Hardwood has long been a household name when it came to home construction of yesteryear and remains a favorite in today’s interior design and remodeling industry. With the evolution of kitchen use from simply a cooking dining area to the new heart of homes, luxurious warmth in both look and feel became a mainstay. Aside from the great value this material choice offers, hardwood also offers a timeless appeal that is long-lasting, especially for kitchen staples: cabinetry. This article details oak and maple kitchens which are among the two most popular hardwood options for kitchen cabinets.

oak kitchens

With this species of wood found in abundance in North America, it’s no wonder it has become a common face in the heart of homes. Oak kitchens sport a façade that is naturally coarse-grained, offsetting distinctive patterns that change throughout for an overall exquisite look in your kitchen cabinetry. The surface also has mineral streaks of black, green, and other colors that create a more interesting feel. Being porous, this type of wood absorbs stains and glazes well, helping to create a richer appearance that enhances the look or beautiful grain.

Available in many regions, oak kitchens range in color from white, red to yellow. Oak kitchen cabinets will look exceptional whether you’re remodeling with a traditional, casual, country, rustic, or even modern design. Aside from this elegant advantage of being versatile, oak is a proven strong and durable option for busy kitchens that can efficiently withstand spills and changes in humidity. It works great for resisting scratches and dents, this option can even be great for countertops.

Another unique feature of oak kitchens is that direct sunlight can cause the surface to fade and darken over time. But this isn’t really a drawback, as many homeowners prefer the patina it offers and don’t mind changes to their kitchen cabinets.

maple kitchens

Oak’s strongest competitor when it comes to popularity is maple kitchens. Maple kitchen cabinets are the exact opposite of oak when it comes to grain. The tight, even grains of the maple offset a flowing finish that’s as smooth to look as it is to the touch. Naturally lit, the collection of wood-toned enamel cabinets to choose from ranges from honey to tan. This can also be stained to show off a darker looking wood like espresso, painted any color you like, or even finished to look like other hardwood options like mahogany and cherry.

Maple kitchen cabinets also offer the same stylish versatility, making them ideal for virtually any design, from traditional to contemporary, transitional to eclectic, and everything in between. Such a choice of cabinets also works very well to withstand daily use and abuse in kitchens that efficiently compete with common clutter and changes in temperature and humidity levels.

Maple kitchen cabinets will not darken over time and will not be affected by direct sunlight. This will make arranging your cabinets much easier.