Things to Know
At Roseland, we are proud to finish our beds by hand, the old fashioned way. We don’t spray, use lacquers or polys, and we don’t do VOCs. Here are some of the ways this might be different to what you’re used to:
Natural Color Shifts
Cherry wood starts light and darkens significantly in the first three months. From months 3 to 12, the darkening slows, reaching a deep, rich tone with red undertones. Walnut starts as a deep brown and gradually lightens over time. In the first three months walnut’s tone becomes warmer and lighter. From months 3 to 6, the change slows as it settles into a medium brown with golden or amber tones. In our opinion, the mature tones of both woods are preferable to the initial ones.
Linseed oil means a breathable, naturally coarser finish.
Many furniture companies seal their wood with an additive layer that closes the grain and can be sanded to a near mirror finish - the lacquer or polyurethane is being sanded rather than the wood itself. With a breathable oil finish, the wood’s grain is exposed, which is naturally coarser than sanded polyurethane or lacquers.
Solid wood and humidity can mean seasonal movement
In winter, low humidity from furnace heat can lower the humidity content in the wood and dry it somewhat. If you encounter creaks, the first thing to do is to lubricate the wood-on-wood joints of the bed with a beeswax furniture paste.