Turning houses into warm livable homes that last a lifetime is what Western Red Cedar does best. In terms of versatility, no other building materials compare – i.e. it’s not just for fans of contemporary West Coast design. True, outfitting your home in head-to-toe Real Cedar remains a classic approach to architecture, but there are plenty of innovative ways to incorporate wood in smaller doses with the same great effect.n

COOKING UP SOMETHING GOOD

nIn the kitchen, Real Cedar walls can offer a warm juxtaposition to stainless steel appliances and modern countertops. Who says contemporary cooking areas have to be cold looking? You can have it all – year round too. In the summer, all that beautiful sunshine pouring through your windows will play off the natural yellow undertones of Real Cedar. And in the winter, the intrinsically rich reds of Real Cedar will turn your kitchen into a warm and inviting social hub – time to crack out the cab sav!n

Checking into Living Room Rehab

nIn a bright modern living room, you can take your feature wall to another level with a textured Western Red Cedar mosaic. You get all the warmth of natural wood without succumbing to a chalet cliché (not there’s anything wrong with that – we love that!). In terms of room dividers, a widely spaced Real Cedar slat partition is a contemporary way to separate areas. It adds a visual point of interest without shutting limited natural light (or loved ones) out. Bonus: You can kick up the functionality a notch or two by turning this divider into a bookshelf with a few simple brackets.n

Heading Straight to the Top

nAs for ceilings, Western Red Cedar paneling is s a total showstopper – especially when it’s fanned out in a natural range of colors. Be warned though, it’s so inviting that houseguests may never want to leave. In the less is more department, exposed Real Cedar beams with hits of wrought iron hardware are a great way to infuse some urban edge. And no, you don’t have to live in a loft to rock this look – it works just as well in traditional homes.