The wood species 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 moderately hard wood. The natural wood has 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. It’s also durable and resistant to wear. If you’re looking for uniformity in your cabinets, then maple is the best wood species option for you. Reasons why you may opt for other woods instead of maple: it has a relatively plain appearance compared to other species, and it can be more expensive than some other hardwoods.
Cherry Cabinet Doors
Cherry is a moderately hard wood species. The natural wood has a classic red-brown hue while still new, but will end up darkening over time. Cherry wood has a grain that is fine, straight, and smooth with natural variations that takes stain beautifully. Cherry is a durable wood that is fairly resistant to warping. Reasons why you may opt for other woods instead of cherry: the fact that it darkens substantially with age, and it can be more expensive than some other hardwoods.
Oak Cabinet Doors
Oak is available in both red oak and white oak. Both are highly durable hardwoods with pronounced and distinctive open 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 natural wood colour is light brown with a hint of red. Alder wood has a grain that is straight with an even texture, which means that it takes stains and finishes well. We typically use knotty alder, which features large distinctive knots throughout the wood for a rustic appearance. Because the knots naturally occur in random places throughout the wood, no two knotty alder kitchens will look alike. Reasons why you may opt for other woods instead of alder: it is a softer wood that may be more prone to dents (although this is ideal for rustic looks) and the grain is less pronounced than in other hardwoods.
Hickory Cabinet Doors
Hickory is one of the hardest wood species. The natural wood is varied in colour, with light and dark shades in a prominent and striking pattern. Hickory takes stain well and the natural wood grain ensures that no two cabinet will be the same. It’s an ideal choice for a rustic look. Reasons why you may opt for other woods instead of hickory: it may be too rustic for some design styles.
Walnut Cabinet Doors
Walnut is a moderately hard wood species. The natural colour ranges from chocolate brown to dark brown and may lighten over time. Walnut has a straight grain with occasional waves in it. It takes stains and finishes beautifully and brings a rich and elegant appearance to any project. Reasons why you may opt for other woods instead of walnut: the darker colour may not be suitable for very small spaces, and it can be more expensive than some other hardwoods.
When choosing a wood species for cabinet doors, it’s essential to consider your overall design aesthetic, durability requirements, and budget constraints. Get inspired by browsing through our online photo gallery or visit our Houzz profile and look through our projects and ideabooks.
