Wood Characteristics
- Room Gallery
- Door Gallery
- Finish Gallery
Find the look you love. View our kitchen and bath room galleries.
View thousands of door style and finish combinations, with options for decorative glass inserts.
A blend of modern technology with handcrafted artistry results in a smooth and durable cabinet finish.
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Alder_checking.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Alder_closed_knot.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Alder_Mineral.png)
Knotty Alder
- A rich-looking wood that blends well with cherry
- Color is very uniform light brown with a reddish tinge
- Fairly straight-grained, uniform texture
- Contains pin knots, open and closed knots of various sizes, checking and mineral streaks which are typical and not considered defects – knots may be in locations which affect hardware placement
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/CHERRY-pin_knot.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Cherry_Mineral.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Cherry_Pitch.png)
Cherry
- Rich color and smooth, flowing grain patterns
- Color varies from light pink to dark brown; variations are more prominent with lighter stains
- Will darken or mellow with age, a change that is more noticeable with light stains – sun exposure greatly accelerates this process
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hickory_Burl.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hickory_pin_knots.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Hickory_mineral.png)
Hickory
- Can vary dramatically in color within a single piece of wood; from almost white to a deep, dark brown
- Bold, prominent grain patterns give it a rustic appearance
- Burls, pin knots, mineral streaks and small, sound knots are typical and are not considered defects
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Maple_mineral_streak.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Maple_Natural_Burl.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Worm_Tracking_Maple.png)
Maple
- Smooth texture with tight, uniform grain patterns
- Color is creamy white, varying slightly from almost bright white to light pink or reddish brown
- Contains a natural resin that causes the wood to turn amber as it ages, a change that is more noticeable with light stains – sun exposure greatly accelerates this process
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/rusticmaple_1.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/rusticmaple_2.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/rusticmaple_3.png)
Rustic Maple
- A dense hardwood with smooth texture and closed grain pattern
- Colors range from creamy whites and light tans to almost black in knotty areas. Bark pockets and mineral streaks can be evident in a single stave of wood
- Color shift is more evident in lighter finishes. Medium and dark finishes obscure much of the wood’s color variation and the overall finish appears more consistent
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Oak_arched_grain.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Oak_mineral.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Oak_uniform_grain.png)
Oak
- Open grain patterns vary from close-knit and vertical, to prominent and arched
- Colors range from light tan and pink to medium dark red and brown
- May contain small mineral streaks and some pin knots
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/qsoak_1.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/qsoak_3.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/qsoak_4.png)
Quartersawn Oak
- Quartered and cut at a 90-degree angle to the growth ring of the tree to create, close-knit vertical grain pattern
- Exposes a beautiful aspect of the grain called flake
- Colors range from light tan and pink to medium dark red and brown
- Dense, heavy wood that is very strong and resists shock
- Typical in Mission or Arts and Crafts styling
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MapleWhiteIcing.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MapleSaffronMGO2.png)
![](https://www.schulercabinetry.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/MapleSageMH_square.png)
MDF
- MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down hardwood and softwood into wood fibers and combining with resin
- Pressure and heat are then used to create a smooth surface with a consistent core
- Painted MDF is durable and more resistant to warping, expansion and contraction than solid hardwoods
- Moldings ordered in MDF door styles will be constructed of maple and painted to match your order selection