The Simple Combination for Beauty and Tranquility in a Bathroom: Natural light and a naturally light white oak vanity

The interplay between sunlight and the organic material of a beautiful white oak cabinet in this bathroom brings joy. I love seeing a space come to life, and wood, like water, speaks to our primordial soul. Perhaps it hearkens back to our time ten million years ago, surrounded by trees that we learned to use to build our homes, ingraining it into our DNA. A well-made wooden product can bring a sense of peace and calm.

All the elements contribute: the pattern of the grain, which, like ocean waves, is predictably unpredictable. The different shades of the grain, as they naturally occur, contribute to the overall color. It is the role of the craftsman to select, join, and build the piece to fit together, while also allowing for flexibility to accommodate the inherent movement in wood. This movement adds to the strength. The colors and patterns of the wood contribute to the overall color of the piece. If you turn a plank from the same tree in a different direction, the pattern of the grain will reflect light in a different way. The inconsistencies of natural materials, like the unique features in the faces of those you love, contribute to the character that makes the piece beautiful.

Checkout all the pictures of this beautiful bathroom in the California Hills.

JUICEswell in Ventura CA built out its new shop with Native Oak millwork

Ventura, CA residents sort of “have it all” when it comes to what Southern California has to offer. They have beaches, waves, sunshine, hills for hiking, a tidy downtown scene for dining, and great people and businesses. What they were missing: a spot to grab an açaí bowl and juice steps away from the beach. Well, JUICEswell stepped in and filled that glaring gap.

As it says on their website:

Juice Swell began as a dream on Pierpont. We had a vision for local, organic food options that ranged from kitchen made choices to “Grab and Go” health. We believe that life on the beach offers a head start to good health and that Juice Swell can fill the gap by providing healthy, organic, vegetable and fruit based food and drink choices that will fuel you and leave you feeling energized.

Our aspiration is that we use locally sourced produce grown in the Ventura County area as much as possible. We are working with local farmers every day. We know that what goes into our food is the most important aspect of our business and we will only work with farmers who value the planet and treat their employees with fairness.

If you’re looking for some incredible locally sourced juices, ride your ebike down to JUICEswell at the Tydal building, grab a juice, and stroll the beach. It is the Ventura lifestyle. And while you’re there, check out the Native Oak handiwork for the benches, floating shelves, and the custom central counter.

Montecito Kitchen Remodel - Collaboration

A Team Effort Between Three of Ventura's Premier Interior Companies

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This gorgeous full kitchen and bathroom remodel in Montecito, CA was a collaboration between Native Oak, Alyssa Daly of Designs Daly and QCP Construction. Both companies do great work and represent Ventura County and Santa Barbara County really well. Much of the cabinetry design was actually done by Alyssa, and we were tasked with executing her particular vision. Photos by Raya Carlisle.

Long runs of unbroken cabinetry

Rather than building many smaller cabinets, we chose a face frame design in which the cabinets are continuous throughout the run.

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Unique Overlay

Typical overlay on cabinetry is either full overlay (no gaps), or 1/2" overlay (large gaps). The overlay on these cabinets is between the two. So there is a reveal or gap, but it's smaller than usual. This gives the cabinetry a casual feel without being rustic.

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East End Ventura Transformation

This wonderful Ventura family welcomed us into their home and trusted us to help them renew it. The results are just lovely. This is why we do this, to make our customers' homes full of light, life, and comfort. We teamed up with Raya Carlisle for these spectacular photos. Check out all the photos and some of the design logic here.

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Bathroom Vanity Cabinet and OSHA

Inset Vanity Cabinet

I've been watching the construction of this bathroom cabinet. I confess to having a love of white oak cabinetry, but I'm pretty excited to see this cabinet finished and installed. Check back in nativeoak.com/bathrooms for updates.

Van Nuys and OSHA

We were fortunate enough last spring to receive a visit from OSHA. Every manufacturer lives in fear of those visits, but the reality is that employee safety is the most important thing. We are all in this together for our livelihood, and it's government entities like OSHA that help keep us manufacturers accountable and aware of the need to protect our employees. Yesterday I went to Van Nuys, CA for an informal conference with OSHA, and I am pleased to say it went well. Also, OSHA in Van Nuys has a cool courtyard view from their office.

The view of the building's courtyard from OSHA's Van Nuys, CA office.

The view of the building's courtyard from OSHA's Van Nuys, CA office.

Finding a place where everything has its place

I think everyone could use a space where your thinking is done, where things are in the right place, and there is a place for every thing. For Sam, it's her closet. Read more here...

Diane Keaton and Jack Nicholson, we found your Ventura retirement spot

Sometimes I get carried away, but I like to imagine that Jack and Diane really got together after "Something's Gotta Give” and they decided to move to Pierpont in Ventura. If so, we found their perfect house!

My memory of the house in that movie is of bookshelves and a classic kitchen lit by the natural light from the beach and the ocean. The neutral colors and shades of white enhance that unique beach sunlight. Of course that house was in the Hamptons, but this gorgeous house in the Ventura neighborhood of Pierpont is classic California. Native Oak was able to partner with the owners in creating the kitchen, closets, bathroom, garage, laundry, and pantry. 

The rest of the photos from this Pierpont gem can be found here.

And just for fun, check out the "Something's Gotta Give" trailer.  

Native Oak Featured in Ventana Magazine

Our co-owner, Keith Repult, has finished his custom home in Pierpont and it is featured in Ventana Magazine! We like to think of the beautiful kitchens and closets in their home as "show-rooms", but that's just an excuse to hang out there more often.

Of course we already hinted at this house in an earlier post, but now it has finally been completed and Keith and family have moved in.

In more exciting news, we hired the amazing Raya Carlisle to photography the house for us. So stay tuned for some amazing photos.

Native Oak Design Center

Design is a plan for arranging elements in such a way as best to accomplish a particular purpose. 
Charles Eames

Charles Eames is one of my design heroes. I believe in the simplicity of design, but I also know that custom kitchens and closets are complicated. So we are revamping our Design Center to help create simple looking designs, that meet the purpose (a beautiful kitchen) without technical or design errors.

Our goal is to give our designers and our customers a place to sit down with plans, samples, drawings, and a computer, to put the design together. For a good kitchen or cabinetry project design, it's important that all the details are handled properly. We're creating a space for our customers and our designers to work together so that the project can be designed properly from the beginning.

Go to nativeoak.com/contact to set up an appointment with us. We'll have coffee ready for you!

Betty Draper, we found your new spot in Midtown Ventura

This time-machine kitchen is ready for Don and Betty Draper to entertain some guests! Check out more information here: nativeoak.com/kitchens

From the Shop Floor #6

A Table Masquerading as a Vanity

From the shop floor - this table with mortise and tenon legs which is to become a vanity with a granite top. Stay tuned for updates on this piece!

Sep 8, 2016 Update: the table/vanity has been painted and shipped!

From the Shop Floor #5

Bench Seating in a Cabinet Shop?

Benches and banquettes are a great use of space, especially if you have school age kids. I don't know about you, but my dining room table is covered in homework, pencils, books, erasers, and markers from September through June every year. A cushioned bench is a perfect place to do that homework.

Today, walking through the shop, I spotted this interesting bench that has three sides and two angles. I'll be curious to see how this beast installs!