Our favorite technique: 800 years old, yet contemporary!
Here we are, taking the first steps into the place where all the magic happens. Every Wood’d good is conceived in our 100 square meters factory, 30 kilometers away from Milano, Italy. In a space where not only woodworking matters, but also design, graphics, art, illustration. In these pages we’ll give you an in-depth look at the driving inspirations behind our collections. Pretty hard not to start from the technique that first made Wood’d what it is: inlay. “What a revelation!” some of you can argue. Just have a look here, and you’ll see. Cheers!!!!
Inlay decoration is the most appreciated (and our favorite, we must say) of the manufacturing techniques we use. It finds its roots in ancient age. It consists in inserting elements of different colors or materials in a base object, to create a more complex artwork.
Inlaying is one of the more precious, and costly, techniques. Why is that? Because it takes time, neatness and experience. We love it so much because we can rethink the technique with its contemporary acceptation, and translate it into a common and daily object such as an iPhone wooden cover, for instance.
When you work with wood, compromising is never a good idea. In inlay decoration selection becomes fundamental. The veneer doesn’t have to be any defective, not too many knots and veins quite regular. Like this, when the work is done, the graphic game done by the “puzzle” is well perceived.
Inlaying is a range of techniques in decorative art for inserting pieces of contrasting, often colored materials in a base object to form a more complex artwork.
We all know it. Digital has fastened production processes. Our inlays are designed on digital software and laser-cut, in order to reach details and precision unthinkable a few years ago. The purists of woodworking would shout out as we are traitors! Well, as we love to say: digital let designers throw down the walls of what’s technical in order to increase creativity. Every pattern can now be inlayed, every design achievable. Pretty cool, isn’t it?
BUT! If technology let any shape to be cut, assembling is all another history. This meticulous step has to be handmade. Guess what? We love it! It’s pretty hard not to be fascinated by this old-fashioned process. It recalls the game of puzzle, only with wood, glue and splinters.
Last but not least: varnishing. Because of it your cover will survive dinners with friends and free days at parks. Varnishing is what make the wood resistant and repellant.
When we design we try not to forget what mentioned above. The roots that made these techniques eternal have to be respected. With the Block and the Tumble Cover we were inspired by the classic floors of the early years of 20th century. With the Inlay Walnut, Pink, Blue we were influenced by the abstract art and modern color theories.
