Designers are recreating bark-like textures and even tree rings in unexpected materials such as metal and glass ...

On the other hand ... thin sheets of solid wood or veneer, wood paneling enjoyed its heyday in the 1970s when designers clad entire walls with it to create warmth and texture.

“Wood grain is back in, but in lighter, more natural tones,” said John Lagarde, a kitchen designer and owner of Classic Cupboards in Harahan, a business his father founded in 1983. “Painted ...