Researching Wood Finishes To Meet Design Objectives
Welcome. You have arrived at the first stop in the 9Wood Field Guide.
This page launches your early design discovery, where you can explore ceiling and wall finish concepts, shape palettes, and gather inspiration for what the space could become. The goal is to engage your client with ideas that are visually compelling while beginning to consider how those finishes support functional needs and align with early budget and schedule expectations.
Before exploring the range of ceiling and wall finishes, take a moment to orient yourself.
Why You’re Here
At this stage of the design process, your role is to explore the right questions before committing to solutions:
- What does this space need to do?
- What roles can ceiling and wall finishes play in meeting those needs?
- What should the space feel like?
- Which finish types may be appropriate?
- How might these options align with budget and schedule expectations?
- How do you build excitement and confidence with your client?
This first stop helps you approach these questions with visual and credible insights to support early discussions, especially when a client asks, “What is the best option for our space?”
As you move through this section, you will find tools and guidance to help clarify the intended role of your ceiling or wall finish, explore available forms and aesthetic directions, and begin evaluating feasibility. Together, these resources provide the clarity and context needed to guide early design thinking and productive discussions.
1
Researching Wood Finishes To
Meet Design Objectives
15 min read
Alvar Aalto: The Father of Modern Wood Ceilings
A Case Study of Mount Angel Abbey Library Alvar Aalto rests fully in the twentieth century as one of its defining architects. Yet through his use of organic form and natural material, he speaks today at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The use of wood, a favorite material in his architectural finishes, was both …
4 min read
3 Reasons We Work at 9Wood
We interviewed 9 employees at 9Wood on why they work here. These stories honor the production experience and what it takes to make award winning wood ceilings.
6 min read
Design Guide for Common Types of Wood Paneling
Anyone who has visited a library, airport, restaurant, church, or college campus has been exposed to a variety of wood paneling types. A natural insulator, wood paneling added to a wall or ceiling brings warmth and an organic aesthetic to a space. Wood provides a timeless, yet inviting look that really stands out. If you’re …
Don’t forget the crackers! We use cookies to offer you a better site experience and to analyze site traffic. Read about how we use cookies in our