A Guide to MCM House Timber

Timber has always been central to the MCM House collection. It brings warmth, texture and permanence to a space, but also something less easily defined: character.

A knot in the grain. A shift in tone. The marks left by weather, age and use. These are not details we try to disguise. They are the qualities we choose timber for.

Across the collection, we work with three key timber varieties: Aged Old Elm, Solid European Oak and Rustic Reclaimed Oak. Each has its own personality, with different tones and finishing techniques creating distinct expressions.

Explore the Solid Timber Edit →

Aged Old Elm is one of the most recognisable materials within the MCM House collection. Reclaimed from buildings more than 40 years old, it carries visible knots, tonal variation and grain shaped by time.

A light sealant protects the surface while preserving the markings and irregularities that make each piece unique. Over time, touch, light and everyday use add to its patina, allowing the timber to grow alongside the home around it.

It is a material for those who appreciate furniture that feels collected rather than newly placed. Something with an existing story, ready to become part of your own.

Solid Old Elm

Solid Old Elm celebrates the natural variation of the timber in its most authentic form. Knots, grain and signs of age remain visible, giving every piece its own character.

You will find it in Global, Axol, and Rocco.

Aged Elm

Our engineered Aged Elm retains the warmth and timeworn appearance of the material while offering a more controlled expression of grain and tone. It is particularly suited to strong, architectural forms.

You will find it in Volar and Bossi.

Solid European Oak offers a more composed timber story. Its grain is naturally elegant and linear, bringing warmth to a room while maintaining a clean, refined appearance.

It is a versatile material that can feel light and calm, rich and grounding, or tactile and expressive depending on the tone and finish applied. Across the collection, we work with Caramel and White Smoke tones, then use either a smooth or sandblasted treatment to change how the grain is experienced.

Caramel European Oak

Caramel European Oak has a smooth finish and a balanced mid tone. It brings richness without feeling too dark, too warm or overly traditional, making it an easy connection between lighter and deeper timbers.

You will find it in: Bosca.

White Smoke European Oak

White Smoke is the lighter expression of European Oak. Its smooth finish keeps the look calm and refined, while the visible grain prevents it from feeling flat or overly pale.

You will find it in: Robare and Bosca.

Caramel Sandblasted European Oak

This finish combines the warmth of Caramel Oak with a more tactile surface. Sandblasting opens the grain and highlights the natural movement and variation within the timber.

You will find it in: Silvio.

White Smoke Sandblasted European Oak

White Smoke Sandblasted Oak offers a lighter expression of texture. The pale tone feels calm and versatile, while the opened grain gives the surface greater depth and tactility.

You will find it in: Silvio and selected Bosca pieces.

Rustic Reclaimed Oak is the newest timber story within the MCM House collection, but its history began long before it arrived here.

Reclaimed timber carries the traces of its previous life. Natural weathering, age and exposure have already shaped its surface, creating a depth that cannot be manufactured or perfectly repeated.

Each piece is different. Grain patterns shift. Tones vary. Marks and textures appear in their own way. These are not imperfections to be removed. They are evidence of the material’s history.

The tone has also been considered to complement the caramel timbers used throughout our dining and storage collections. This allows reclaimed oak to sit naturally alongside existing MCM House pieces without every timber needing to match exactly.

Rustic Reclaimed Oak

The finish retains the natural weathering, variation and texture of the reclaimed timber. Each piece is one of a kind, with its own grain, markings and tonal character.

You will find it in: Helix and Vincino.

Does all the timber in a room need to match?

Not at all. In fact, we prefer it when they do not. A considered mix of timber tones makes a home feel collected over time. The connection comes through warmth, materiality and mood rather than perfect uniformity. A room often feels richer when its materials have been built up gradually rather than selected as a perfectly matching set. Light and dark timbers can sit together. Smooth finishes can be layered with rustic surfaces. Reclaimed timber can bring history to a room with newer pieces. Caramel European oak works naturally with rustic reclaimed oak. White smoke can lighten a room with old elm or create contrast against deeper finishes. Old elm sits comfortably alongside stone, linen and metal. Think of timber as part of the wider material palette rather than something that needs to be matched piece by piece.

Character to be celebrated.

Natural timber will always carry variation. One piece may show more knots. Another may have a stronger grain or a slightly different tone. Reclaimed timber may reveal marks shaped by its previous life, while older timber may deepen as it is touched and used. These differences are what make the piece yours. We choose timber because it does not remain static. It responds to its surroundings, develops character and holds the signs of a life being lived around it. Not made to stay untouched. Made to become part of the story.