selection of White Oak in specialty Hardwood shops. The Location I have used in Southern California is Th&h Hardwood . They are in the San Diego area.
When looking for White Oak in your area research Hardwood Suppliers, call them up and ask them if they carry what you are looking for. Many times they will have a random range of lengths and widths, and when you go in you can handpick the boards that will work best for your project. It is pricier than other soft woods you can buy at Home Depot, but there are projects that you don’t want to skimp on the cost of the wood. Spending a little bit more will make your finished space stand out. So worth it!
To finish the oak boards at home, I normally will use my hand-held electric sander and go over all sides with a 150 grit sandpaper, then follow that with sanding all sides with 220 grit. If the board is a little rougher, I will do 80->150->220 grits. For some projects, like the oven hood in my kitchen, I will put a top coat finish over the wood. This way, if anything splatters on it, it can easily be wiped down. For shelving, I tend to leave them natural with no top coat. This is your preference, of course. THIS is the clear top coat I have found that doesn’t yellow the wood.
These are some the areas in my home that I have used White Oak that I found at the Hardwood Yards-
Oven Range Hood
I love wood touches around the kitchen, Mixed with the bronze finish of the hardware. So pretty. HERE are the details for the gold hardware I chose for the kitchen.
Floating Shelves
Open Shelves in the kitchen is something I just love to see. They warm up the kitchen so much, make it feel cozier, and give you extra storage depending on what you choose to display. Instant decor
Trim Around Island
The island legs were ordered from TableLegs.com. They are solid white oak and 5″ wide. You can see more on my kitchen island at this post HERE.
Accent Walls
Display books, art, candles.. anything you choose. White oak is perfect for an accent wall. Paired with shiplap or just over an open wall. I always try to add different textures when arranging the shelves. A trailing plant is a must!
Fireplace Mantel
I love a Christmas mantle… especially when there’s a Doodle in front of it.
The possibilities are endless with White Oak, and always so gorgeous. Consider this route the next time you have a wood project in mind, and let me know how it turns out.
