All hardwood contains variation in its color and grain. Manufacturing and finishing bring out the natural beauty and character of each piece of wood. These wood characteristics give each piece of solid wood furniture its unique charm, although the finish is exactly the same. Because most hardwoods are open grained, solid wood furniture will expand and contract with changes in humidity and temperature, even after protective finishes have been applied. Care in controlling the furniture’s environment will help minimize the minor cracking and warping that is a natural part of the wood’s character.
Mature hardwoods supply the nation, and much of the world, with timber used for everything from railroad ties to quality furnishings. U.S. hardwoods are coveted the world over for their warmth and lasting beauty in furniture, cabinetry, mill-work and flooring. In finished products, hardwoods are the purest expression of nature. They are not synthetic nor are they engineered. Their beauty is not just skin deep. And, thanks to responsible stewardship of America’s hardwood forestland's, their supply is abundant and perpetually renewing.
Hardwoods grow prolifically, reaching maturity at about 80 years. When harvested, they often begin a second life as home furnishings that we can cherish for generations. Just as each tree is different from the next, so, too, are hardwood products individually unique. Hardwoods are characterized by an infinite variety of grains and distinctive textures. Trees grow limbs that fall off as the tree matures. What remains is a knot on the hardwood surface. These natural markings add character to the woods appearance and have absolutely no effect on the wood’s durability and stability.
Quarter Sawn White Oak
Quarter Sawn White Oak has a unique grain pattern which is achieved by cutting the wood at a 90 degree angle to the tree’s growth rings. If you love a lot of grain in your furniture quarter sawn is for you. This wood has a cooler white to sage undertone and is very durable with good wear-resistance. Because Quarter Sawn White Oak is cut at an angle it exhibits a tight grain with dramatic light and dark tones. White Oak absorbs stains richly and evenly, because it is a medium-hard wood. The variation of color exhibited in the wood grain is enhanced with staining.
Red Oak
Red Oak is characterized by its orange reddish hue with the sapwood being white to light brown. The wood has a more pronounced opened grain.
Red Oak is a very durable wood with good wear-resistance because it has a pronounced open grain; the stain may be absorbed differently depending on the grain pattern. This is the wood you want if you love a warm look.
Cherry Wood
Cherry Wood has a fine satiny, smooth texture and a circular grain pattern. The heartwood of cherry varies from a rich red to reddish brown while the sapwood is creamy white in contrast. It will darken with age and with exposure to light. The wood may also naturally contain brown pith flecks and small pit pockets. It is a softer wood so it is prone to scratches and denting with a lot of use. Cherry Wood has a natural reddish hue and this warmth is seen in all of the cherry stains. With the muted grain, Cherry Wood has a more even-toned finish.
Rustic Cherry
Rustic Cherry is merely a more unrefined wood then the traditional cherry wood. Most builders will cut the wood in such a way that the amount of pits, sap wood, and knots are minimized.
In Rustic Cherry those natural characteristics of Cherry are accentuated. Color ranges from white, brown to deep red with brown flecks.
Hard Maple
Hard Maple is the hardest domestic wood in the USA. Because of its hardness, it is a very durable wood. The sapwood is creamy white with a golden hue and the heartwood varies from light to dark golden brown. The wood has a close, fine texture and a light circular grain pattern. The light tone of Maple makes the stain colors appear bold and bright, while the hard and smooth texture makes it more difficult to stain. The hardness can prevent the stain from soaking into the wood, which can create darker stained areas. This wood captures light and brightens space.
Brown Maple
Brown Maple is a unique combination of brown, tan, white and cream which can give a rustic feel. It is a softer wood so it is prone to scratches and denting with a lot of use. Brown Maple’s soft grain absorbs medium to dark stains richly as well as its smooth surface lends itself nicely to painted finishes. Lighter stains reveal the natural characteristics of Brown Maple showing the wood’s broad range of grain color.
Hickory
Hickory is a beautiful wood for furniture with its contrasting reddish and cream colors. It has a medium grain that gives the feel earthy but with a smooth look.
Walnut
Walnut is a rich chocolate or purplish brown in color with hints of grey, black and even dark blue. It has a beautiful grain pattern and is the only dark brown domestic hardwood. Over time is will take on a bit of a golden brown color, but it is very slight and mostly unnoticeable. Walnut isn’t as hard red oak or maple but it is harder than cherry.
Red Elm
Red Elm has a grayish white to light brown narrow sapwood, with heartwood that is reddish brown to dark brown in color. The grain can be straight, but is often interlocked. The wood has a coarse texture. The wood has no characteristic odor or taste.
The fibrous inner bark is a strong and durable fiber, which can be spun into thread, twine or rope. It can be used for bow strings, ropes, jewelry, clothing, snowshoe bindings, woven mats, and even some musical instruments.
Knotty Alder
Knotty Alder has the strength of maple and the personality of pine. The wood is light brown in color with yellow and peach hues. Stains can further highlight the beautiful grain. The open, solid knots give alder a more informal presence