Editorial Staff

Why Local Eastern White Pine Belongs in Your Next DIY Project Welcome to The Local Wood Revolution When you pick up a board of Eastern White Pine (EWP), you’re holding a piece of New England’s legacy — and a smarter, more sustainable building choice. For today’s DIYers, “green building” isn’t only about recycled materials or […] The post Building Smarter, Not Farther appeared first on NELMA.

Why “grain popping” is emerging as a must-do step in wood finishing A design trend is quietly gaining momentum among architects, finishers, and DIYers alike: applying a prefinish water “pop” to open up wood grain and let the stain truly sing. The technique—often called water popping or grain raising—is becoming a go-to for richer, deeper, […] The post Grain Popping Emerges as Design Trend To Watch in 2026 appeared first on NELMA.

A Golden Opportunity for Appearance-Grade Lumber HGTV designer Mika Kleinschmidt, star of 100 Day Dream Home, has declared it: wood paneling is making a comeback. In a recent interview with Country Living, Kleinschmidt noted that while shiplap has dominated design trends for years, homeowners are now embracing the beauty of natural wood in its raw […] The post Don’t call it a comeback. appeared first on NELMA.

Dolly Varden Siding — A Classic Profile The name Dolly Varden carries history, craftsmanship, and color—appearing both in the world of architecture and in the streams of the North Pacific. In New England, Dolly Varden refers to a beloved lumber profile in eastern white pine. Across the continent, it’s also the name of a brilliantly […] The post Dolly Varden: From Siding to Salmon appeared first on NELMA.

David Baker Architects’ conversion of a 1900s masonry building in Birmingham, Alabama, into the new Wyatt Builds headquarters demonstrates how adaptive reuse can be both resourceful and deeply human in character. The 5,530-square-foot office, completed in 2024, embodies the firm’s ethos of “doing more with less” through selective demolition, material preservation, and strategic new insertions. […] The post Commercial Rehab: A study in Brick and Pine. appeared first on NELMA.