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 the woods we offer — 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 | Very good | Dining tables, high-traffic |
| Wormy Maple | 950 lbf | Cream to gold, rustic character | Very good | Rustic, farmhouse, cottage |
| Red Oak | 1290 lbf | Warm tan to reddish brown | Good | Traditional dining & bedroom |
| Flat-Cut White Oak | 1360 lbf | Light tan to cool grey-brown | Excellent | Contemporary dining & bedroom |
| White Ash | 1320 lbf | Pale cream to light tan | Very good | Dining, chairs, contemporary |
| Black Walnut | 1010 lbf | Rich chocolate brown | Usually natural/light | Statement & accent pieces |
Eastern Canada & Northeast US
·Janka 1450 lbf
Hard Maple
Colour & Grain
Creamy white to pale gold with a subtle, fine grain and occasional bird's-eye or curly figure.
How It Ages
Deepens slightly to a warm honey-cream over time while remaining relatively light and consistent.
Staining
Takes a wide range of finishes, though careful preparation helps keep colour even on this dense, tight-grained wood.
A dense, durable hardwood and one of our most versatile furniture woods. Its fine grain and high Janka hardness make it especially well suited to dining tables and other pieces that see daily use.
Best for
Eastern North America
·Janka 950 lbf
Wormy Maple
Colour & Grain
Warm cream to gold with mineral streaks, small knots, worm tracks, and natural colour variation that gives every board distinct rustic character.
How It Ages
Warms gradually with age while its mineral streaks and character markings remain the defining visual feature.
Staining
Works especially well with natural, medium, and darker stains that complement its rustic variation rather than hiding it.
Wormy Maple is a character-grade soft maple rather than Hard Maple, so its typical Janka hardness is about 950 lbf. The natural mineral streaks, worm tracks, knots, and colour variation are intentional features of the material.
Best for
Eastern North America
·Janka 1290 lbf
Red Oak
Colour & Grain
Warm tan to light reddish brown with a pronounced, open grain pattern.
How It Ages
Develops warmer amber tones over time while its strong grain remains prominent.
Staining
Good — its open grain takes stain readily and shows colour variation with plenty of visible wood character.
A classic North American furniture hardwood with bold grain and warm colour. It is durable enough for everyday furniture while retaining a traditional, unmistakably wood-forward appearance.
Best for
Eastern North America
·Janka 1360 lbf
Flat-Cut White Oak
Colour & Grain
Light tan to cool grey-brown with a strong cathedral grain pattern created by flat sawing.
How It Ages
Warms gradually toward a richer tan-brown while retaining its distinctive grain structure.
Staining
Excellent — particularly effective with natural, light, and contemporary neutral finishes that emphasize the grain.
Flat-cut describes how White Oak is sawn, not a different species, so its Janka hardness remains 1360 lbf. The cut produces the broad cathedral grain pattern commonly used in contemporary solid wood furniture.
Best for
Eastern North America
·Janka 1320 lbf
White Ash
Colour & Grain
Pale cream to light tan with a bold, open grain similar to oak but usually lighter and cleaner in appearance.
How It Ages
Develops a slightly warmer golden tone over time while remaining relatively light.
Staining
Very good — its open grain accepts a broad range of stains and keeps the grain visibly defined.
White Ash combines good hardness with excellent shock resistance and a strong, attractive grain. At approximately 1320 lbf on the Janka scale, it sits between Red Oak and White Oak in hardness.
Best for
Central & Eastern North America
·Janka 1010 lbf
Black Walnut
Colour & Grain
Rich chocolate brown to purple-brown heartwood with lighter creamy sapwood and flowing, figured grain.
How It Ages
Typically lightens and mellows slightly with prolonged light exposure, developing a softer brown patina.
Staining
Usually chosen in natural or lightly toned finishes so the species' own colour and grain remain the focus.
A premium North American hardwood prized primarily for its naturally deep colour and distinctive grain. It is somewhat softer than maple and oak, making it best suited to pieces where appearance is the priority.
Best for