Black Walnut

If you want a classy looking wood, this is it! This domestic wood has to be one of my favorites, if not THE favorite. The heartwood (center core of the tree) provides a beautiful brown color that ranges from a rich chocolate color to a paler brown color. Grain patterns in the lumber provide an even richer streak of color.

The sapwood (outer portion of the tree where the bark attaches) is a yellowish white color and can provide a very pleasing contrast in the board when that board is the focal point of the piece.

Aside from the visual appeal this wood provides, it also produces a lovely scent in my workshop when I am working it. I know, it sounds strange, but it’s one of those things that adds to the appeal for me to work with this wood. Despite being a domestic, this is one of the more expensive woods I work with. Certainly as domestics go, it is at the top of the list for most expensive aside from any of the special figured wood that can be purchased.

Cherry

This moderately priced domestic wood is another one high on my list of favorites. When freshly milled, the wood has a light pinkish brown color. The beauty of this wood however is all in the age. Like a fine wine, age does wonders for this species. As the wood ages it darkens to a beautiful rich reddish brown color. The grain patterns are subtle yet pleasing and really help bring out the beauty of the species.

Similar to walnut, the sapwood for cherry is white and provides quite the contrast compared to the heartwood. This appearance can be ignored or it can be embraced to highlight the piece.

Milling cherry lumber does provide a soothing scent in the workshop. Price for cherry is middle of the road or slightly higher in regards to domestic lumber prices. This makes it a fantastic option for smaller projects where you want a great look without breaking the bank.

Maple

If you are looking for a no frills yet strong and dependable wood, maple might be for you. It may not have the striking colors that other species provide, but it does provide a clean look for any project it’s used in. The grain patterns in maple are present but subtle. What you see is what you get with this species as maple maintains its color and appearance as it ages.

Unlike other species, the sapwood is usually preferred for its clean, white appearance. The heartwood is a darker, reddish brown color and not as clean looking. Maple also provides a wonderful contrast when used with darker woods.

Despite its clean appearance, figured boards are common and easily obtainable. The figuring can include quilted, curly, and a figuring almost entirely unique to maple, birdseye figuring. Pricing for maple is on the lower end of the spectrum which makes it a desirable species to use for almost any project. Prices do increase with more figured boards.

Purpleheart

YES, it’s actually purple! If you want a splash of color or a full on dousing of color, purpleheart is a fantastic choice. This South American wood is surely going to gain attention no matter the project it is used in! It is a very hard and dense wood that provides a great amount of strength and weight wherever it is used.

When freshly milled the lumber is a grayish purple but transforms into a beautiful purple color in a matter of a days. In time however, this vibrant purple does start to darken and will become a darker brown/purple eggplant color.

Despite looking like a million bucks, pricing for this wood is middle of the road for an import. Making a larger project entirely out of this wood will be pricey, but using it in moderation or as an accent and keeping price low is certainly obtainable.

Padauk

It doesn’t get much more vibrant than this! This vibrant orange wood originates in central and tropical west Africa. No matter the project this wood resides in, it is sure to stand out for its intense coloring. The grain pattern for this wood is a lovely deep orange and red in color.

Despite the allure of this vibrant orange wood, similar to many other woods, and people, the fun and vibrant side of it starts to age and mature. When it does, it turns into a dignified deep orange and red color. Even though it isn’t as bright and colorful as it was in its youth, it is still a gorgeous wood no matter its age.

The pricing for this imported wood is moderate. Larger projects are certainly financially obtainable using entirely padauk, but showcasing its vibrant coloring in strategic locations is really where this wood will shine!

Zebrawood

Built in contrast at its finest with this species. This west African wood has its name for obvious reasons.

No board is ever the same, or even similar in many instances. This wood is like a fine painting that you can stare at all day and always seem to find something unique and different from the last time you looked at it. Having zebrawood in any project will certainly make it an enjoyable sight to see.

Pricing for this import is on the higher side, so don’t anticipate it being a part of a large project unless you are willing to spend a little extra for it! The beauty of this wood though is no matter the amount that is used, it will most definitely stand out wherever it is!

Lacewood

Sadly, this image doesn’t do the beauty of this wood any justice. Derived from the tropics of South America, this wood displays vivid light brown flecking surrounded by a reddish brown grain.

Similar to other species of wood like white oak, when milled in a quarter sawn method, the flecking becomes more prominent and larger. I have found this look to be a bit random and almost chaotic compared to a non quarter sawn piece. There in lies the beauty of working with wood. No matter the species or how it is milled, it’s always going to give you something new to work with.

While not the most expensive import available on the market, it certainly does climb towards the top half in pricing. This certainly isn’t a species that is going to be used for a large project on its own but instead more of an accent piece. Even if price wasn’t an issue I am not certain you would want your entire furniture piece to be lacewood as it could make the piece too busy.

Bloodwood

If padauk had a South American cousin, this would be it. Instead of the vibrant orange coloring however, bloodwood has a red coloring that darkens with age.

Bloodwood is a very dense and heavy wood. It certainly adds weight to any project it is a part of. Though this isn’t the case, I wonder sometimes when working with it if it gets its name from the blood it draws due to splinters I get in my hands. That being said, no worries, the wood won’t harm you when it’s in a project piece!

Pricing for bloodwood will range in the top half when it comes to imports. It certainly isn’t a species you would want to base an entire large project around but it is perfect for any complimentary accents to other species like cherry or even maple. The unique coloring of this species makes it perfect for putting the right amount of flair in any project!