Wood Guide
Selecting the right wood species for your next Fusion Designs piece can feel daunting. Wood comes in a wide range of colors, grain patterns, and characteristics, each with its unique appeal. By doing a bit of research, you’ll be able to choose a wood that perfectly matches your style and meets your practical needs. Welcome to our Wood Guide—a comprehensive resource to help you make an informed decision.
The beauty of real wood furniture is in the natural variations and unique grain patterns crafted by Nature. These differences bring character and authenticity to your home, making it as special and unique as you are.
Red Oak
DESCRIPTION
Choosing oak for your furniture means investing in unmatched durability, timeless beauty, and versatile style. Known for its remarkable strength, oak withstands daily wear and tear, ensuring that each piece lasts for generations. The wood’s distinct grain and ability to absorb stains make it adaptable to any design aesthetic, from rustic charm to modern elegance. Oak is ideal for high-use areas like dining rooms, while all oak pieces develop a rich patina over time, adding to their character and appeal. Sustainably sourced and easy to maintain, oak furniture is a practical yet sophisticated choice that enhances any space and offers lasting value.
SPECIFICATIONS
Color: Red oak has a pinkish hue
Source: Oak Tree (Quercus L.)
Durability: 1290 Janka
QUARTERSAWN WHITE OAK
DESCRIPTION
Quartersawn White Oak is a premium choice for furniture, valued for its exceptional strength, stability, and distinctive appearance. The unique quartersawing process reveals beautiful “ray flecks” or medullary rays, adding a striking, natural pattern that enhances the wood’s visual appeal—perfect for styles like Arts and Crafts or Mission furniture. In addition to its beauty, quartersawn White Oak offers remarkable durability, being highly resistant to wear, warping, and shrinking, even in changing humidity and temperature conditions. This stability makes it ideal for furniture expected to last and endure regular use. White Oak’s natural resistance to moisture and decay further adds to its longevity, though it is generally best suited for indoor use. Finishing and staining quartersawn White Oak is also a pleasure, as it readily absorbs and showcases a range of finishes, enhancing its elegant grain. Additionally, White Oak is a sustainable wood choice, as it grows relatively quickly and is widely available, allowing furniture makers to craft pieces that are both eco-conscious and beautiful. With its combination of timeless aesthetics and lasting resilience, quartersawn White Oak continues to be a top choice for high-quality furniture
SPECIFICATIONS
Color: Medium Brown
Source: White Oak (quercus alba)
Durability: 1360 Janka
RUSTIC White Oak
DESCRIPTION
Discover the beauty of rustic flat sawn white oak, a wood species that brings both elegance and strength to modern furniture designs. Its unique grain patterns and rich texture add a timeless charm, while its exceptional durability ensures that pieces crafted from this wood will withstand the test of time. Ideal for creating sophisticated yet robust furniture, rustic flat sawn white oak is a perfect choice for adding warmth and character to any contemporary space.
SPECIFICATIONS
Color: Medium Brown
Source: White Oak (quercus alba)
Durability: 1360 Janka
RUSTIC Hickory
DESCRIPTION
Rustic hickory wood brings a bold, natural character to any furniture piece, with its distinctive grain patterns, knots, and burls that give it a uniquely rustic appeal. Its rich blend of reddish, cream, and dark brown tones adds depth and warmth, making it an eye-catching choice for creating furniture that truly stands out. Perfect for those seeking an earthy, authentic look, rustic hickory offers both beauty and personality, transforming any space with its striking, natural contrasts.
SPECIFICATIONS
Color: Contrasting Reddish, Cream and Dark Brown Colors
Source: Hickory (carya ovata)
Durability: 1820 Janka
BROWN MAPLE
DESCRIPTION
Brown maple wood is a versatile choice for furniture, celebrated for its smooth grain pattern and a beautiful blend of brown, tan, white, and cream streaks that add subtle character. Its smooth surface makes it an excellent candidate for painted finishes, while its natural tones take medium to dark stains beautifully, offering a wide range of design possibilities. While it’s a softer wood, making it more susceptible to scratches and dents, brown maple’s unique aesthetic and adaptability in finishes make it a popular choice for those seeking refined elegance with customizable appeal.
SPECIFICATIONS
Color: Cream, white with varying streaks of brown and tan
Source: Maple (acer saccharinum)
Durability: 950 Janka
CHERRY
DESCRIPTION
Cherry wood brings a warm, refined beauty to furniture with its smooth, circular grain pattern and gentle variations of white, brown, and deep red hues. Known for its minimal knots and pits, cherry offers a clean, sophisticated look that only grows richer over time, darkening gracefully with exposure to light and heat. Though classified as a softer wood, cherry remains a beloved choice for its unique aging qualities and timeless appeal, adding elegance and character to any piece it graces.
SPECIFICATIONS
Color: Deep red with slight white, brown variations
Source: Cherry (prunus serotina)
Durability: 950 Janka
Rustic CHERRY
DESCRIPTION
Rustic cherry wood brings natural character and charm to furniture, highlighted by its distinctive pits, knots, and striking white sapwood. Over time, rustic cherry will develop a rich, darker patina, enhancing its warm, inviting tones and deepening its appeal. This unique aging process, combined with the wood’s natural imperfections, creates furniture that exudes rustic elegance and timeless beauty, ideal for adding a touch of nature to any space.
SPECIFICATIONS
Color: Deep red with white, brown variations
Source: Cherry (prunus serotina)
Durability: 950 Janka