I have an upcoming project that is all about color.I do not have a particularly good eye for color—and so I would appreciate some suggestions.
The project is a table with a top approx. 22″x22″. A piece of purple slate will be inset into the top.
If you are not familiar with slate colors—the purple IS NOT purple in a “Gilbert Grape ” sense—-but rather more in the dark maroon vearing towards brownish purple.
I need a wood species that will accentuate that color and I am not certain how to proceed.
Additional info: I built the prototype for this table using cherry and a piece of green slate. The slight reddish cast to the cherry, combined with it’s figuring worked very well with the grey/green slate.
However, I notice that a green plant placed on the slate will bring out the green color in the slate MORE—and ,say a blue colored book placed on the table will accentuate a blue grey color in the slate.
The purple slate against the cherry does not work at all.
I am not really interested in staining the piece—-more interested in a hand rubbed oil.
the room the piece will live in for the next year or so has A LOT of oak.
I can see that something like a light Ash might contrast and emphasize the purple—-and the whole project might stand out more from the somewhat darker oak woodwork.
On the other hand—I wonder if there might be something a bit more unusual with more of a purplish cast naturally in the wood that might work.
Project will not consume a lot of materials—so cost of the wood is not a primary issue—-almost irrelevant—-the full spectrum of cost is available for suggestions. A wood with an interesting figure would be a bonus as I have already seen that figured woods work well with the texture and veining of slate.
Please advise—–and thank you for your help
Stephen
Replies
Stephen_Haz,
Purpleheart?? ...it would blend with the top ....not really accentuate. As you noted, what gets accentuated in the top is determined by what is on it...
I just turned some to make toys....it quickly turns to a more purple/brown..but the deep purple color is still there...
"The project is a table with a top approx. 22"x22". A piece of purple slate will be inset into the top. ... If you are not familiar with slate colors---the purple IS NOT purple in a "Gilbert Grape " sense----but rather more in the dark maroon vearing towards brownish purple. ..."
Stephen,
Wenge could be a good choice. Being almost black, it would tend to be neutral against the 'purple' slate. The base of the table could be black walnut to reduce the cost somewhat.
Black walnut could be a good choice for the whole table if you can hand-pick your material. I've got some small pieces of black walnut that have coloration ranging from very dark brown through brown and extending to a purple-ish brown. The right combination could set off the slate well.
Regards,
Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting
Click Here if you're interested in a good,inexpensive website host.
Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
If you want an accenting complement color, go to the opposite side of the color wheel. For purple, this will be something in a yellow tone. East Indian Satinwood is a nice yellow color and it works well. It would also look good with brown tones.
Your other choices for almost-always-good-accents are whites and blacks; wenge has been mentioned (although it's a pain to work with. For whites, think maple, etc.
I would avoid purple on purple, purple on red, and purple on brown.
If you lack a good color guide to woods, try hearnehardwoods.com for their on-line lumber inventory. The colors aren't the best on-screen, but you will get some ideas.
Good luck
I'm on that page too, thinking maple for the light contrast. if Haz wants a purple tomned wood in there, he should separate with a line of white or yellow from the purple slate
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Hey Piffen,
I was surprised to see YOU in here----but then I realized if they let riff-raff like ME in here----thy likely greet you with open arms. LOL
My thanks and gratitude to Paul-----who I believe mentioned maple first. He got me thinking yesterday quite a bit.
I had not fully considered maple before because all of the maple I have worked with previously has been rather gym floor bland.
then I remembered I had a book that showed a picture of a cabinet with quarter sawn white oak case and doors----with birds eye maple drawers.
I hunted out the picture and thought about it all day. I think quarter sawn white oak will work just right for the tapered legs and birds eye maple for the apron and top.I may possibly do a thin(maybe 1/4") ebony inset picture framed around the slate.
the more I think about it the purple heart and even the walnut will overwelm the slate.
Given the pieces' likely habitat----I have to choose species with characteristics that work well with the nature of the slate----think of other things besides color----like texture,character, patina etc.
thanks again, Stephen
Just my opinion, but I think I'd go with the maple too.
Gilmer's maple page has a lot of the non-GymFloor variety if you need ideas.
http://www.gilmerwood.com/instrument_wood-maples.htm
strange to find two retired roofers talking about fine woods eh?Glad you are finding good things to do in this off season
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Stephen
My first thought was towards black walnut or white oak, hows that for a definitive answer. Seriously, also look at the surrounding decor to assist your choice.
Don
I love it when I hear that money is on object, so let me start by suggesting Pink Ivory, or snakewood, and there are a host of rosewoods which come to mind. Why don't you snoop around this site. They have good sample photos of all of their inventory.
http://www.gilmerwood.com/Default.htm
thanks to all for the suggestions so far
after looking into the link kindly suggested by rootburl-----------
I see that the Purpleheart suggested is very close to the color of the slate---although the slate isn't as vibrant---having a little more of a brown tone.Thinking on purplewood makes me suspect that the wood would tend to camaflage the slate color.
Interested in Wenge ( also ebony)----but for ANOTHER project----ya see I have this lovely piece of BLACK slate with wonderful silver grey veining........
I had already considered walnut----I had even seen a picture of some with purplish tones-----but in the back of my mind I have never really liked walnut pieces I have seen----and one in particular seems to kind of hide the slate color up against it-----
I haven't been able to find a color sample of East Indian Satinwood----but I am thinking maybe a lighter shade IS the way to go----Which is why I was earlier thinking of a very light ash-----however the flat sawn " flame pattern on Ash ( and often oak----isn't what I am after.------will the Satinwood have any kind of figuring in it?----This piece is gonna sit in a corner for a year or so surrounded by a lot of oak bookcases----so I have to take in account the slate----and also the surrounding woodwork.
I am gonna try to find a sample of the east indian satinwood-----but maybe If I give up the idea of a figured grain-----I could use a quarter sawn white oak----keep the finish light----the purple slate will jump out and the wood will still look good against the surrounding bookcases,baseboards etc.
Thanks to all for your suggestions so far,
Stephen
You can find nice photos of bees-wing satinwood at the veneer supplier certainly wood. Bees-wing is just another name for a small block mottle figure. Here is the link.
http://www.certainlywood.com/
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled