Grain
Some species have a strong, obvious grain and some are nearly uniform. Heavy grain shows through paint. If you want a painted kitchen with no visible texture, that rules some species out immediately.
Cabinet Wood Species
The wood decides how the color lands.
Two kitchens in the same stain can look nothing alike, because the wood underneath is doing half the work. Grain pattern, natural color, and how open the pores are all change what a finish looks like once it's on. We build with seven standard species. Other wood species and stain combinations can be selected with an upcharge.
How to choose
Three things that actually matter
Hardness
Harder woods take dings less easily. In a kitchen with kids, that isn't a small thing. Every species below carries a hardness rating from 1, the softest, to 4, the hardest.
How it takes color
Some species drink stain evenly. Some have enough natural color that a light stain barely registers, and a few will darken on their own over the years whether you plan for it or not.
Standard selection
Seven standard wood species
These seven species are part of our standard offering.Other species can be selected with an upcharge.
Beech
- Color
- Pale cream, sometimes with a pink or brown cast
- Grain
- Straight, fine to medium texture
- Takes color
- Stains well in all shades
- Hardness
- 3
Cherry
- Color
- Reddish
- Grain
- Soft and smooth
- Takes color
- Accepts all stains well, and sweetens or darkens over time
- Hardness
- 2
Maple
- Color
- White with flecks of reddish brown
- Grain
- Fine, minimal pattern
- Takes color
- Ideal for light stain, can go darker with a pre-conditioner
- Hardness
- 3
Hickory
- Color
- High contrast browns, whites and reds
- Grain
- Straight, open
- Takes color
- Stains well in a variety of colors
- Hardness
- 4
Red Oak
- Color
- Light to medium brown, slightly reddish
- Grain
- Heavy, deep texture
- Takes color
- Accepts all stains well
- Hardness
- 3
Walnut
- Color
- Light brown through deep chocolate
- Grain
- Usually straight, sometimes irregular, medium texture
- Takes color
- Usually left unstained and clear coated
- Hardness
- 3
White Oak
- Color
- Light to medium brown, often with an olive cast
- Grain
- Straight and curly mixed, coarse and uneven
- Takes color
- Accepts all stains well
- Hardness
- 3
One stain. Different woods.
Stain is translucent, so grain, texture, and natural color all stay visible in the finished piece. The wood beneath it changes how every color reads.
Medium Brown Walnut stain shows red undertones on cherry and reads lighter on red oak. That's why wood and stain are decisions to make together.
See stains and finishes