Wenge is an African tree, which belongs to the noble, expensive breeds. Its wood of the same color is used to decorate luxury apartments. The core of a tree trunk is characterized by high density and a special, dark shade. Podkorye less wear-resistant and has a rich range of colors: from light gray to the tone of molten gold. Because of such a wide gradation, the color of wenge sometimes implies completely different shades of wood. Although more often so called the classic tone of the "chocolate" core. The material has the original texture of the natural pattern: distinct black “streaks” on a lighter background.
The color of wenge in the interior is combined with expensive styles that put luxury above all. These include classic, baroque, rococo, modern, loft and even elegant art nouveau. Although the shade of noble wood can decorate any surface up to plastic, but the touch of chic and high cost, typical of natural wood, does not disappear anywhere. Let us consider in detail the features of color and options for combining it with other tones of the palette, how to use it in interior design.
Color features
The color of the wenge tree grown under the scorching rays of the merciless sun of a hot Africa, like some local deities, is many-sided and has many “faces”. As mentioned above, in the traditional version, the shade is dark. It is a cross between rich chocolate, sometimes turning into black, and a light dark brown tone. Wenge color is used in furniture, finishing materials and in the design of entrance, interior doors. In the role of an inconspicuous decorative shade, it does not appear at all, since it has a strong, powerful energy dominant. The interior, where wenge prevails, can be described as concise, prestigious, strict. The color will easily “strangle” the bright “neighbors”, as in any composition he gets the leading position, regardless of the tint dosage. Wenge is chosen by people with a strong character, conservatives at heart, who prefer stability in everything, including in their own home. To a greater extent, it is considered "male", as the color of African wood, due to its uncompromising nature, will not get along in the women's boudoir.
Possible shades
To imitate the texture of wenge only natural pattern is important. Characteristic exclusively for him veins have "torn" edges. They vaguely resemble patterns on the skin of an exotic African reptile or “divorces” on the water surface with a strong current breaking against obstacles. The texture can flaunt on different backgrounds:
- Bitter chocolate. Saturated color in combination with a black pattern, depending on the play of light, looks different.
- Traditional brown. A shade a little lighter than chocolate, does not have a similar depth, but quickly loses its “vagueness” in combination with an unusual texture.
- Beige. Light tone, which may have wenge wood, located closer to the bark. It shimmers in shades (from cream to light walnut) and contrasts with the textural woody ornament. The surface will be different saturation, so it is recommended to use it in accents.
- Violet. A rare shade, which ranks among the exotic options. The depth of tone allows you to embody the most original interior ideas.
- Wine red. Noble classic tone. It is considered to be a pleasing line of styles of the past centuries, which for the sake of luxury sometimes refused convenience.
- Ash gray. Rare, but fashionable shade. Used in high-tech, minimalism and even provence.
Also there are nut, honey, cream and sand-caramel shades. Under each room should choose a separate color that matches its unique atmosphere.
Wenge and other color palette
The color compatibility of the classic wenge with other shades does not cause any difficulties for professional designers or novice designers. The thing is, the shade is almost neutral. It is as close to black as possible, therefore it plays on almost any background. However, you need to combine wenge with teammates in style. When creating an interior composition, usually several colors are selected that are traditionally used in the chosen direction. In classical styles, these will be shades of brown, white, olive, beige, cream, and burgundy. In experimental versions (ethnics, fusion) allow combination with green, red, blue, yellow. Bright colors can argue on the color activity with wenge, so the composition risks getting too "alive." In this situation, it is better not to use more than two dominant shades.
When combined with another tree, perhaps the best combination is considered wenge-bleached oak. Both types of wood are noble breeds and have an original texture. The freshness of the milky shade of bleached oak contrasts against the background of dark wenge.
For which rooms is suitable
Wenge refers to the colors of the station wagon. In strict styles, he organically joins the premises of any type. In the fronts of the kitchen furniture set, the color will be in perfect harmony with the classic curtains on the floor and luxurious marble worktop in the dining area. In the hallway wenge is used to decorate doors, slopes and sometimes for decorating the flooring. The bedroom is a dwelling place, therefore more compromise shades of African wood are chosen for it. In the living room color is used in the furnishing, decoration of the walls and floor. The conciseness of tone is suitable for a serious hall, where guests gather mainly for intellectual conversations or reading books. In the bathroom, wenge is rarely used, since in typical apartments these rooms cannot boast of large spaces. The dark shade of them will reduce even more, but the light tones of African wood (ashen, beige) often decorate the surface of furniture, which favorably emphasizes the whiteness of plumbing.
On the advice of designers, the color of wenge should not be used in the design of children's rooms. The too serious situation that he creates does not correspond to the bright and colorful world of the child.
Wenge for the execution of cabinet and built-in furniture
The color of the noble tree originally from Africa is actively used in the manufacture of built-in and cabinet furniture. It is used in cabinets, cabinets, shelves, racks, sofas, beds, tables and coffee tables. The best option is when wenge-colored furniture plays against a lighter background. The combination of a contrasting concept will emphasize the exotic luxury of surfaces. However, this solution has its drawbacks. Unfortunately, water leaks, drops and fingerprints are clearly visible against a dark background. Systematic cleaning problem is eradicated. If the furniture is not only the color of this wood, but also made of it, then the owners will have to take care of the surface protection. The sun will be the most terrible test for her, paradoxically it sounds. The inner layers, left without the protection of the bark, quickly fade and lose their color saturation. Over time, the facade will take on the look as if trying to whiten it, but unsuccessfully.
Furniture Ensembles
Wenge furniture has an original ability - the ability to bring discipline, conciseness, strict geometry into the interior. The most popular kitchen sets, made in this color. The severity of the palette is diluted with bright aprons, curtains, textiles or small decor. In order to visually “pull out” a room with squat ceilings, the bottom of the headset is performed in dark wenge, and the top is decorated in light coffee and milk shades. By the way, in the same situation, you can use a win-win option: bleached oak and an African tree. As mentioned above, this color of respectability is considered dominant. This rule applies even to the brightest of its shades. For this reason, in large-sized headsets that stretch all the way to the ceiling, wenge is necessarily diluted with other paints and surfaces. Otherwise, it will crush, exacerbating the problem of massiveness of furniture and creating a gloomy, caricature-gothic interior. Glass (plain and etched), decoracryl, lacomat and in rare cases plastic are used as additional surfaces (since it does not harmonize with a luxurious woody tone). Perhaps the most popular type of furniture, which is performed in the color of the African tree, are storage systems of any type. Cabinets (compartments and hinged), wardrobes, shelves, open and closed shelves with an exotic coating will decorate any room and style. They are in harmony with both classical furniture (wenge-bleached oak, beech), and with modern options (glass, metal with steel shine, mirrors).
Wenge furniture as an accent
The classic color of wenge (the heart of the tree) is dark, therefore it is not suitable for background performance in small spaces. It is used as accents that are easily balanced with lighter tones. For example, in small kitchens, dark wenge in chairs and a bar counter will be in harmony with the pastel colors of the facades of the headset. Often the shades of the African tree are chosen for the design of tabletops or hoods. These zones favorably emphasize the severity of the furniture set, but at the same time they are slightly away from the "thick" culinary fights. In living rooms in wenge, often only make out coffee tables. They may overlap in tone with hues of puffs, armchairs or chandeliers. In country houses the stairs to the second floor look luxuriously, the balusters of which are decorated in this noble color. In offices, the use of desks in shades of wenge is relevant. In addition, they are decorated with stylish organizers to match.
Wenge finish in modern interior
In the decoration of the premises wenge is used with extreme caution. The reason for this was his color “aggression” in relation to other tones of the background and the impossibility of using it in close spaces. Usually shade is used in structural elements or in accent zones.
Coatings
The color of the African tree walls are not completely finished. No matter how spacious the room is, such a decision will cast doubt on the taste of the owners. Wenge is used in the decoration of only one accent wall or part thereof. They rarely veneer the surface with solid wood because of the high cost, but MDF manufacturers have already learned how to imitate the texture of noble wood. Laminate also reliably repeats the natural pattern of wenge and is suitable for finishing the flooring in spacious rooms. Organically, it looks in combination with hand-made rugs in the framework of ethnic style.
Structural elements
Ceiling beams, moldings, supports, inserts and even decorative columns (hollow inside) are just a small list of structural elements in which they use a noble color. On a light background, any of these details looks spectacular and stylish. The special color of the room, decorated "antique" will give the ceiling beams of dark color, combined with the white of the plaster. Such a composition is suitable for a chalet, country or Provence. But in any other style, the structural elements of wenge color are adapted to the particular situation.
Conclusion
Wenge wood is resistant to mold and mildew, and in terms of wear resistance is not inferior to oak. Its texture is so dense and fibrous that the boards are not only difficult to process, but also to varnish. For this reason, the surface is traditionally subjected to waxing. A couple of decades ago, wenge wood and its shades were available only for luxury apartments. In our time, the price of African rarity has not decreased. But the manufacturers of imitations have learned how to recreate its texture so well that with a naked eye it is difficult to distinguish the “fake” from the original. The color of wenge is also noble, as is the wood of this tree. Not everyone dares to choose it as the main one in the interior of their housing. Just because all the design will have to adjust under the shade, and not vice versa.
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