High-End Lexus Dealership Interior Showcases Anigre
Spotlight on: Anigre / Aniegre / Anegre
throughout all the wood details in the space. It was vital for the look we wanted to achieve and it was worth it," says Jillian.
Interiors for this location included a number of curved and "waved" walls faced with blueprint-matched quartered figured Anigre and finished with a Cherry stain. Atlanta Hardwood Corporation supplied veneer for walls and casework. Architectural panels were fabricated by Custom Plywood., Inc. Sequence-matched, flat-cut plain Anigre was used for the casework throughout the dealership, fabricated by KMI, Inc.
Anigre which originates in Africa, has a similar density to African Mahogany. The wood has a fine texture in higher wood grades. This heavily figured wood lends itself to special applications like this in high-end design and furniture. Anigre is naturally a blonde color but it accepts stain exceptionally well.
The contemporary design that started with warm wood tones and unique wood grains continued with a more unique half-inch black reveal between wood panels. The floating glass intersecting with wood also reinforced the contemporary look. A juxtaposition of square corners with curved walls added another layer to the design. Further tying the interior design of the dealership to a Lexus automobile interior is the combination of wood, glass and leather in the conference room. With luxury at every corner and curve, a beautiful and lavish space is the result.
A design challenge throughout was selecting finishes that were durable enough to withstand the demanding conditions of a dealership. Some of the products used were different than your typical interior project. For example, despite being used in interior applications, exterior MDF was used for added durability.
The overall design has hit the mark. At seven years old, the project still looks like it did the day it was completed. "That is one of the things I am most proud of about this project," explains Jillian. "Selecting finishes that look high-end, timeless and welcoming that can hold up to the day-to-day rigors of this kind of space were a challenge. I am pleased that the hard work we did designing and meticulously specifying on this project has stood the test of time."
— Jillian Mitchell / Details Interior Design and Furniture Company & David Zenner / The Zenner Group
Since 1952, Atlanta Hardwood Corporation, along with their Hardwoods Inc. Architectural Group and AHC Craig Imports, have been providing their customers with more than 80 species of domestic and imported hardwoods. Hardwoods Inc. Architectural Group is a specialized group trained to meet the needs of architects, designers, and fabricators.
SPOTLIGHT ON: ANIGRE / ANIEGRE / ANEGRE
Species: Aningeria spp.
Origin: West and East Africa, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Zaire
Common Applications: Cabinetry, decorative furniture veneers, flooring, furniture, high end millwork, and ship building.
Characteristics/Appearance: Heartwood is light tan, sometimes creamy and occasionally light pink. It can darken to a reddish-brown with sun exposure. The heartwood is not sharply demarcated from the sapwood, which has similar colors. Figure ranges from unfigured to highly figured, often with a pronounced fiddleback.
Janka Hardness Scale: 990 lb_f (see chart on page 19)
Comments: Aniegre is a straight-grained wood which can be interlocked. It has a fine to medium uniform texture with good natural luster. It's considered easy to work with, but due to the silica content, it can cause blunting of tools. This wood has a medium density as well as medium strength and shock resistance.
Frequently asked questions
What wood species was used in the Lexus dealership interior design?+
Quartered figured Anigre was used for the curved and waved walls, finished with a Cherry stain. Sequence-matched, flat-cut plain Anigre was also used for the casework throughout the dealership.
Where does Anigre wood come from?+
Anigre originates in Africa, specifically West and East Africa, including Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Angola, and Zaire.
Who supplied the Anigre veneer and fabricated the panels for the Lexus dealership?+
Atlanta Hardwood Corporation supplied the veneer for walls and casework. Architectural panels were fabricated by Custom Plywood, Inc., and the casework was fabricated by KMI, Inc.
What are the characteristics and appearance of Anigre wood?+
Anigre heartwood is light tan, sometimes creamy and occasionally light pink, and can darken to a reddish-brown with sun exposure. It has a fine to medium uniform texture with good natural luster, and figure ranges from unfigured to highly figured, often with a pronounced fiddleback. It is naturally blonde but accepts stain exceptionally well.
Why was exterior MDF used in the Lexus dealership interior?+
Exterior MDF was selected for added durability to withstand the demanding day-to-day conditions of a dealership environment, even though it was used in interior applications.
What design elements tied the dealership interior to a Lexus automobile?+
The combination of wood, glass, and leather in the conference room tied the interior design to a Lexus automobile interior. Contemporary details like half-inch black reveals between wood panels, floating glass intersecting with wood, and the juxtaposition of square corners with curved walls reinforced this luxury look.