If you’re looking to add architectural interest and dimension to your home, one option is a type of wall cladding called “shiplap.” This wall treatment found a resurgence in popularity thanks to home renovation shows, but its versatility and understated texture have earned its place in a wide variety of today’s design styles.  

“Shiplap is similar to beadboard, but more modern and less cottage inspired,” notes Normandy designer Bryan Brisky. Unlike beadboard, which has tight interlocking joints, shiplap is characterized by a nickel gap between the planks of the boards. This produces the crisp, clean lines that give shiplap its distinctive look.  

While the essence of shiplap is fairly straight forward, changing the width of the planks can impact how it feels in a space. “Shiplap planks are available in a variety of widths, commonly between 3” and 6”, but the nickel gap between the boards remains consistent,” says Bryan. 

The recent surge in shiplap’s popularity has it showing up as a full wall treatment in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and living spaces. It can be a fantastic way to create subtle texture on a blank wall.  

But wall cladding isn’t just for walls.  

As a relative newcomer to the popular applied wall detail options, you can minimize the potential for shiplap to feel trendy by using it sparingly in targeted spaces, rather than covering an entire wall. 

In a recent kitchen remodel, Bryan found a unique place to use shiplap: on the front of a custom range hood. 

“Applying a shiplap look to a kitchen range hood can be a fantastic way to invite linear design and texture into the space,” says Bryan. “This particular hood was going into a very Craftsman-style house with lots of character, a flat panel running across such a large span would have looked out of place.” 

In this instance, Bryan took inspiration from the cladding on a barrel ceiling in an adjoining room. To capture the feel of the ceiling, he applied shiplap to the hood and finished it with a stained walnut edge detail. 

“We already had a lot of linear details in the kitchen, such as the inset cabinets, faux farmhouse sink, and wood stain drawer fronts,” Bryan noted. “The hood reinforces them.” 

Accents like these can be the difference between a ho-hum space and a room that really wows. Set up a time to talk with Bryan about your remodeling ideas and uncover what unique and thoughtful details would be right for you. If you’re on the hunt for inspiration, sign up for our newsletter or check out some of our other projects. You can find us for a daily dose of design inspiration on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, or your preferred social media platform.