How We Transformed Painted Beams Into Natural Wood Features | Comox Valley Kitchen Renovation
Our client’s kitchen renovation goals: warmth and wooden features.
Our Comox Valley clients reached out for a kitchen and bathroom renovation in their Miracle Beach home. In the kitchen, their top priority was to bring in more light, colour, and warmth — a shift away from the darker tones of the existing tongue-and-groove ceiling, flooring, and countertops.
The structural posts and beams — including one steel post — had been painted white, and stood out as a design opportunity. Rather than replacing them entirely (a costly and invasive undertaking), the homeowners wanted to give them the natural look of solid wood.
We proposed a simple, effective solution: timber wraps. This approach would allow us to completely transform the look and feel of the posts and beams, without altering the structure beneath.
Before
Why we chose timber wraps over full beam replacement
Our clients loved the idea of timber beams and posts as a design feature. Their existing structural posts and beams had been painted white, and fully replacing them with solid timber would’ve meant major structural work, added cost, and disruption.
That’s where timber wrapping comes in. It’s a smart, non-invasive technique we often recommend when the bones of a home are solid, but the aesthetic needs an upgrade.
Timber wraps involve cladding the existing posts or beams with real wood — giving them the rich, natural look of solid timber without touching the structural core. Done right, the seams are nearly invisible, and the transformation is dramatic.
We chose this method for several key reasons:
Cost-effective: No need for demolition, structural engineering, or new posts — just precise carpentry and quality materials.
Less invasive: We can preserve the integrity of the home’s structure and finish the job faster, with less mess.
Fully customizable: We can choose wood species, grain, and stain to match the vision — something not always possible with preexisting lumber.
Craftsmanship-driven: Our team takes pride in tight miters, seamless corners, and woodwork that looks original to the home.
With timber wraps, we were able to give this kitchen the timeless warmth of a post-and-beam design — without the timeline or budget hit of a full rebuild.
Locally milled wood for a custom post-and-beam look
To make sure the wraps matched the natural, bright, grounded feel the homeowners wanted, we sourced slabs from a local mill right here in the Comox Valley. Using locally milled wood not only supports other small businesses in our community — it also gives us more control over the final product, from grain selection to finish quality.
We started with raw slabs and took the time to dry them out fully before working them down. Proper drying is crucial — it reduces the chance of shrinkage or warping after install, especially in a high-traffic space like a kitchen where humidity levels can shift.
Once dried, we ran the slabs through our planer and jointer to create flat, square stock with clean surfaces. This allowed us to:
Select the best face for visual appeal
Achieve tight miters and crisp corners during install
Create a smooth, stain-ready surface that highlights the natural grain
From milling to final finish, every step was guided by the homeowner’s vision for a natural, cohesive look that felt like it belonged in the home all along. The grain, colour, and tone were all chosen to complement the existing cabinetry and bring balance to the darker elements of the space.
Our process: How we installed seamless timber wraps
Installing timber wraps isn’t just about covering posts — it’s about creating the illusion of solid, custom-milled beams that look original to the home.
Each timber wrap is built with three sides pre-glued.
Each timber wrap is built with three sides pre-glued before going up. This lets us:
Keep our miters sharp and tight
Avoid relying on visible nails or screws - preserving a clean, high-end finish
Allow for a clean final install with minimal fasteners
Once the pre-glued, three-sided wrap is ready, we fit it snugly around the existing post or beam. The final piece — the fourth side — is slid into place like a puzzle piece, closing the wrap with a precise, almost invisible seam. A touch of glue and a few hidden fasteners lock everything together securely.
This method gives us the look of a solid timber beam, with none of the disruption or expense of structural replacement — and the finished product blends in so well, it’s hard to tell it’s not original.
Before and After: Kitchen Transformation in Miracle Beach
Before
After
What our client says about B.I.G. Timber Contracting:
It isn’t every day you get a client who trusts you with the full reno while they are away for the whole summer.
This was the case with this Miracle Beach project - with one of the clients preferring to be surprised and not looking at any progress photos, with everything being revealed on their return.
We are very appreciative of the trust our clients place in us - and we don’t take it lightly. It is always a big push to get everything done with a deadline like this, and there is added pressure when clients are not there to see the progress.
But thanks to a great team, we made it happen on time, and on budget with results we (and our clients) are very pleased with.
We love our Reno by B.I.G Timber Contracting. Each contractor involved is knowledgeable and pays great attention to detail. We couldn’t be happier and look forward to working with this team again. Don’t hesitate on who to hire, if you can get this crew you are lucky. ♥️
Serena, Miracle Beach, Comox Valley
Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Google Review
Looking for a Kitchen Renovation in the Comox Valley?
At B.I.G. Timber Contracting, we specialize in blending structural practicality with timeless design — whether that’s for an owner-built home, a custom kitchen, or smart retrofit solutions like this.
If you’re looking to warm up your home with natural materials, custom carpentry, or expert renovations, we’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up.
Send us a message today.