Wide plank rift and quartered white oak, a herringbone foyer and WOCA Natural Oil Extra White in an Upper Montclair, New Jersey home.
Planning a white oak floor for your New Jersey home? Call Joe Avila at 908-232-6600 or book a virtual consultation.
Some of the most beautiful floors are also the simplest. In a private residence in Upper Montclair, New Jersey, we laid one species, one cut and one finish through the entire home, then gave the foyer its own pattern. Here is how the floor came together, as shown in our project portfolio, and what it can mean for your own home.
One Species, Two Formats
The home features custom wide plank rift and quartered white oak flooring throughout. The foyer is set apart with a 4″ x 24″ rift and quartered white oak herringbone, while the rest of the house runs in plank. Because both formats come from the same species and the same cut, the grain, color and finish carry from room to room without a break, and the pattern change at the entrance reads as a deliberate design choice rather than a change of material. It is an approach we return to often, and our wide plank collection is where many of these projects begin.
Why Rift And Quartered White Oak
Rift and quartered white oak is sawn to show a straighter, more even grain than plainsawn boards. Across a whole house, that calm grain lets the architecture, the furniture and the light take the lead. It also suits patterns, since every board in a herringbone or chevron shows a similar face. For a home where the floor should feel quiet and refined from the front door to the back rooms, it is a natural fit. To weigh the two cuts side by side, read our guide to rift and quartered versus plainsawn white oak.
A Herringbone Foyer
The entrance is the first room a guest sees, and in this home it sets the tone. The foyer floor is a 4″ x 24″ rift and quartered white oak herringbone, set within the plank flooring that runs through the rest of the house. The result is a sophisticated entrance that still belongs to the whole. We have used the same format in a private residence in Manhattan, where clear grade rift and quartered white oak was laid in 4″ x 24″ herringbone alongside 4″ plank. Explore pattern options in our herringbone collection.
Considering rift and quartered white oak for your home? Book a virtual consultation with Joe Avila.
Wide Planks Milled To Three Quarter Inch
All of the flooring in the Upper Montclair home is milled to 3/4″ thickness, with 5″ wide planks. Wider boards show more of each piece of wood and give a room a calmer, more generous look with fewer seams. Our installation guidelines note that solid wood is typically nailed, or nailed and glued, to a plywood subfloor, and that when planks are particularly wide, gluing and nailing is good practice where possible. Every project still begins with the subfloor, moisture and climate checks set out in our installation standards.
WOCA Natural Oil Extra White
The floors were finished in Danish WOCA Natural Oil Extra White, which enhances the clarity and elegance of the wood. Natural oil protects and enhances the wood while the grain stays visible, so the floor keeps a soft, natural feel. We have used the same finish on wide plank plainsawn white oak in a private residence in Cresskill, New Jersey, where it created a soft, contemporary look. See more pale tones in our white color effects and read how to care for them in our oiled floor maintenance guide.
Planning A Similar Floor In Essex County
A floor like this starts with a conversation. During a virtual consultation, you walk us through your space live while we look at square footage, stairs, transitions, humidity and whether radiant heat is present. We then follow up with a recommendation for your space and, where helpful, curated samples. Settle the species, cut, plank width, pattern areas and finish before installation day, and coordinate with your designer or architect early. Joe Avila is an NWFA certified inspector, installer and sander, and you can book a virtual consultation to begin.
Ready to plan your wide plank and herringbone floor? Speak with Joe Avila.
Quick Answers
What wood is used in the Upper Montclair home?
Custom wide plank rift and quartered white oak throughout, with a 4″ x 24″ rift and quartered white oak herringbone in the foyer.
How thick and wide are the planks?
All of the flooring is milled to 3/4″ thickness, with 5″ wide planks.
What finish was used?
Danish WOCA Natural Oil Extra White, which enhances the clarity and elegance of the wood.
Can I combine herringbone and plank in one home?
Yes. Using the same species and cut for both formats keeps the color and grain consistent while the pattern marks a special room.
Begin Your White Oak Floor With Joe Avila
Call 908-232-6600, email joe@hugginsflooring.com, or book a virtual consultation. Explore herringbone, chevron, wide plank and parquet floors, or our sanding and refinishing and NWFA inspection services.
About The Author
Joe Avila is the founder of Huggins Wood Floor Specialist and leads New York City Wood Floors, a Huggins Wood Floor Specialist brand. He brings 26 years in wood flooring, is NWFA certified (CSI, CI, CWFI, CFS), and teaches AIA, IDCEC and ASID continuing-education courses. See his certifications.
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Contact New York City Wood Floors
Email: joe@hugginsflooring.com
Phone Number: 908-232-6600
Address: 406B West Broad Street, Westfield, NJ, 07090
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