Rob Yagid, Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Inspiration for a country great room remodel in Other

Green (wet) timber shrinks as it dries. It shrinks roughly twice as much along the growth rings as it does across the rings–which is why timber develops drying checks. These checks have almost no effect on the strength of the timber, and engineers take checking into account in their calculations. Aesthetically, we like checks, and think of them like wrinkles in a cotton shirt–it proves the timber is real (and not a box beam). Checking can be minimized to a certain extent. For example: specifying FOHC (Free of Heart Center), selecting a timber species with less shrinkage, slowing the drying process, or purchasing dry timber (reclaimed or radio frequency kiln dried) and orienting the checks in specific timbers so as to be less visible (i.e. toward an outside wall). In the timber industry, a drying check is not the same thing as a split. A check almost always stops at the heart (the center of the tree) of the timber, whereas a split breaks the timber into 2 pieces. © Carolina Timberworks

Reconfiguration of the exising kitchen/living room area yielded a more gracious entertaining space with unobstructed views and natural lighting. The pre-finished flooring is a 5" width plank from Dansk Hardwood: Vintage Birch Hard-scraped Solid in the "Toast" finish with satin sheen. Last I checked, it was discontinued by the manufacturer.

Beach style brown tile and ceramic tile powder room photo in Grand Rapids with shaker cabinets, gray cabinets and quartzite countertops

Inspiration for a transitional medium tone wood floor and orange floor kitchen remodel in Manchester with an undermount sink, blue cabinets, gray backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Todd Stone
Mid-sized elegant medium tone wood floor enclosed dining room photo in Atlanta with gray walls

Inspiration for a contemporary open concept medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room remodel in Seattle with white walls and a two-sided fireplace

Photo: Hoi Ning Wong © 2014 Houzz Design: Sarah Warto, Boxleaf Design
Inspiration for a craftsman landscaping in San Francisco.

Inspiration for a transitional light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in Salt Lake City with gray walls and a standard fireplace

Angle Eye Photography
Inspiration for a large timeless brick floor entryway remodel in Philadelphia with gray walls and a white front door

Photo by Donna Dotan Photography Inc.
Transitional laundry room photo in New York with white cabinets, a side-by-side washer/dryer and white countertops

Example of a trendy carpeted living room design in Omaha with a ribbon fireplace, a wall-mounted tv and beige walls

Example of a mountain style beige tile and travertine tile pebble tile floor alcove shower design in Sacramento with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, beige walls and white countertops

Audrey Hall
Example of a trendy bathroom design in Other

Michael Hsu
Alcove shower - large contemporary master white tile and stone tile dark wood floor alcove shower idea in Austin with open cabinets, white cabinets and white walls

Easton, Maryland Traditional Kitchen Design by #JenniferGilmer with a lake view http://gilmerkitchens.com/ Photography by Bob Narod