Choosing the Right Wood Species for Your Home
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A sideboard that lives next to a radiator does not want the same wood as a lamp base in a shaded corner. Species choice shapes how a piece ages, how often it needs oiling, and whether its grain will whisper or shout in the room it goes in.
White oak
Dense, tight-grained, and dimensionally stable. Takes a fumed finish beautifully. Our default pick for dining tables, bar carts and anything that will see daily wear.
Walnut
Rich chocolate heartwood with a straight, open grain. Softer than oak so it dents more easily, but patina is part of the appeal. Natural choice for coffee tables and bedroom cases.
Cherry
Starts pink-salmon and darkens to a deep amber over the first eighteen months. Best for pieces that will live in indirect light.
Maple
Hardest of the four, with a pale, nearly uniform surface. We use it where the design asks for grain to recede — vanities, built-ins, kitchen islands.