Shop Quartersawn Oak Cabinets

White oak cabinets and red oak cabinets are a popular and highly sought-after wood species for kitchen design. Both red and white oak wood is used for kitchen cabinetry and furniture. Oak wood is very strong and durable, making it a great choice for any home application. In addition, this material is easy to repair, low maintenance and carries heavy loads quite easily. Each of these wood types offers similar durability when it comes to the hardness rating, scratch resistance and maintenance.

White Oak Characteristics

Most people love white oak kitchens because of their modern and minimal appearance. This wood type is a creamy-beige color with yellow undertones making it neutral. Tight grain patterns also make white oak very water-resistant. Because of this grain pattern, white oak also accepts stains very easily. If you compare white oak and red oak side-by-side, white oak is slightly darker in color.

Red Oak Characteristics

For anyone who loves the traditional look, red oak is a great choice. You will find a lighter golden appearance with reddish-pink undertones and short grain patterns. Since red oak has shorter grain, that means it’s less accepting of stains. Additionally, this wood is very durable, but slightly less water-resistant than white oak. Over time, the undertones will grow darker and bolder in appearance with light stain finishes.

It’s no surprise why homeowners, designers and contractors love light oak cabinets. The golden oak finish was popular for decades, but because the color became too orange and overdone, people got tired of oak altogether. White oak is bringing attention back to the species with its neutral and versatile appearance.

In today’s market, everyone wants colors that are timeless and will look good years down the road. Not to mention, it allows anyone to warm up their kitchen or bathroom in place of white paint. White kitchen cabinets will never go out of style, but having other options is nice. Some of the most refreshing and beautiful kitchens involve both colors and creates a warm, inviting atmosphere.

At CliqStudios, we have launched quite a few finishes in a white oak look: Lynx, Marten, Caribou and Kestrel. Our finishes are created by using a color blocker on quartersawn red oak to mute the reddish-pink undertones. By doing this, we can offer the white oak cabinet look with the more readily available red oak species. Explore Craftsman line’s Berkeley, Brentwood inset, Fitzgerald inset and Talbot inset door styles to see all four finishes: Lynx, Marten, Caribou and Kestrel. Get the high-end look in this long-lasting and durable wood species today.

One of the top reasons white oak cabinets and similar looks are popular is because of their versatility. White oak kitchen cabinets provide an elevated and neutral landscape with almost limitless color and kitchen design style possibilities. Think of this material as the new white kitchen cabinet.

The most popular colors to pair with white oak are varying shades of cream, white, gray, gold, copper and black. Trendier colors include sage green, forest green and even different shades of teal. Any of these earth tones can be used on cabinets, wall paint, within countertops and more.

As you select colors to pair with white oak, remember the darker the color, the bolder your kitchen design will be. Some commonalities you will find during your design inspiration phase is that black cabinet handles and hardware are a popular choice. This combination offers the perfect amount of contrast to create a high-end, minimalist design without darkening the kitchen.

In contrast, gold and copper are popular cabinet handles and accent lighting choices because of their ability to warm up the kitchen. Combined with white oak, these warm finishes will create a cozy, organic look.

There are no limits to the ways you can use the white oak look. Since this wood type has dynamic color and wood grain patterns, it’s a great way to draw attention towards different focal points in the kitchen. For example, wood hoods and floating shelves are perfect places to create an accent in your kitchen. Choose cabinets in another color and use white oak on the wood hood and shelving for the perfect balance.

Another way to introduce white oak is by selecting a two-tone kitchen design. Either the main kitchen cabinets or the island can be finished in white oak for a unique and inviting color scheme. Some homeowners even choose to do all base cabinets in one color while the wall cabinets are another. If you need assistance selecting your kitchen cabinet color scheme, contact a CliqStudios designer today!

White oak will look good on any door style, but the most popular choices right now include the shaker, slab and a skinny shaker- like our Balto style. This wood species spans the divide between older go-to cabinet materials and today’s modern kitchens.

Raised panel door styles are not as commonly seen in white oak. Shaker and slab styles also provide white oak the chance to shine and show the beauty of its wood grain pattern and color variation. With all these considerations, it’s easy to see this wood species is most cohesive with modern, contemporary, mid-century and transitional kitchen designs.

Explore CliqStudios cabinets with the new white oak look now!