OK Kids Corral

Country superstar Toby Keith has a passion for helping children battling cancer, and we here at Ferche Millwork think that’s excellent. 

That’s why we’re happy that our work came into play to help make his dream of the OK Kids Corral, a free temporary home for childhood cancer patients and their families, a reality. 

The Oklahoma City facility, which took 10 years of fundraising to complete, finally opened its doors at the end of last year. 

The 25,000 foot square center includes includes 16 rooms, 12 overnight suites, four daytime suites, a special section designed specifically for children with weakened immune systems, a gourmet kitchen, indoor and outdoor play areas, a game room and much more.

We here at Ferche admire Keith’s call-to-action to “help us build a hopeful place for children with cancer where they will be surrounded with love and joy.”

We’re fans of his charitable work. We may be far away, but our Ferche products were paired with TruStile doors.

“Thank you to all of those people who have supported us over the years,” Keith said. “Ten years goes by fast when you are working toward a goal this big.”

We’re proud our products were chosen to help complete the OK Kids Corral, so we’d like to share photos of it with you. 

Ferche Millwork: Home DIY

For anyone who has ever wanted to start a home remodeling project, but doubted their abilities - meet Emily. 

Emily is a home remodeling DIY enthusiast; not only does she attack and complete her projects singlehandedly, but she takes time to blog about them!

We took a few minutes to chat with Emily about some recent undertakings - including some she completed with Ferche products. 

Here’s what she had to say!

Q: What was your house like, and what was your decorative "vision?" 

A: My house was outdated and a little boring. I wanted to refresh everything and give it some architectural detail.

Q: What kind of work do you do? 

A: I feel like I'm always working to improve some little corner of my house. I used moulding to create a wainscoting pattern going up my stairs and to create faux columns on the corners of a hallway. I also used moulding to frame a builder's grade mirror and added crown moulding to the top of some cabinets.

Q: What products from Ferche were part of this?

Wainscoting: 

Chair Rail Moulding from the 700/880 series - F705. 

Paneling to create parallelograms - F729

Columns: 

Corner Mould - F651

Princeton crown moulding - F615

Flat topper - F500J

Frame mirror:

Princeton casing - F115

Crown:

Princeton crown moulding – F615

Since I was painting my moulding, I opted for unfinished poplar or maple since they paint nicely.

Q: How did you get the work done? (DIY, hire a service, both, etc.) 

A: I did it myself! There's so much information out there with blogs and pinterest to give you ideas and teach you how to safely use power tools.

Q: What would you change, if anything? 

A: I don't know if I'd do anything differently since I learned a lot about cutting moulding, using a nail gun, taping, caulking, painting, etc., just by doing it.

Q: What do you recommend to others seeking a home remodel? 

A: A major overhaul isn't always necessary. It really doesn't take much to enhance what is already there. Try looking at pictures of what other people have done to help you see the potential of your space.

Have you considered undertaking a DIY home remodeling project? We’d like to hear about it - leave us a comment!

Species Highlight: Maple

When it comes to deciding on what wood to use throughout a home, maple has always been an American favorite. Why is this? The wood is hard and heavy with good strength properties, in particular it has a high resistance to abrasion and wear along with good steam-bending properties. These qualities are perfect when it comes to the wear and tear wood can take over the years in homes.

Grown in the Eastern United States, primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Lake states, maple is a cold weather tree favoring a more northerly climate. There are two types of maples: soft maple and hard maple. Ferche believes the best option for a home will be hard maple. Hard maple is dense, strong and dent resistant with good length and width structure. The hard maple used by Ferche has a very consistent white/cream color. When using maple mouldings with maple doors, generally the match between the two is better with hard maple as well. No matter the maple, both hard and soft require the use of a conditioner prior to staining to minimize the "blotchy" effect that can occur with maple.

When it comes to working with maple, whether it is woodworking or DIY home projects, there are some things to keep in mind. Hard maple dries slowly with high shrinkage, so it can be susceptible to movement in performance. Also, pre-boring is recommended when nailing and screwing. With care it machines well, turns well, glues satisfactorily, and can be stained to an outstanding finish. Maple also polishes well and is suitable for enamel finishes and brown tones.

With all of this in mind, should you consider using the maple species in your home? We definitely recommend it! There are many uses for maple when it comes to incorporating the species in homes including: flooring, furniture, paneling, kitchen cabinets, worktops, tabletops, butchers blocks, kitchenware, and millwork (stairs, handrails, mouldings, and doors). If you have any questions regarding this particular specie of wood or others species for your home, do not hesitate to contact us: http://www.ferche.com/contact/.

Specie Spotlight: Hickory

Ferche Millwork realizes that there are a variety of options to choose from when it comes to choosing a wood species for your home. With the large selection, and differences between each species, it can be an overwhelming process. Ferche Millwork is here to take the difficulty out of the decision making process. Ferche believes educating and informing consumers about wood is important and makes choosing the perfect wood easier, as each wood species is unique and can create a completely different feel in your home.

One option when it comes to choosing a species for your home is hickory. The hickories are split into two different groups: true hickories and pecan hickories (fruit bearing). The wood is virtually the same for both, and they are usually sold together. The species grows in the Eastern U.S., and many are unaware that hickories grow quite slowly; it is not unusual for a tree to take 200 years to mature. Another unique characteristic of hickory is it is the heaviest and hardest of the hardwood options. This means the species is very hard, stiff, and dense, making it a great and durable option for furniture, cabinetry, flooring, and paneling.

When it comes to the home, hickory is a popular hardwood for creating a rustic style. The main characteristic about this species from a visual standpoint is the wide range of color found within each piece and from piece to piece. Because of this, many choose to finish the wood in a clear coat. By doing this, the color is greatly emphasized and brought to life.

With its tough and durable nature, choosing to use hickory in your home allows you to be confident the species will last a lifetime. Hickory is a wood to take pride in with the long growing process, and it is an option for those looking to create a relaxed, warm, and countrified home. 

Ferche Millwork – Your “Green” Manufacturer

Environmentalism isn’t new; it’s been around for hundreds of years. Recently, however, going “green” has become more important than ever. Ferche Millwork knows this, and can proudly say that it has a history of implementing “green” processes that greatly reduce waste and sustain valuable natural resources.

Ferche Millwork has always been an environmentally conscious company. The company’s proactive approach to recycling wood byproducts for fueling boilers to heat kilns and buildings was recognized in 1985 when Ferche Millwork received a National Award for Energy Innovation. The process that Ferche was awarded for included using sawdust and shavings from Ferche's manufacturing facilities and burning them to produce steam to power the Minnesota kilns and heat the buildings. Excess residues were sold into agricultural and fuel markets resulting in no waste. This was one of the first times Ferche was recognized for its green approach, and the company continues this process today.

Another milestone for Ferche came in 2003 when the company officially adopted another environmentally friendly process when it implemented the “lean” approach to manufacturing. The idea behind this manufacturing philosophy is to supply goods and services with minimal waste, where wastes in production are reduced through continuous improvements of the production processes. Using lean manufacturing is a way to consistently implement processes that benefit the environment, and a way to always try to improve current work methods.

With many environmentally conscious methods in place, Ferche Millwork truly cares about the green movement. In 2009, the company was awarded Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody Certification by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). This is a great accomplishment for the company because while many certification systems guarantee resources are responsibly managed, FSC is the only system currently accepted under the United States Green Building Council’s LEED program.

Ferche Millwork is proud to say that it is a company that works to consistently satisfy all customers through custom capabilities, rapid turnaround and on-time delivery, and an exceptional overall value while also using processes that don’t harm the environment. Going “green” may be of new importance today, but Ferche Millwork has always been ahead of the game.

Architectural Series Spotlight: Southwestern

Over the past four months, Ferche Millwork has introduced and highlighted the new and unique moulding styles of our Architectural Series. This week we are showcasing the sixth and final moulding family of the series: Southwestern.

Southwestern design is influenced by the Native American and Mexican cultures, and is defined by organic design elements infused with bright colors and geometric patterns. If this style appeals to you, incorporating Ferche’s Southwestern style mouldings might be the perfect way to spice up your home.

To achieve a Southwestern feel, keep in mind the following elements:

• Stone floors
• Textured walls
•  Exposed beams and raw wood
• Brightly colored woven accents
•  Hand-painted tiles
•  Pottery

From stain colors, to design, to wood species- Ferche will work with you to create and customize the perfect mouldings for you and your home. Exploring the possibilities is achievable in three simple steps:

1. Visit your local lumber retailer.

2. Explain you would like the family of moldings that coordinate with the “Southwestern” style in Ferche’s Architectural Series.

3. You’re done!

Here’s a closer look at the different mouldings within the Southwestern family. Keep in mind that although they are showcased in painted poplar, you have the option of choosing other wood species.

Base

Rail

Casing

Crown

Architectural Series Spotlight: Rustic

Ferche Millwork realizes the importance of being able to make the vision for your home come to life. Creating the vision can often be the hardest part, so Ferche offers a wide variety of mouldings to fit every style. Recently we created the Architectural Series, a professionally designed family of mouldings that coordinate with six distinct styles of décor. Last week, our blog featured the ‘Arts & Crafts’ family of mouldings. This week we turn the spotlight to the fifth group of mouldings in the Architectural Series: Rustic. 

Rustic architecture brings the outdoors into your home. Inspired by nature, this style offers a warm, comforting feel. The great news about rustic architecture is that it’s versatile and works well with other styles. So if you’re not sure you want to turn the feel of your entire home into a Rocky Mountain getaway, it’s okay to start with one or two rooms.

To enhance the rustic feel of your home, pair a Rustic Ferche moulding with:

• Exposed beams
• Stone accents
• Fireplace
• Pops of earthy color

With some finishing touches, you can easily make Rustic architecture feel rugged, or charming. To achieve a more rugged feel, furnish with rich colors and incorporate hints of leather, and metals such as cast iron.

For a more charming feel, incorporate the shabby chic style with lighter colors, and dainty patterns. Whatever look or feel you are going for, don’t be afraid to mix and match. The versatility of Rustic architecture lends itself to near-endless possibilities.

While creating that perfect vision can be challenging, finding the perfect mouldings for your home should not be. We’ve made the process of finding our mouldings easy, simply follow these 3 steps:

1. Visit your local lumber retailer.
2. Explain you would like the family of moldings that coordinate with the “Rustic” style in Ferche’s Architectural Series.
3. You’re done!

Here’s a preview of Ferche’s Rustic mouldings displayed in a natural knotty alder wood, keep in mind other types of wood species can be selected:

Rail:

 Base:

 Casings:

 Crown:

Architectural Series Spotlight: Arts & Crafts

Alright homeowners. We all know the overwhelming feel that can come when looking at remodeling a room in your house. What design should you try to achieve? After all, there are so many! If you see the Victorian style and think it’s too excessive, you might opt for the more modern route that evokes simplicity. But what about something in the middle of the spectrum? This is where ‘Arts & Crafts’ architecture comes into play.

This type of architecture refers to a type of design that seeks to create a look like that of the pre-industrial, handmade society. It melds simple design with a handcrafted look. Pictures below display the simple, square edges that are like that of the modern design, but wait! Before the mouldings are done, handcrafted details are implemented to add that “just right” amount of charm and embellishment.

If the Arts & Crafts style of décor sounds like it fits your decorating style, starting the remodel process just became a lot easier. First, use the architect approved set of mouldings for this style in Ferche’s Architectural Series as a base for your home. Here is how you can go about finding these mouldings:

1. Visit your local lumber retailer.
2. Explain you would like the family of moldings that coordinate with the “Arts & Crafts” style in Ferche’s Architectural Series.
3. You’re done!

To spread the “Arts & Crafts” architecture throughout your entire home, remember these key elements:

· Natural materials throughout the home
· Built-in furniture and light fixtures
· Fireplace
· Porches
· Low-pitched roofs
· Exposed beams
· Open floor plan

If you are still not sure if this style is for you, take a look at the below sample of ‘Arts & Crafts’ mouldings that can easily be integrated into an Arts & Crafts style home. Keep in mind different wood species can be used, the sample below is displayed in Natural Cherry:

Base

Rail

Crown

Casing