The floor and furniture around a new table can help you choose its wood. A pale surface beside dark flooring will look quite different from a dark surface in the same spot, even when the furniture has the same shape.
I work in walnut, cherry, maple and ash, among other woods. You can see them across my furniture and woodwork gallery, including walnut dining tables, a white maple dresser and a blackened ash side table.
Compare colour and grain first
Individual boards vary, and the finish changes the appearance, so the species name alone won't tell you exactly what a finished piece will look like.
| Wood | Typical appearance | A question to help you choose |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut | Brown heartwood, often quite dark, with lighter sapwood | Do you want the furniture to bring a darker tone into the room? |
| Hard maple | Often pale and creamy, with a fine texture | Would a lighter surface work with your flooring and surrounding furniture? |
| Cherry | Warm reddish-brown tones that can deepen with exposure to light | Are you comfortable with the colour changing over time? |
| Ash | Often light in colour, with a more pronounced grain | Would you like the grain to be a visible part of the design? |
Heartwood is the wood from the inner part of the tree; sapwood is the outer wood beneath the bark. Their colours can differ within the same board. The American Hardwood Export Council's material guide gives further background on these species.
Use finished pieces as references
A photograph of a finished piece gives you more to discuss than a colour name. My gallery includes an eight-foot walnut dining table, a cherry kitchen table and cabinetry made with maple and cherry. Each shows the wood as part of a complete design.
When looking at an example, identify whether you like the wood's appearance or the shape of the piece. You might like a table's proportions without wanting the same wood.
The blackened ash side table is a useful reminder to separate species from finished appearance. Ash is often light, but that particular piece has a dark finish. Send the actual reference if that's the look you mean.
Think about the furniture already in the room
You don't have to match every wood surface in a room. Compare the new piece with the surfaces it will sit closest to, such as the floor and chairs around a dining table.
Take a photo in daylight as well as under the lights you normally use. Treat online photos as a reference rather than an exact colour sample, because lighting and screens affect what you see. If a close colour match matters, mention it early and ask how the proposed finish can be checked.
Describe the use before settling on a species
For a dining table, say whether it will also be used for homework or other activities. For a cabinet, describe what it needs to hold and how often you'll use it. That information helps keep the material discussion connected to the design.
Choosing a hardwood doesn't make a surface immune to damage. The finish and the way you use the piece matter too; the care guide covers what to check before choosing a cleaning product.
To discuss wood for a piece in Montague or elsewhere on PEI, send a commission enquiry with the species you have in mind or a gallery reference that caught your eye. If you're undecided, a photo of the room and a description of the piece are enough to begin.