Our designers can help you select the right wood and stain to make your new kitchen cabinets. Remodeling your custom kitchen cabinets can make a big difference in the look and feel of your space. Your kitchen’s appearance and feel can be dramatically affected by the type of wood and color you choose. Let’s look at some of the most popular options for custom kitchen cabinets. Our local Tampa cabinet makers are available to answer any questions.

Different Types Of Wood For Cabinets

You need to consider more than just the color and grain when choosing wood for your custom cabinets. Certain wood types are more resilient than others. Some wood types can resist water while others can resist termites and rot. It is important to determine whether the wood you have chosen will accept a stain and whether it will be lighter or darker than the original wood.

Lighter Woods

Lightwoods are often good candidates for staining. A stain can be applied to light woods to bring out their grain patterns or make dull woods look sleeker.

Every wood type has its own unique character and strengths that will enhance your kitchen. These are some of the most common light woods to use for cabinets:

• Ash: ash is strong, durable, flexible, and domestic. It can be either white, or more cream-colored, or lighter brown. Sometimes, it even contains grains.
• Birch: Birch, a light wood that has simple patterns and is good for staining.
• Hickory –Hickory can be durable and strong and can come in a variety of shades, from white to a more tanned or reddish-brown.
• Maple: Maple is a light wood, which is durable and strong. It looks great without stain.
• Oak: Oak is strong wood and a popular choice for custom kitchen cabinets. Because of its random grain patterns, oak is a good candidate for staining.
• Red Oak: Oak varies in color from medium to dark brown, and often has a reddish hue. It is durable and has a classic grain that always finishes perfectly.
• White Oak: Oak can be a variety of colors, from light to medium brown, and sometimes has an olive tint. It is a durable and almost impervious wood, which makes it an excellent choice for the kitchen.

Warmer Or Darker Woods

Woods that are darker or warmer in color are considered luxury woods. These darker tones might not need staining, or only require minimal staining to enhance the beauty. These are the most common dark wood options for cabinets:

• Cherry: Cherry is a deep, reddish-brown, rich color. It may darken as you age. Cherry looks great without staining.
• Mahogany –Mahogany, an extremely strong and durable wood, can be found in a range of colors, from light brown to dark brown. It is often tipped with a reddish hue. It looks great without stain.
• Walnut: Walnut can be almost black or chocolate brown. The color of the walnut may vary depending on its type. It can also be gray, purple, or reddish depending on what it is. The darker tones add sophistication and style to any kitchen.

Common Kitchen Cabinet Stains

You may also want to choose a stain after you have chosen the type of wood for your cabinets. Stains can alter the look of your cabinets. They can make your kitchen appear lighter or more spacious. Instead of hiding the wood with paint, they highlight its natural beauty.

Stains are designed to enhance natural beauty. It’s best to stick to more neutral colors and to select a stain that matches your wood type. If you are looking for dark custom kitchen cabinets, then consider using a darker walnut to stain them. Centennial Woodworking offers a range of stains to suit different wood types such as:

• Butternut
• Cappuccino
• Caraway
• Cashew
• Chestnut
• Cocoa brown
• Grey
• Hazelnut
• Mocha
• Morel
• Pebble
• Peppercorn
• Poppyseed
• Smoke
• Toast

Contact The French Refinery For Custom Cabinets

Whether you are purchasing kitchen cabinets, Bathroom Cabinets, or custom closet cabinets, There’s a lot to consider: size, color, finish, material, durability, hardware, etc. Are you ready to work with a custom cabinet manufacturer? Contact The French Refinery’s Tampa cabinet makers today to schedule a consultation and discuss your design ideas. We can help you design the kitchen cabinets that you want, no matter if you’re remodeling or building a new house. All cabinets are made by hand. We take great pride in our work and use only the highest quality materials to create a product that is truly a work of art. We also source materials locally. Custom Cabinets by The French Refinery will meet all of your expectations. They are built to last.

This article was written by Jordan Legault, Jordan is the owner of The French Refinery. Founded in 2015, The French Refinery quickly built a name and reputation for high-end cabinetry with quality craftsmanship and attention to fine detail. We strive every day to provide the utmost in customer service because our customers deserve the best we can provide. We have built a hand-picked team of talented craftsmen with over 100 years of combined experience. Building Custom cabinets in Tampa is our craft, we love what we do, and we make it show through in the work we provide on a daily basis.