Clients often arrive apologising for not knowing their oak from their ash. No apology needed — choosing timber is our job to guide. This is the short version of the conversation we have at every first site visit.
Read the room’s light first
North-facing rooms drink warmth: pale ash or natural oak keeps them breathing, while dark walnut can turn a dim kitchen sombre. South-facing rooms take walnut and smoked oak gloriously — strong sun reveals their depth instead of flattening it. We always sample boards in your room, at morning and evening, before deciding.
Grain is character — choose its volume
Rift-sawn oak is calm and architectural; crown-cut oak is lively and traditional. Walnut reads formal and rich; maple is quiet, smooth and modern. For fitted runs, consistency matters more than drama — matched, quieter grain across ten doors beats one spectacular board beside nine plain ones.
Hardness, honesty and budget
Harder timbers resist dents but cost more and blunt tools — walnut and oak sit in the sweet spot for most cabinetry. Whatever you choose, ask where it was grown and whether it is certified; a beautiful kitchen with a murky supply chain is not something we will build.