Custom Cabinets: Cherry Wood - Origins, Characteristics & Cabinetry
If you find all wood cabinetry beautiful and hesitate to make a decision to purchase cherry kitchen cabinets based on appearance alone, understanding that each wood species has its own history, degree of beauty, and natural characteristics may help you to make the right custom cabinet choice for your home.
Today we'll discuss cherry wood and the unique properties that make it such a popular choice for craftsman, carvers, artists and homeowners alike.
Cherry Wood Origins
"My son, that you should not be afraid to tell the truth is more to me than a thousand trees! Yes - though they were blossomed with silver and had leaves of the purest gold!'' Augustine Washington to his young son, George Washington, after the future leader admits to destroying a beloved cherry tree with his hatchet.
Though the use of cherry wood in custom cabinetry, floors, and wood carving is as steeped in American legend as baseball and apple pie, most of the world's cherry lumber does not actually come from the North American species George Washington made famous. In fact, most of the cherry lumber sold annually throughout the world comes from tropical cherry trees which are generally bigger than our domestic trees, making them easier to harvest - i.e., more widely available and less expensive.
Whether from tropical climates abroad or those found here at home, intensive tree management is necessary to produce quality cherry logs. The extra care required to grow cherry trees, coupled with the limited availability of American black cherry in comparison to tropical cherry trees, results in a more costly end product for the consumer - making cherry wood one of the most highly prized and finest choices in home décor.
Cherry Wood Characteristics
While it is a hardwood, cherry wood is considered a moderate hardwood by comparison to the hardest woods, like hickory, pecan, white oak or Brazilian teak. (Hardness is measured by how many pounds of pressure it takes to mar the wood). Cherry wood is strong and has excellent shock resistance.
The grain patterns in cherry wood are more unusual than its hardwood counterparts, with prominent gum streaks, pin knots, curls, and random swirls. Unusual patterns do not make cherry wood rough; cherry wood grain is exceptionally tight and smooth, often described by woodworkers as "satin-like". Its finishing qualities are unsurpassed, as stains and finishes apply easily to the smooth finish.
Cherry Kitchen Cabinets
Cherry was used as early as 400 B.C. by the Greeks and Romans for furniture making. Colonial cabinetmakers favored cherry wood, and thus, cherry became the signature wood for Shaker, Mission and country styles.
Cherry works wonderfully with several finishes, but is often finished in lighter brownish stains, as it will darken with age and exposure to light, to bring out the charming and unique grains favored by artisans.
For more information about natural cherry kitchen cabinets with clear coating, medium brown and rich Bordeaux finishes, as well as our custom kitchen cabinets, please refer to my previous blog: Cherry Kitchen Cabinets: Merely looking after them for the next generation.
Crossroads Custom Cabinetry redefines the U.S. cabinet industry by making premium quality, custom cabinets widely available at greatly reduced prices. Crossroads' team of professionals are dedicated to empowering the home improvement consumer community with superior products at factory direct prices. Webinetry.com is a completely new channel ushering in a new era for the way today's American consumer can research, preview, budget, and finalize their cabinet purchasing decisions online.