Woods & Stains

Only the finest hardwoods are used to produce this Amish furniture.

Just as no two species of wood are alike, no two trees are alike. Each piece of wood is unique and there will be natural variations. The swirls, small knots, grain patterns and colors are a natural part of the wood. This natural variation and beauty makes your hardwood furniture a unique piece built just for you!

We’ve created this quick primer to help describe each of the woods the Amish use. Please visit the store to see our complete line of woods and finishes. Finishes range from natural to a dark espresso color.

RED OAK
RED OAK
  • Heavy, strong and durable wood.
  • Very wear resistant.
  • Open grain and texture. Recognizable patterns include concentric arches, cathedrals, and misshapen ovals.
  • The most common American hardwood used in furniture.
QUARTER SAWN WHITE OAK
QUARTER SAWN WHITE OAK
  • Heavy, strong and durable wood. Even more durable than red oak.
  • Naturally beige to tan color with a finer texture than red oak.
  • Quarter sawn white oak is milled by splitting the log into four quarters (hence the name “quarter-sawn”), then cutting on the diagonal from the center of the tree out toward the edges. The result is a beautiful grain that is recognized for its swirls and burls called medullary rays.
  • Quarter sawn white oak is one of the hallmarks of Arts & Crafts and Prairie style furniture.
 
CHERRY
CHERRY
  • Beautiful, closed-grained wood.
  • Softer than oak.
  • Very uniform in texture – satin smooth.
  • When left natural, cherry has a light pink color that will darken over time due to age and exposure to sunlight.  The first 4 to 6 weeks see the fastest darkening.
WALNUT
WALNUT
  • Noted for its rich grain patterns, chocolate or purplish-brown color, and matte sheen.
  • Similar to cherry in hardness.
  • The grain is mostly straight and open but can have burled or curly grain.
  • Prized wood for building furniture. Develops a rich patina that grows more lustrous with age.
 
Hard Maple
Hard Maple
  • Also known as sugar maple or rock maple.  Hard maples produce maple syrup.
  • Very heavy and strong wood.  Extremely wear-resistant.
  • Harder than red oak, white oak and cherry.
  • Soft grain appearance, fine texture and smooth surface.
  • Natural color of hard maple is a white or almost platinum blond color.
  • Wood is generally straight-grained, but it can also show “curly,” “fiddle-back” and “birds-eye” figure.

BROWN OR SOFT MAPLE
BROWN OR SOFT MAPLE
  • The primary difference between hard and soft maple is hardness and color.
  • Brown maple is about the same hardness as cherry, making it softer than hard maple.
  • Close grained like hard maple.
  • Tends to take darker stains well.
 
HICKORY
HICKORY
  • Hardest, heaviest and strongest American wood in common use.
  • Extremely tough and resilient wood with an even texture.  Medium grain.
  • White to tan in color with fine brownish black lines common.
  • Pioneers used hickory for their wagon wheels.