If you entertain frequently at home, a built-in wet bar—that is, some combination of storage and display cabinetry for glasses, silverware, wine, liquor, and mixers; counter top space where drinks and finger foods can be prepared and served; a sink and faucet; and...

Based in Texas, Lake Flato Architects has always been one of my favorite American firms. Their environmentally sensitive work is characterized by the imaginative use of hardwood, stone, and other natural materials. So I was pleased to see them featured in a Retrofit...

Each May, design aficionados like me look forward to the annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in New York, a four-day extravaganza where more than 800 exhibitors from around the globe display the latest furniture, lighting, flooring, and every other...

A slatted or openwork screen can be a marvelous way to divide a room or create a defined space without making it feel claustrophobic. And if the screen or partition is made of hardwood, you get the beauty and character of the material as a decorative bonus. Here are...

Getting art and photography professionally framed can be ruinously expensive. A number of online custom framing services are helping bring down the sky-high prices while offering a close approximation of the craftsmanship and quality you’d expect from a reputable...

I was very interested to learn the following about red oak from our sister organization, the American Hardwood Export Council: The European market must, till now, have been something of a frustration for U.S. red oak suppliers. The species is America’s most prolific...

Each fall I look forward to attending Field & Supply, a modern interpretation of a traditional arts and crafts fair held annually at various locations in upstate New York. Founded in 2014, it’s the brainchild of Manhattan-based interior designer Brad Ford, who...

It has been a long time since a fireplace was a practical necessity in the typical American home. Nowadays we have much more efficient, economic, and environmentally friendly methods of heating our houses and apartments. But the fireplace hasn’t lost its considerable...

It’s gift-giving season, and once again I’ve found the range of items made of hardwood—from delightfully quirky children’s toys to exquisitely crafted custom furniture—that will help simplify my holiday shopping. Here are six hardwood products I’ve already put on my...