Cherry wood, most often associated with traditional cabinets, has been standard in kitchen cabinetry for years. In fact, it has been the favorite of traditional kitchens for literally hundreds of years.
Yet, Cherry wood furniture remains a time-honored aesthetic that does not seem to go out of style.
An Old Standard, Cherry Wood’s Popularity Never Seems to Wane
People still respond to Cherry wood kitchen cabinets with a classic look and warm flavor. They are preferred not only by homeowners but also by cabinet makers and woodworkers for their look and durability.
That does not mean that working with Cherry is without challenges. There are still many benefits to this popular color. Home building and design professionals say this color and the quality of the wood keep it relevant in contemporary woodworking.
Cherry wood features closed wood grain and natural colors that range from white to light brown with a red hue. As is typical of most wood, you will find the heartwood to be darker while the sapwood is usually quite lighter.
Folks love Cherry wood’s relatively solid texture, superior durability, and excellent shock absorbency. The grain is dynamic and diverse, with swirls, streaks, curls, and knots.
Cherry wood stains beautifully, and its use dates back to colonial days when carpenters used it to great effect. Because it was used so often, it became the wood of choice spanning decades of Mission, country, and Shaker styles.
Perhaps the most appreciated characteristic of finished Cherry is how it naturally darkens over time, accentuating the detailed grain patterns. If the wood is exposed to ultraviolet light, the coloring of the Cherry wood darkens quickly.
Those who fell in love with the look of the Cherry wood need to be aware of this color change. It may not always be their taste when the hue they purchased will change as it transforms with age.
Because there is such variation in Cherry wood color, having a completely uniform-looking furniture set is challenging.
Your best bet is to acquire all that furniture from the same source for color consistency. Otherwise, you can fluctuate hues so that all variations still read as one color.
Cherry wood takes to finishing so well, which is an overall plus. The grain varies so widely that you can find it in very light shades to extremely dark ones.
However, this extreme variation in Cherry wood has some drawbacks. Exactly how any individual piece of Cherry will react to sunlight is unknown.
In addition, the colors can vary enough to detract from the overall appearance of the cabinets.
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Cherry wood is not as buoyant as other popular woods like oak or hickory but can cost as much. You would likely pay fifteen to twenty-five percent more for Cherry wood than its counterparts in maple or oak.
However, you may choose a cheaper option that closely resembles Cherry. For instance, Birch, Ash, and Maple are all available in wood finishes resembling cherry.
There are a number of Cherry cabinet-style ideas to consider. For a contemporary update, you can choose dark shades or rich finishes perfect for Cherry cabinets, trim, and drawers.
For an impressive look of uniformity, consider Cherry wood knobs and pulls as well. Further, match the finish to other home elements, possibly the flooring or the countertops.
However, if you want to complement the warmth of Cherry wood, you might want warm metals like gold or brass. The warm yellow combination matches the Cherry wood’s warm red and reads very luxuriously.
If you want your Cherry wood’s red to appear red, go with neutral silver or black handles. These neutrals maintain the integrity of the Cherry wood reds without diminishing their color.
A color like white for these handles or knobs will only draw away from the warmth and is not recommended.
Cherry wood may also blend well with your walls thanks to its natural reddish hue. If you have light, neutral, or even pastel-colored walls, you can accent the darker cabinets well.
There are various creative ways to bring more contrast into the setup. Add a random element or two (maybe even those knobs and pulls) in a shade of green to the design. This will provide a nice visual difference that complements the Cherry wood’s underlying red.
If you like the rustic charm of real wood, you should look into other varieties of finished Cherry wood. No two grains are alike; you can consider all shades and colors, and one can be the perfect fit.
They’re an investment; when maintained properly, they pay off in spades.
For those looking at other reddish hues, Best Online Cabinets has the Mahogany Shaker, Cherry Espresso, and Traditional Cherry Arch, which have a nod to Cherry finish but without the cost or color variations often found in Cherry wood kitchen cabinetry. Full kitchens are available in this color to ensure a consistency that suits your style.
