Woods and Color Choices

How do I choose which cabinets are right for me?
Aesthetically, the most important decision you will make is selecting what material your cabinets will be made of. The range of choices is very large and getting larger every day. Your designer will help you with this decision, but there are some characteristics that you should keep in mind when making your decision.

Ask yourself the following questions. This will help you focus on selecting the type of cabinetry that is right for you:

• What colors do you like? Light and Bright or Deep Wood tones?
  
• Is easy to clean a high priority? Or is the deep richness of natural cherry worth some extra care?
  
• Do you like natural products like stone and wood, or do prefer the uniformity of manmade products?
  
• Do you prefer elegance over function?
  
• Do you like the clean lines of a Shaker Style or the graceful lines of French Curves?
  

There are many different woods available including oak, maple, cherry, birch, hickory, walnut, pecan and pine. Each has its own very distinct, natural characteristics. Here is a brief description of some woods, ask your GSC designer for more information.

• Oak has intense and predominant grain patterns. Color and value (lightness or darkness) variations are present and noticeable, particularly in natural finishes. Colors can range from reds to grays. Oak is one of the strongest, and still remains the most popular, hardwood for cabinets.
  
• Maple is characterized by its smooth, even and fine grain pattern. Natural maple can have some significant color variation. These color variations are accentuated by stains. The darker the stain, the more predominant these variations become. Mineral streaks, thin dark streaks or areas, are common and appear darker when stained. To some people these mineral streaks appear to be a defect in the wood, but they are a natural characteristic.
  
• Cherry is a smooth, evenly grained hardwood known for its warm and rich look. Heartwood can range from a deep red to reddish-brown in color. Natural cherry can have areas that are yellowish, green or gray. Variations in color should be expected in cherry cabinets. Cherry will darken significantly with age and the color variations will become more pronounced. It commonly has pinholes and pitch pockets, similar to mineral streaks in maple.
• Pecan is one of the stronger hardwoods and is a member of the hickory family. Pecan is characterized by dramatic color variations ranging from white sapwood to reddish brown heartwood, even in the same piece of wood. Pecan will "mellow" with age making the color variation less apparent.
• Alder has a straight fine textured grain similar to cherry and maple. Although classified as a hardwood, it is moderately light in weight and considerably softer than other species. Care must be taken with Alder wood as it will dent and mar easily. Alder has a uniform honey color, and does take most finish colors well.
• Red Birch is a strong, durable, closed grained wood with a very even texture. In a natural finish the grain patterns allow for an iridescent appearance. The species looks similar to cherry wood but doesn't darken dramatically as it is exposed to sunlight.
• Black Walnut has been called the "king of hardwoods". Walnut is smooth grained with a rich and warm appeal. Color can range from deep chocolate brown to light reddish-gray brown. While care is taken to eliminate it, sapwood areas may be present and range in hue from light yellow to light brown. As it ages, walnut will "mellow" and lighten in color.