Choosing A Wood Species

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The species of wood you choose for your cabinet doors will affect the final appearance of your kitchen cabinets or bathroom vanity.  After all, each type of wood has unique natural characteristics that add to the charm of your home.  Start by learning a little about the differences between the wood species that we offer, then discuss your ideas with one of our highly experienced kitchen designers.  They’ll help you understand if what you want to accomplish will work with the wood of your choice.

Maple Cabinet Doors

Maple is a medium to hard wood with a light colour and a subtle grain.  Due to its smooth finish, it takes stains very well and is typically chosen for the even effect that can be produced.  If you’re looking for uniformity in your cabinets, then maple is the best option for you.

Cherry Cabinet Doors

Cherry tends to have a naturally even color and its smooth grain makes for easy staining.  It’s durable enough to resist blemishes from use but will darken in color from exposure to the sun over time.

Oak Cabinet Doors

Oak is available in both red oak and white oak. Both are durable hardwoods with pronounced grain patterns.  Red oak was very popular in past decades and gives a more traditional look, while white oak can provide a more modern take on the wood. 

Our white oak is available as quarter sawn or rift cut.  Quarter sawn white oak is produced by quartering the log then sawing perpendicular to the growth rings.  This creates the beautiful flared marks across the grain.  Rift sawn white oak has the angle changed so that the grain is vertical with few or no flared marks.

Alder Cabinet Doors

Alder is a relatively soft hardwood, although it is still highly durable.  The colour is uniform and the grain is similar to cherry, in that it is even and smooth.  Knotty alder is also available.  Because the knots will be randomly placed throughout the wood, no two knotty alder kitchens will look alike.

Hickory Cabinet Doors

Hickory is one of the strongest woods; with a striking grain and variety of colors which are amplified by natural finishes, this wood makes a great choice for custom cabinets.  No two doors will be the same in this wood.

Walnut Cabinet Doors

Walnut is a durable wood that has a beautiful, fine grain suitable for finishes; this will help provide uniformity for its often-multi-colored look, which will also lighten over time. With the expense and natural beauty of walnut, you may elect for a natural-finish to highlight this.

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