The warmth and scale of French Oak can be carried across a ceiling without requiring a large solid timber section. Vernay box beams create the appearance of substantial exposed oak while allowing the beam to conceal structural elements or be used as a decorative architectural feature.
Project Overview
The design called for exposed timber beams to bring warmth, rhythm and definition to the open-plan interior without the weight and mass of large solid sections.
Vernay 150 × 150 mm French Oak box beams create a repeated architectural rhythm across the ceiling, introducing the natural grain and character of oak while maintaining a clean, contemporary expression.
Manufactured as a three-sided profile, the box beam provides the visual scale of a substantial timber member while offering greater flexibility for decorative applications and the concealment of structural elements.
Design Response
The three-sided construction allows French Oak to be used efficiently while retaining genuine timber to the visible faces.
Careful selection and fabrication create continuity of grain and tone across the beam, allowing the finished element to read as a substantial oak section within the architecture rather than simply a timber lining.
Material French Oak
Oak 150 x 150 mm U Shaped box beam
Grade High Select
Origin Burgundy, France
Certification PEFC Certified
150 × 150 mm section — substantial proportions create the visual presence of exposed oak without requiring a solid timber beam.
Three-sided construction — the U-shaped profile can be installed as a decorative ceiling beam or used to conceal compatible structural elements and services where appropriate
French Oak faces — genuine oak provides the natural grain, texture and tonal variation expected from a substantial architectural timber element.
Project finishing — box beams can be supplied unfinished or prefinished to coordinate with Vernay flooring, stairs, joinery and other French Oak elements.
Their scale defines the raked ceiling and draws the eye through the open-plan living space, while the French Oak connects naturally with the flooring and joinery below.
The presence of a substantial oak beam, achieved through a more adaptable architectural form.
The 150 × 150 mm French Oak box beams create the visual presence and rhythm of substantial exposed timber without the mass of a solid beam.
Their three-sided construction provides a more adaptable solution for decorative ceiling applications and for concealing compatible structural elements, while genuine French Oak to the visible faces retains the grain, texture and warmth of the material.
Repeated across the ceiling, the beams define the open-plan interior and introduce architectural structure without overwhelming the space. The French Oak also creates a natural connection with the flooring and joinery below, allowing the material palette to read as one considered composition.
The result is the scale and presence of exposed French Oak expressed through a lighter, more versatile architectural form.
Wide, long-format solid French Oak boards for cabinetry, furniture, benchtops, shelving and bespoke architectural joinery.
Wide, long-format solid French Oak flooring, designed to coordinate naturally with stairs, joinery and architectural elements.
French Oak parquetry blocks, chevron and Versailles panels for patterned floors that coordinate with the wider Vernay collection.
Large-format French Oak slabs and full boules for statement tables, furniture, reception counters and one-off bespoke pieces.
French-made engineered flooring with a substantial 6mm French Oak wear layer for stability without compromising natural character.
Substantial solid French Oak treads and risers, with custom nosings and finishes designed to coordinate with Vernay flooring.
French-grown Douglas Fir cladding for external façades, combining natural timber character with durability for Australian conditions.
