Materials library
What each material is good at, how it behaves in a Colorado house, and where you can see it on this site.
White Oak
The workhorse. Hard, stable, takes stain evenly, and looks right in both a 1920s bungalow and a new build.
Walnut
The accent wood. Rich, dark, and warm without stain. Best used where you will touch it: shelves, benches, a bar top.
Painted Maple and Poplar
For anything painted: shaker doors, built-ins, trim, pantry shelving. The wood you never see decides how the paint looks in five years.
Cedar
The outdoor wood. Naturally rot-resistant, light, smells like a sauna, and turns silver if you let it.
Quartz vs. Butcher Block Counters
Both kitchens on this site have white quartz. Here is why, and when wood makes sense instead.
Rift-Sawn vs. Plain-Sawn Lumber
Same tree, different cut, completely different look. This is the choice behind every straight-grain modern detail on this site.
Have a project in mind?
Send a photo or a sketch. You will get a straight answer from Luke, usually within a day.