News & Press

our new customizable fractal wall panels… and the fractool.

Formally debuted at this year’s Dwell On Design show in Los Angeles, our new Plyboo Fractal panels are some of the most visually stimulating products we’ve introduced in a while. Part of the same range of carved panels as our Reveal™, Linear™, Linear Sound™ and Sound™ wall panel products, Fractal panels are completely customizable architectural panels whose design utilizes the isosceles triangle. Fractal panels, when combined with the online Fractool, comprise one of the most revolutionary new product concepts we have...

partnering with oregon state university and university of oregon

Recently we donated a large amount of Plyboo bamboo plywood and partnered with Oregon State University’s Renewable Materials and University of Oregon’s Product Design schools for a program called Avery Wood Products, a collaborative class aiming to design, prototype, and produce an outstanding product. This year the project demands its students’ best efforts to create a brand, product, and teams dedicated to using Plyboo. The team of advantageous creators and innovators are given an extraordinary opportunity to incorporate its collectively diverse skills, backgrounds, and areas...

durapalm woven at eight cuisine in sebastapol

Chef Steven Zhao’s Eight Cuisine in Sebastapol, California, used Durapalm Palm Woven panels for a feature wall in the restaurant’s dining area. Little cubbyholes were then created to display art and decorative pieces, making a particularly interesting application of our woven palm finish. A little about the restaurant: when Chef Zhao first started creating the ideas that became Eight Cuisine and Wine, he knew he wanted to bring together a wide range of Asian flavors with the fresh ingredients found locally...

see plyboo & stack panel at designbuild 2017

DesignBUILD 2017 brings together leaders in the world of architecture, building, construction and design. Taking a holistic approach, every facet of the design process is showcased at this unique event. As the first dedicated architecture event at the ICC Sydney, DesignBUILD offers visitors unrivaled opportunities to explore 700+ of the latest products, from Australia’s largest gathering of building and design suppliers, gain insight into industry trends, connect with key industry peers and more.

plyboo featured in the la times at dwell 2014

Semihandmade-designed cabinet door featuring Plyboo bamboo panels faces an IKEA cabinet. www.plyboo.com and www.semihandmadedoors.com

dwell show specials

We’re exhibiting our new addition of stunning decorative panels (Reveal, Linear and Sound) at the Dwell on Design conference in Los Angeles. Click here for Dwell specials.

architectural record features smith & fong’s reveal collection

The Reveal Collection of bamboo panels from San Francisco-based company Smith & Fong was recently featured in Architectural Record magazine. This an American publication that is dedicated to both architecture and interior design. It’s where you can find all of the latest trends, projects, news and products in modern design and construction. Among a slideshow of some of the latest and greatest products in interior design was bamboo panels from the Reveal Collection. This series is unlike any other traditional wall...

using the natural world to inspire and create

For many people, making a house a home involves incorporating natural materials and into their building and design strategies. By creating spaces that have the look and feel of the outside world, homeowners and contractors can bring the tranquility of nature indoors while also maintaining a sense of intimacy. Taking inspiration from the natural world When you begin a design or construction project, it’s important to find inspiration in all manner of places. In nature, four and a half billion...

bamboo in contemporary construction and design

With its eco-friendly sustainable qualities and naturally beautiful look and texture, bamboo is rapidly becoming the trendy material to use in home and commercial developments across the United States. Some of the country’s hippest cities – as well as one that isn’t always thought of as being so fashionable but is in the process of watching a contemporary apartment building rise in its midst – are experiencing what can only be described as a bamboo revolution in the construction and...

jewish holiday celebrated with bamboo

The Jewish holiday of Sukkot – which gets its name from the pluralization of the word Sukkah, meaning “booth” or “tabernacle” – recently came to an end after its annual eight-day celebration. Every year, Jews around the world build a small walled structure out of wood, steel, plants and other materials to commemorate the dwellings their ancient ancestors lived in during their 40-year sojourn in the desert after the exodus from Egypt. This year, one community in Wesleyan, Ohio, observed...

working out on bamboo floors a more satisfying experience

A healthy mind is often the product of a healthy body. And by incorporating the comforting atmosphere afforded by bamboo flooring and paneling into your workout space you can bring those two things even closer together. Groups get fit on top of bamboo floors Group fitness classes are among the many popular health options available to those looking to improve their physical and mental well-being. Classes ranging from yoga to resistance training programs have become some of the most popular ways for...

bamboo an important player in doe’s solar decathlon competition

The Solar Decathlon, a biennial competition sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, is set to take place at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, Calif, Oct. 3-13, 2013. The DOE describes the decathlon as, “an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.” Bamboo...

cutting edge homes incorporating bamboo floors

Architects and designers in search of new ways to create spaces that are both stylish and ecologically sound are increasingly turning to bamboo as their material of choice. Bamboo panels and floors are being used in cutting-edge homes across the country due to their environmental sustainability and the wide range of looks and textures that they can add to various rooms. Seattle-area prefab home blends in with its surroundings Vashon Island, located in the Puget Sound southwest of Seattle, offers...

the golden ratio in modern design

For more than 2,000 years, architects, artists and designers have used the “golden ratio” as the basis for their work. Originally put forward by Euclid, the “Father of Geometry,” in about 300 B.C.E., the ratio is: a+b is to a as a is to b. While that may seem a bit technical, the ratio describes in a relatively simple manner a proportion that can be used to create buildings and design spaces that make them optimally attractive on a visual...

finding inspiration for your design project

When it comes to designing a home or office space, inspiration can come from anywhere. You can rely on a childhood memory or incorporate something from a friend or neighbor. You can turn to a favorite book, movie, stage or television show. The options are only as limited as your imagination allows. Searching for inspiration While some people will have a very clear idea of how they want their living or work space to look, others might start out with...

combining styles to create an eclectic environment

Blending different styles can be one of the toughest challenges when designing or redesigning a residential or commercial space. In many cases, a couple might be moving in together for the first time and have contrasting tastes, furniture and decorative elements that need to be combined in one home. The same type of problem can occur when a business is moving into new offices, and tries to integrate some of the items it used in its old space into its...

bamboo for your decks and patios

What better way to accentuate your outdoor spaces than to use a natural grass to build your deck or patio? It might seem counterintuitive, but there is one type of grass that is stronger than wood, while also being more durable and environmentally sustainable. That grass is, of course, bamboo. While it might not be what most people first think of when they go about selecting a material for their outdoor living spaces, bamboo offers a number of practical advantages...

using paneling to accentuate your home

When people design or redesign their indoor spaces, most of the attention is often paid to floors, furniture and appliances. As for walls and cabinetry, they can often be second thoughts, or simply places to hang paintings and photographs. Whether you want to make your rooms to pop with appeal or casually blend in with the rest of the decor, spending some time, effort and thought on your wall and cabinetry design can go a long way toward achieving that...

how to protect your floors from damage

One of the great satisfactions of installing new hardwood floors is being able to show them off to guests. It’s very likely you’ve put a lot of time, effort and consideration into your choice of flooring and the installation process, so once the process has been completed you’re probably going to want others to appreciate what you’ve accomplished. How will you go about that? Instead of having business clients, family and friends over in a piecemeal fashion, why not throw...

bamboo versus hardwood as an environmentally-conscious option

Whether you’re looking to install flooring or paneling in a new building or redo existing surfaces, you’re going to want to consider the environmental impact of the material you choose, along with price and visual appeal. Traditional hardwood options offer many benefits, but their contribution to deforestation and the fact it takes upwards of 20 years for trees regrow can have severe ecological repercussions. Bamboo, on the other hand, is an alternative that has many environmental benefits over hardwood products. With greater overall...

redesigning a vintage home

Designers and DIYers often appreciate nothing more than taking a vintage home and using their skills and experience to turn it into a mesh of classic and modern styles. Their goal is to find a way to take the things about the home that made them fall in love with it in the first place, then add features and elements that retain its old-school feel while incorporating modern technology and style. Working within the original framework If you’ve decided to buy a...

preventing scratches and dents on your bamboo floors

When it comes to designing or redoing your home, bamboo flooring offers a variety benefits over traditional hardwood and other materials. It’s more environmentally friendly, stands up to heavy use more effectively and is more easily adaptable to different styles and designs. However, once you choose to go with bamboo for your floors, you still face the same challenges of preventing scratches and dings that can mar your pristine indoor surfaces. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can...

how to live a more environmentally sustainable lifestyle

In today’s more eco-centric world, the word “sustainability” gets thrown around a lot. But what does it mean? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, sustainability is a basic principle meaning, “Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations.” Applying the...

building a better basketball court with bamboo

The basketball court is one of the most sacred playing surfaces in all of sports. The way the ball ricochets off the floor, the cushioning it provides athletes as they sprint up and down the court, and the bounce and give of the facade as players launch jump shots and vie for rebounds all have a meaningful role in the outcome of the game. Because of those factors, finding the right material with which to construct or redo a basketball floor...

bamboo products in the modern workplace

The old way of thinking about design as a system of function over form has almost disappeared over the past 20 years or so, as people realize they can achieve both ends at the same time. Customer-focused businesses have led the way in changing public spaces for the better, but even in traditional office spaces, employers are finding they can no longer get by with ordinary decor and furnishings in their efforts to create a comfortable and appealing work environment. Modern design...

using bamboo in your next project

Whether you’re a contractor or a DIYer, the type of materials you use in your next construction or home design project will be an important consideration. As you think about the look, feel and practicality of your interior spaces, it’s important to understand the impact all of the different materials that are available to you will have. Wood, brick, granite and steel are some of the go-to components for most home projects, but as design has become a major industry...