WOOD TYPES
Maple, Cherry, Oak and Walnut: These timeless American hardwoods all make great options for your new furniture. With their warm undertones, this group all compliment one another.
WHICH DO I CHOOSE?
The biggest question people ask when ordering their new piece is: How do I compliment the wood I already have in my home? Whether it’s the existing furniture, the wooden floors, trim or paneling, customers want to be aware of what wood types they’re adding to the mix. Most commonly people note that they are not necessarily interested in matching wood tones but finding something that “goes with” what they have.
FINDING HARMONY
While there are no one set of rules to follow, most stylists can agree that adding various wood tones can give a room more depth. Read one stylist’s tips about complimenting and contrasting your wood tones to add more layers, as well as using repetition to find balance. Another blogger advises to use a 3 wood tone max, but then playfully breaks their own rule by adding textiles and other materials to strike the right balance.
The overall consensus for stylists is selecting woods with common undertones. Fortunately for our customers all of the wood types we offer have warm undertones that blend well together! So you really can’t go wrong if you go with your gut and get what you like.
Read on to learn more about each wood type. And when in doubt, order wood samples!
MAPLE
Our lightest wood type and a very Scandinavian choice. Maple has an airy feel and makes a great choice for a room already weighted with darker colors.
Alternatively, a full-on cohesive maplewood look from floors to doors to furniture to kitchen cabinetry is a whole vibe; Think Seattle coastal home with big windows and light flooding in!
Maple has a smart, simplistic yet sophisticated quality that lends itself to our straightforward designs. It is not showy and has the ability to recede into the background, making it an excellent choice for an artist workspace or kids play space, encouraging the art or imagination to take lead.
A natural finish, no stain is applied to Maplewood.
CHERRY
Inspired by the vintage Danish teak furniture we sold for over a decade!
When looking for a glowing warm teakwood tone in an American hardwood, we found a pretty close match with our heritage stained cherrywood.
Cherry can vary in tone based on the individual age of the tree or location. Just like teak, it deepens and reddens over time, especially when exposed to natural lighting. It is usually lighter when freshly cut and then goes through a process called “ripening” which occurs most noticeably over the first few months but can last for several years.
We love how well this wood tone blends well with other woods. It feels warm and inviting making it a great choice for entertaining spaces like the living room and dining room.
OAK
With it’s sweet and subtle hints of pink undertones, we use Red Oak instead of White Oak (which can tend to have more gray or yellow undertones). Red Oak also happens to be the more affordable wood option right now so we’re happy to have it on offer.
A forever classic, oak is an excellent choice for bookshelves. It’s reliable and comforting like your favorite novel. Oak also makes a great choice for dining tables, lending a timeless modern farmhouse vibe. It’s uncomplicated and sincere.
Oak is another a natural choice with no stain applied.
WALNUT
Did I save the best for last? You decide!
Walnut is probably our most popular customer choice (and also the priciest wood species we offer). Using our heritage stain we deepen and enrich this dark wood, bringing out it’s inner warmth and glow! It’s a show-stopping finish!
Walnut is extremely handsome and looks good on anything. It’s a top choice for sideboards, case goods and bedroom furniture. Walnut pairs well with lighter warm woods. It’s sophisticated, romantic, warm and timeless.
Consider using walnut to showcase your passions like a vinyl record collection. Or maybe you just love spending time at home with family and friends; consider investing in your living space with high-end looking and heirloom quality pieces in walnut.
