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In Focus: Elton Group
Many of nature’s most beguiling creations are accidental. Carbon crystallises into diamonds, oysters defensively produce pearls– and trees grow burls. And just as diamonds and pearls have long been prized for their beauty, uniqueness and rarity, so too has burlwood become a coveted luxury item.
Easily distinguished from other types of timber, burl wood comes from its namesake, rounded growths that form on trees as a defence mechanism to environmental stresses. The triggers could be insects, viruses, fungal infections, injuries or dormant buds. These burls can grow over many years and generally do no harm to the tree. On the outside, they look like little more than misshapen lumps of bark. But when cut, each burl reveals a unique grain pattern as individual as a human fingerprint.
Elton Group has harnessed this natural beauty with a stunning range of patterned timber veneers as part of its Eveneer Raw ALPIlignum range. Available in tones including Californian, Walnut and Sapphire, the veneers possess all the intrigue of burl wood but in large sheet sizes to suit modern manufacturing methods. It’s also a more sustainable option, with the range sourced from fast-growing trees in sustained yield forests.
This distinctive grain first gained popularity in the Art Deco period in the form of high-end furniture and was widely used again in the 1960s and ’70s. Recently, there’s been a burl renaissance, with designers reviving organic timber accents to evoke a luxe-vintage vibe. Take Brisbane’s new July luggage store in the Calile Hotel precinct, designed by Melbourne studio In Addition. Mixed and matched with other materials, swirling burl veneer stands out in the shelving recesses providing the perfect backdrop for the brand’s luxury travel goods. It’s also featured on the store’s centre counter as a focal point of the warm and inviting space.
Available in tones including Californian, Walnut and Sapphire, the veneers possess all the intrigue of burl wood but in large sheet sizes to suit modern manufacturing methods.
Sydney-based interior design studio Arent&Pyke also used burl veneer as a textural accent in its design for Bay House on the Mosman waterfront. With a mix of new and treasured vintage pieces, the interiors feature a stunning array of natural stones and aged brass metals. In the dining room, a custom-designed glass wine cellar takes centrestage, with a walnut burl veneer drinks cabinet and shelving perfectly complementing the raw yet refined space.
This organic, understated material was also featured when Melbourne’s renowned Flack Studio teamed up with Volker Haug Studio to showcase a lighting range at Milan Design Week 2024. With sculptural lighting on all sides of the ‘Me and You’ installation, the dual-toned centre burl table was illuminated to reveal all its intricate patterns and provide another layer to the multi-textural earth-toned exhibit. It’s a striking example of the indelible mark burl creates in any interior.
