The Complete Reference
Choosing the Right Wood
for Your Furniture.
The species you choose determines how your furniture looks today, how it ages over decades, and how it performs under daily use. This guide covers every species we use — their hardness, grain character, colour range, aging behaviour, and the furniture applications they're best suited for.
At a Glance
Species Comparison
| Species | Janka Hardness | Tone | Stains Well? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hard Maple | 1450 lbf | Pale cream to gold | Excellent | Dining tables, high-traffic |
| Red Oak | 1290 lbf | Warm tan to amber | Good | Traditional dining & bedroom |
| White Oak | 1360 lbf | Cool grey-tan | Excellent (light) | Contemporary, outdoor |
| Black Walnut | 1010 lbf | Rich chocolate | Natural only | Statement & accent pieces |
| Black Cherry | 950 lbf | Pale pink → amber-red | Light only | Bedroom, heirloom pieces |
| Hickory | 1820 lbf | High-contrast rustic | Light | Rustic, farmhouse, cottage |
Eastern Canada & Northeast US
·Janka 1450 lbf
Hard Maple
Colour & Grain
Creamy white to pale gold; subtle, fine grain with occasional bird's eye or curly figure.
How It Ages
Deepens slightly to warm honey-cream over decades. Consistent and predictable.
Staining
Excellent — accepts stain evenly due to tight, closed grain. Best range from Natural to Jacobean.
The most popular species in our collection. Ideal for contemporary and transitional interiors. Its hardness (highest of our domestic species) makes it the most durable choice for dining tables that see daily use.
Best for
Eastern North America
·Janka 1290 lbf
Red Oak
Colour & Grain
Warm pinkish-tan to medium brown with pronounced, open grain rays.
How It Ages
Deepens to a rich amber over time. Grain becomes more pronounced and beautiful with age.
Staining
Good — open grain takes stain readily but may require a pre-conditioner for even uptake on dark stains.
The classic North American hardwood. Its warm tones and visible grain give it a traditional, lived-in quality. Pairs naturally with warm colour palettes and period-style interiors.
Best for
Eastern North America
·Janka 1360 lbf
White Oak
Colour & Grain
Cool grey-tan to light brown; tighter grain than red oak with distinctive medullary ray flecks.
How It Ages
Ages to a distinguished warm grey-brown. More linear, architectural grain than red oak.
Staining
Excellent for natural and light stains; tyloses partially seal open grain for cleaner lighter finishes.
White oak has overtaken red oak as the species of the moment in contemporary interior design — particularly in Natural and light greige finishes. Its tyloses also make it uniquely water-resistant, making it appropriate for outdoor furniture as well.
Best for
Central & Eastern North America
·Janka 1010 lbf
Black Walnut
Colour & Grain
Rich chocolate brown to purple-brown heartwood with creamy sapwood; swirling, figured grain.
How It Ages
Lightens slightly over time (unlike most woods that darken). Develops a complex, layered depth.
Staining
Often used in Natural finish — its own colour is the desired effect. Dark stains add little value.
The most visually striking domestic hardwood. Its deep chocolate tones and complex figure make it a natural choice for statement pieces where the wood itself is the design feature. Slightly softer than maple or oak — not ideal for the highest-traffic applications.
Best for
Eastern North America
·Janka 950 lbf
Black Cherry
Colour & Grain
Starts pale pink-cream; deepens to warm amber-red with light exposure over 1–2 years.
How It Ages
Cherry undergoes the most dramatic and beautiful aging of any domestic hardwood — it's a feature, not a flaw.
Staining
Best used in Natural or very light stains to allow the natural colour development to occur. Heavy staining obscures the patina.
Cherry furniture purchased today will be a completely different — and more beautiful — colour in five years. This aging is UV-driven and irreversible, making cherry uniquely rewarding for clients who understand and embrace natural material evolution.
Best for
Eastern North America
·Janka 1820 lbf
Shagbark Hickory
Colour & Grain
High contrast between pale cream sapwood and reddish-brown heartwood; bold, rustic character.
How It Ages
Contrast mellows slightly but remains the most visually distinctive of all domestic species.
Staining
The contrast between heartwood and sapwood dominates the visual — staining is typically light to preserve this character.
The hardest domestic hardwood we use — nearly twice the Janka rating of cherry. Its bold contrast and rustic character suit cottage and farmhouse aesthetics. Not suited to minimalist or contemporary interiors where a quieter grain is preferred.
Best for