Guest Contributor:
​Coreena Harbison, Senior Designer White River Hardwoods

There are so many design choices when it comes to doorways and openings. Straight, Arched, Smooth, Cased, Paneled, Columned, and in this instance, a combination: arched, paneled, with a square column. How do you successfully combine these different aesthetics? It takes a lot of forethought and careful planning to make sure you’ve accounted for all thicknesses, widths and any existing job-site conditions like outlets, switches and vents. Things can get especially tricky when dealing with curved mouldings, but we’ve broken down a recent project so you can see how all the individual parts come together to make a large and exceptional statement.

As temperatures and humidity levels rise, it is more important then ever to ensure all wood products are properly handled in the field, including acclimation, finishing and installation. Architectural millwork, is indeed, much like fine furniture. If the indoor relative humidity is not controlled on the job site there is a chance that the owner will encounter wood movement throughout the life cycle of the project. 

Here are several key factors to take into consideration for the successful installation and finishing of a millwork trim and door package:

• The job site should be fully enclosed and protected from the elements.
• HVAC must be up and running with the temperature maintained between 68 – 72 degrees.
• Relative humidity should be between 25 – 55% (see chart below)
• Allow products to acclimate for at least  3 – 5 days prior to installation.
• Make sure all “wet work” has been completed before delivering wood products to the job.
• Never store material in areas with newly poured concrete, or in rooms that have been recently dry walled or plastered.
• Surface doors must be properly sealed, including the top and bottom, to prevent warranty against warp & twist from being void.
• Never start and stop the finishing process. It is crucial that it is completely sealed.
• Never install a pocket door prior to finishing, The average moisture content of framing material is 15-19%. Once a pocket door is pushed back unfinished, it will absorb the framing moisture causing it to bow and/or warp.

​Additional resources to help you plan accordingly
Moisture Meters ​
Humidity Forecast

When designing or remodeling, the mudroom is a pretty crucial space. It's a catchall for all things coming and going. Thus it has to be extremely useful. However, it doesn't mean that it can't be a beautiful area, one that works hard, but also welcomes you home in comfort and style, Here are ten mudrooms that keep the chaos in check yet incorporate function and charm with trim, doors, cubbies, hooks and more.  

Poplar is one of the largest and most valuable hardwood tress in the United States. It's  been known to reach heights of nearly 200 feet, with a straight clear trunk of 8 to 10 feet in diameter. One can easily understand why it's extensively cut into lumber for interior trim, veneers, and other high-grade uses because the wood is soft and easy to machine. For that reason, it's commonly argued that poplar really isn't a hardwood after all. However, we'll table the classification of wood species for another discussion.

For all intents and purposes, Poplar:

"Is practically grown in our own backyard. Less transit impact and cost"

"Paints beautifully! Tight grain pattern, no open pores, fewer knots to fill. Virtually no grain raise. Little to no bleed-through. Less callbacks."

"Can be finger jointed for less waste, greater stability and even more usability via greater widths and consistent lengths."

"Consistent grain pattern. Mills and carves well with less wear and tear on cutting tools and machinery."

"Cuts cleanly with little to no grain tear." 

"It takes fasteners well. Resists splitting, Little or no "mushrooming" when nailed or screwed."

"Sands well, keeping its edge."

"Joints between pieces of poplar are less likely to loosen over time." 

"Depending on the color variation, it may be stained to resemble some darker hardwoods. Some have called it the "Poor Man's Cherry"."

"Poplar is strong and stable and resists warping."

"It takes a licking and is easy to patch and paint, you don't have to replace the entire piece."

"Poplar is in substantial and sustainable supply and ITC Millwork can rapidly acquire it to fulfill your needs."

Environmentally...

"Poplar growth is short-turn, the most progressive of trees."

"Poplar trees come from sustainably managed operations. They're not from virgin forests."

"The tree is used in its whole (no unused production waste)."

"Low toxicity as compared to manufactured products such as MDF, particle board, engineered woods, etc." 

"Poplar can be recycled and re-purposed." 

So, there you have it! In short, when your project calls for paint or stain, there is usually no better choice than Poplar. Please feel free to share your thoughts on "Why poplar?" via the comments below.

​It's just not rustic or period material, Shiplap or Nickel Gap Wall Covering is as timeless today in modern architecture as it once was in less formal structures adding dimension and interest to any space.