| Project by tallpaul | posted 196 days ago | 393 views | 0 times favorited | 15 comments |  |
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I built a partial kitchen in what used to be office space, converting the top floor of my house into a rental, which will eventually be guest quarters for friends and family. I wanted a look similar to cherry, but used Lyptus, which is a relatively cheap fast growing hybrid farmed wood, sustainable, straight grained and easy to work with. The only problem I found was that the plywood was made of relatively narrow sections, and showed a repeating vertical grain pattern. I’m guessing the Lyptus doesn’t grow very big in diameter before being harvested. Happily, the result was okay after the effect was muted in the finishing stage. I used maple panels to lighten the look and make things more interesting. There’s a little color variation in the maple, but I think it will equalize as the color mellows. It’s finished with varathane cherry stain and polyurethane.
I did the tile work and backsplash in tumbled stone, and dropped in a stainless sink, disposer, and microwave/hood.The project really answered a need because I wanted to use the limited space I had really well, and stock cabinets wouldn’t allow me to get the layout just right. It pays to be a woodworker!
-- tallpaul
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15 comments so far
WoodJack49
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189 posts in 215 days
posted 196 days ago
I’ve used lyptus solids on a few small projects and really liked the color, especially after it aged a bit. It’s a good complimentary color to walnut and maple.
The kitchen looks great. The maple panels work well with the lyptus.
-- Jack - Mission Viejo, Calif
Napaman
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1635 posts in 529 days
posted 196 days ago
looks great…interesting find on the lyptus…is it readily avaialble everywhere???
-- Matt, Napa, CA...177 days to sanity...
tallpaul
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11 posts in 208 days
posted 196 days ago
Matt, I see you’re in Napa. I’m not too far from you here in Santa Cruz, so I’m guessing you’ll be able to find it locally, though not at the Home Depot etc. Check with your hardwood supplier. I have no idea about availability nationwide. Anyone ??
-- tallpaul
jockmike2
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4054 posts in 699 days
posted 196 days ago
Very nice looking wood. Nice looking kitchen. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
cajunpen
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5352 posts in 518 days
posted 196 days ago
Nice looking kitchen. Small, but functional. I also like the Lyptus.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
Grumpy
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4924 posts in 303 days
posted 196 days ago
That wood is a real centrepiece. Great job.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
grumpycarp
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174 posts in 198 days
posted 196 days ago
Looks good! About how much is lyptus per b.f.?
Jiri Parkman
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552 posts in 265 days
posted 196 days ago
Beautiful wood. Perfect job.
-- Jiri
Scott Bryan
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8589 posts in 274 days
posted 196 days ago
Hi Tallpaul.
The cabinets look good. You saved $$ by doing the work yourself which is important if you are going to be using this area as rental space. Nice job.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
sonny
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50 posts in 197 days
posted 196 days ago
Great looking cabinets! (You may have a hard time getting your guest to leave)
-- Sonny Edgwood,Md.
motthunter
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1172 posts in 251 days
posted 196 days ago
lyptus is a hybrid of eucalyptus and was developed in Brazil. It grow much faster, straighter, and with less defects than eucalyptus. It is also completely reforested wood so it is also environmentally friendly. In summary… is good stuff! Really hard and durable
-- making sawdust....
CharlieM1958
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3993 posts in 671 days
posted 196 days ago
Looks really good! What type of construction did you use on the doors? I can’t tell for sure from the photos.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
WoodJack49
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189 posts in 215 days
posted 196 days ago
Grumpycarp – The lyptus that I bought for my small projects cost $4.72/bf for 4/4 FAS S4S. I bought it from a regional lumber/hardware store here in So. Cal. Their prices tend to be somewhat higher for hardwood than the “real” hardwood sellers but, I haven’t checked the “real” hardwood sellers for lyptus yet.
-- Jack - Mission Viejo, Calif
Blake
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1902 posts in 327 days
posted 196 days ago
Really nice, Tallpaul. I like the look of Lyptus a lot but have never used it. It’s very “bold” and warm looking for cabinets.
-- Dust collectors suck.
tallpaul
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11 posts in 208 days
posted 194 days ago
Charlie,
The doors are very conventional, just stub tenons in long mortises (dados?) that accomodate the flat panels as well. I used a rip blade in two passes on the table saw, to center the groove, and then used a tenoning jig to cut the tenons.
-- tallpaul