Everyone wants white oak somewhere in the kitchen.
White oak floors.
White oak beams.
White oak floating shelves.
White oak hood.
White oak cabinets.
I must admit, white oak is beautiful and adds something special to a kitchen. However, it is not any different than what we have seen time and time again. Having said that, I thought blue cabinets would fade in popularity but we still sell the product. Maybe white oak is here to stay. Time will tell.
Let’s review some basic points about white oak. I am not going to get technical about how a tree is cut and how that changes the look of the grain. That would be boring! I want to keep the focus on just the look of white oak to help you select the cut type that is best for you.
Plain sawn oak is the least expensive way to cut a log. For cabinetry, the result of this cutting method will produce a grain pattern with peaks that are called cathedrals. No two cabinet doors will have the same pattern as the grain has much variety.
A more linear grain pattern is due to the cutting pattern for quarter sawn white oak. This type of cut also displays flecks in the grain. This characteristic adds uniqueness to the overall linear look. The flecks run both parallel and perpendicular to the grain. These distinctive features are more evident when using lighter stains.
Rift cut oak has a tight linear grain with minimal flecks that run mostly along the grain. This cut is the result of the most labor intensive approach to cutting the log while also being more wasteful. Thus, it is the most expensive option. However, the look is the most uniform you can achieve with white oak.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Jimmy Gavalas
The Kitchen Cabinet Guy
Atlantis Kitchens
