Plain to Exotic: Veneers Dial It Up

Simple does not need to equate to ho hum when it comes to cabinetry. A plain slab door style can be quite the eye-catcher when it’s wearing a sophisticated veneer.

If your idea of the ideal design is a clean contemporary look that is several degrees beyond ordinary, consider one of the Neff of Chicago deep brushed Tamarack veneers. The distinctive, three-dimensional finish is achieved by a special brushing technique applied to the veneer to create a windswept look with deep, soft undulating rifts. The result is a visually rich linear textured matte finish.

Truffle, Palomino, Cocoa and Pecan (shown at right) shades were developed specifically for the brushed Tamarack veneers. Additional colors available in Tamarack are Pewter Glaze, Safari, Smoke, Grotto, and Chocolat.

What Exactly Is a Veneer?

Neff veneers are thin slices of real wood logs, called flitches that are integrated with engineered woods and finished with Acrylic Polyurethane in Satin, Silk, French, or hand-polished high gloss.  When you choose a veneer, you have access to the warmth and beauty of exotic woods that would otherwise be cost prohibitive or not suitable for cabinet construction. The use of veneers also allows species mixing and custom designs.

Interestingly, the technique is nothing new. Veneers can be traced back several thousands of years to ancient Egypt where wood was a valued and scarce resource. Some very enterprising Egyptians discovered they could saw logs into thin boards and create the desired real wood look using a lot less of the precious lumber.

Maybe you prefer a less bold look in your cabinetry. Neff produces a number of softer, gentler veneers in a variety of wood hues from Rosewood to American Apple to English Sycamore. To see more, browse the Neff veneers gallery section of the website.