Exotic woods are showing up in more and more home improvement projects, kitchen remodeling in particular.

The latest trend in kitchen design can best be summed up as “anything goes”. Today’s homeowners want to combine styles and types of wood used.

Hardwood floors in the kitchen remain a classic and popular choice, and it’s not unusual for a kitchen remodel to include one species of wood on the floor and another on the cabinets. Adding extra furniture pieces, such as an armoire or hutch, in yet another style and color is increasing in popularity also.

With a desire for more variety, people are turning to exotic woods to create a more unique look with different colors and grains to add visual impact. Darker woods in particular are making a big comeback, such as Brazilian cherry, African padauk and mahogany.

More and more consumers are also turning to exotic woods in an effort to buy eco-friendly products, as many are made from trees that have been harvested in a sustainable manner. EcoTimber is a California-based company, for example, that has built a successful business by selling sustainably-harvested and reclaimed wood products, such as EcoTimber’s Brazilian cherry, which is certified according to the principles and criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council.

The following is a list of some of types of exotic woods:

	African padauk: A distinctive reddish purple color, African padauk has a straight to interlocked grain that can make it a little more difficult to work with. Expect to pay $7 or more per square foot.
	Australian cypress: This closed grain wood is pale yellow to honey gold in color. It is as hard as maple and has excellent durability. Prices start at $10 per square foot.
	Bamboo: Not really a wood, bamboo is a very hard material and becoming increasingly popular with American homeowners. Yellow to brown in color, bamboo has a very fine grain. It costs approximately $5 per square foot.
	Brazilian cherry: Dark orange to russet brown in color, Brazilian cherry is a tight grained wood that is very hard. It costs $5 or more per square foot.
	Brazilian walnut: Brazilian walnut varies in color from light yellow to dark brown. It is extremely hard, which can make it a more difficult material to work with. Its strength does make it incredibly durable, however. It costs in the range of $8- $13 per square foot.
	Santos mahogany: A beautiful dark, reddish brown, Santos mahogany offers an even texture and grain. It is very hard, and very durable. It runs approximately $7 or more per square foot.

Sources:
EcoTimber
1611 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
415.258.8454 (tel)
415.258.8455 (fax)
http://www.ecotimber.com/