At mod livin' we constantly get the question from our customers: "Should I buy solid wood or a wood veneer dining table?"
Because of the dry climate in Colorado we have found that much of the solid wood vintage items we buy have expanded over time, which can lead to cracks/splits and warping of the furniture. If you are in the market for a table and have your heart set on a solid wood option, mod livin' would recommend newly manufactured wood pieces such as the MASH STUDIOS LAX edge dining table. As you can see, it is designed so that these issues would not happen. Especially in our dry climate in Colorado - this is something to take into consideration when purchasing solid wood furniture.
If you decide to go with a wood veneer - which is a thin slice of natural wood that is attached through gluing or pressing onto a panel of fiberboard or particleboard. In furniture, wood veneers give the appearance of an all-wood piece, when in reality only the surface is taken from natural wood. With the veneer option, it is a minimal amount of natural wood, which makes it more affordable and environmentally friendly. It, also, showcases the beauty of a classic table without the worry of wood splintering or warping. A perfect example of this would be the BLU DOT Second Best 76 Wood Dining Table. It is a gorgeous and amazing design.
Years ago veneer had such a bad "rap" - people assumed they were cheap and "less than" solid wood furniture. This isn't completely unearned - the design and manufacture was sub-par compared to today's process/design. The process and materials that are used today are a far cry from the old way of manufacturing these pieces.
It is possible to mitigate the damage to a solid wood piece of furniture by using a humidifier, evaporative cooler, or steam heat in your home. These put moisture back in the atmosphere and help protect your solid wood furniture. Also, keeping your wood pieces oiled and clean help to decrease the damage dry air can do.
At mod livin' we have several examples of solid wood and veneered furniture. Stop in to the showroom and take a look around - it's always a fun place to spend time - good company and beautiful design in one giant showroom!
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