Modern Living and Country feelings
Although modern living can feel a bit cold at times, there are many ways you can bring some country characteristics into your home making it feel warm and welcoming. 

The key is finding a balance to combine both natural and man made elements through furniture, lighting, artwork and accessories.   This can be done whether your interior is modern, traditional or somewhere in between.

Artwork 

Artwork can be a great way to bring in pops of color while still maintaining an overall earth tone palette. 

Look for paintings that have various forms of wildlife so your home can feel more connected with nature. ​

For further guidance on giving your city home a country vibe contact Kevin Gray Interiors at 403-453-6860 or send us an email at kevin@kevingrayinteriors.com

Protection
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Staining can help protect your timbers from checking, drying out and shrinking.  Staining will aid the wood in maintaining its condition for a longer time period. It will also strengthen the wood's resistance to stains, odors and general wear and tear. ​

Oil finishes are also a great alternative to stains and can give extra moisture which will help, especially in dryer climates. 

Enhancement
Stain and oil finishes enhance the wood's character, color and texture. When selecting, you can choose natural tones to enhance the natural color of the wood, which celebrates the tonal character of the wood species itself.  Or, you can use a colored stain to change the mood and make it bolder while enhancing the grain patterns and its natural beauty.  

Oil finishes are traditionally not colored due to the nature of the oil itself,  but you can get some varieties with color added. This type of product can be great for embracing and revealing the natural aesthetics of the wood, and its ease of use.

Maintenance and Ease of Use 

There are differences in the maintenance regime between oil and stain finishes. the benefit to a homeowner to using oil finishes is that they can maintain it with little to no professional help. With marks, scratches or stains oil can be used to just rub on one spot without noticing a difference between the old or new finish. Staining requires the finish to be applied to the entire timber to avoid problematic color variation costing extra time and money. 

The ease of application of oil finishes are also an attractive feature in using them;  most natural oils only require a single application.  Whereas with stains, you will generally always require a minimum of two and sometimes up to three coats upon initial application.

Maintenance requirements will be dependent on how much the exterior of your home is exposed to weather, sunlight and extreme temperature changes. On average expect to have to do re application once every three years for exteriors. 

Health
Since a timber home has so much wood that needs to be stained, and much of this is on the interior of the home,  we recommend using environmentally and health friendly stains or oils whenever possible.  Minimizing the VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) levels in your timber home will not only help the environment but also will not pose any risks to your health. We recommend for anyone who suffers from lung problems or allergies to look into your options available prior to selecting stain colors or types.  Be sure to do your research to keep you and your family healthy. 

For more information on stain vs oil finishes Kevin Gray Interiors can help you make an informed decision for your timber home . 

 Call us today for a complimentary discussion. #403 453 6860