Maple Walnut Cherry

Choosing the Right Wood: A Guide to the Solid Hardwoods Behind Our Furniture

Pompanoosuc Mills | May 13, 2025

8:38

At Pompanoosuc Mills, every piece of furniture starts with one essential ingredient: solid North American hardwood. We don't just use wood—we work with a carefully curated selection of sustainably harvested hardwoods grown right here in the U.S. and Canada. Why? Because solid hardwood offers unmatched beauty, strength, and longevity, and it aligns with our values of sustainability and enduring quality.

Unlike mass-produced furniture made with compressed wood chips or MDF (medium-density fiberboard) wrapped in synthetic veneers or wood-look stickers, our furniture is crafted from genuine hardwood through and through. That means no shortcuts. No compromises. And no need to replace it every few years.

Hardwood is more than a design choice—it's a statement. Choosing solid wood means choosing craftsmanship, sustainability, and materials that grow back over time, not ones that clog landfills. Our commitment to using 100% North American hardwood supports responsible forestry, local economies, and thoughtful consumption.

We call this commitment "Fewer, Better": the belief that investing in fewer, higher-quality items leads to a more beautiful home and a more sustainable world.

Below, explore the distinctive features of the seven hardwoods we use to craft our furniture. Each species has its own personality—from the creamy tones of maple to the deep drama of walnut. Learn how they age, what makes them strong, and even a few fun facts that make them memorable.

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🍁 Maple Hardwood

DESCRIPTION:

Hard Maple, also known as Sugar Maple, has a creamy, pale color and subtle grain that exudes clean simplicity. Its smooth surface and consistent texture make it a favorite for contemporary and transitional styles.

AGING & LIGHT EXPOSURE:

Maple gently darkens over time, developing a warm amber hue. It ages evenly, but like all woods, prolonged direct sunlight may cause uneven fading.

DURABILITY:

Extremely hard (Janka 1,450), Maple is known for withstanding heavy use without significant wear. It’s a great choice for daily-use furniture.

SUSTAINABILITY:

Abundant across North America and responsibly managed, maple is a sustainable choice with minimal environmental impact when locally sourced.

FUN FACT:

The Sugar Maple is the very same tree that produces Vermont’s world-famous maple syrup—known for its brilliant autumn foliage and sweet sap.

An extraordinary quilted maple dining table top.

Our popular Derby Dining Chair in solid maple hardwood

New England Bookcases in solid maple hardwood.

Mitered Buffet in solid maple hardwood.

🌰 Walnut Hardwood

DESCRIPTION:

Black Walnut is revered for its deep chocolate color and flowing, often curly grain. Naturally luxurious and full of character, it brings warmth and drama to any piece.

AGING & LIGHT EXPOSURE:

Walnut starts as a dark, crisp brown and lightens over time, especially with sun exposure. Expect a softening to more golden brown tones with age.

DURABILITY:

Moderately hard (Janka 1,010), walnut is strong enough for most applications while remaining easy to work with for custom designs.

SUSTAINABILITY:

Walnut is native to Eastern North America. We source ours from responsible foresters who protect biodiversity and long-term growth.

FUN FACT:

Black Walnut trees produce a natural chemical called juglone that discourages nearby plants from growing—nature’s way of reducing competition!

The Dover Dining Table in walnut with stunning live-edge.

Beautiful bedroom with walnut hardwood bedroom set

Explore the Corinth collection. Bedroom set with bed, nightstand and dresser all in solid walnut hardwood.

Hyde Park Mule Chest in solid walnut hardwood.

Arlington Table Desk in solid walnut hardwood.

🍒 Cherry Hardwood

DESCRIPTION:

American Black Cherry has a smooth, satiny grain and a pinkish hue that deepens to a rich reddish-brown over time. It’s known for its refined and inviting appearance.

AGING & LIGHT EXPOSURE:

Cherry darkens dramatically with light exposure, developing a glowing reddish patina. Early color changes are noticeable within weeks to months.

DURABILITY:

With a Janka rating of 995, cherry is durable yet soft enough for fine carving and detailed joinery.

SUSTAINABILITY:

Widely available and responsibly harvested in the U.S., cherry is both a beautiful and eco-conscious option.

FUN FACT:

Early American cabinetmakers prized cherry not only for its beauty but also because its sapwood could be tapped for natural cough syrup.

The Vernon Dresser in cherry with spalted maple top.

Explore the Vernon Dining Collection. Dining table and bench.

Vernon Bed in solid cherry hardwood. Also pictured the Vernon Dresser and Strafford Nightstand.

Desk with cubbies in solid cherry hardwood

Canterbury Writing Desk in solid cherry hardwood.

🌾 Ash Hardwood

DESCRIPTION:

Ash is pale and airy, often with a striking grain reminiscent of oak but with a finer texture. Its modern, light look makes it a favorite in Scandinavian-inspired interiors.

AGING & LIGHT EXPOSURE:

Ash may mellow to a creamy yellow over time. Direct sun can cause slight yellowing, but the grain retains its definition.

Ash solid hardwood - Age & Light Exposure

DURABILITY:

Impressively strong (Janka 1,320), ash is often used in flooring and tool handles—testament to its toughness.

SUSTAINABILITY:

Ash grows widely in North America. We prioritize sourcing from forests unaffected by the emerald ash borer, a pest threatening some regions.

FUN FACT:

The same strong, flexible properties that make Ash ideal for furniture also made it the wood of choice for traditional baseball bats and canoe paddles.

🍂 Red Oak Hardwood

DESCRIPTION:

Red Oak is classic and familiar, with a warm reddish cast and an open, cathedral-like grain pattern. It’s beloved for its durability and timeless Americana look.

AGING & LIGHT EXPOSURE:

Red Oak naturally deepens in tone over time, developing richer, rosier hues that enhance its bold grain and character.

Red Oak solid hardwood Age and Light exposure

DURABILITY:

Extremely strong (Janka 1,290), Red Oak holds up beautifully to everyday use, making it ideal for high-traffic pieces like dining tables and cabinets. Its open grain gives it a textured hand feel, with subtle ridges that remain even after sanding and finishing—lending character, though not always suited for smooth writing surfaces.

SUSTAINABILITY:

Red Oak is one of the most abundant U.S. hardwoods. It’s easy to source sustainably, especially from forests in the Northeast.

FUN FACT:

The Red Oak is the state tree of New Jersey—and a favorite climbing tree for generations of kids thanks to its sturdy limbs.

🪕 White Oak Hardwood

DESCRIPTION:

White Oak is a refined and resilient hardwood known for its pale, golden tones and distinctive closed grain. It often displays ray flecks that shimmer across quarter-sawn boards—a hallmark of traditional craftsmanship.

AGING & LIGHT EXPOSURE:

White Oak deepens slightly over time, developing a golden honey hue. It holds up well in sunlight, with less risk of bleaching than darker woods.

White Oak Solid Hardwood - Age and Light Exposure

DURABILITY:

One of the most durable domestic hardwoods (Janka 1,360), White Oak is highly resistant to wear and moisture.

SUSTAINABILITY:

Native to eastern and central North America, White Oak is widely available and responsibly harvested.

FUN FACT:

White Oak’s water-resistant properties made it the wood of choice for building whiskey barrels—and even the U.S.S. Constitution warship.

🌳 Birch Hardwood

DESCRIPTION:

Yellow Birch offers a creamy, pale surface with occasional curling or ripple grain that adds personality without overpowering a room. It’s subtly elegant and well-suited for clean, contemporary styles.

AGING & LIGHT EXPOSURE:

Birch starts pale and gradually warms into a soft amber tone. It can yellow slightly over time, especially with prolonged UV exposure.

Birch Solid Hardwood - Age and Light Exposure

DURABILITY:

Moderately hard (Janka 1,260), Birch offers reliable strength and stability for everyday furniture. Its fine, even grain creates a smooth surface that feels refined and consistent to the touch.

SUSTAINABILITY:

Birch trees are fast-growing and thrive across much of the Northeast. Responsibly harvested birch is among the most sustainable domestic hardwoods.

FUN FACT:

Peeled birch bark was used by Indigenous peoples to make canoes, baskets, and even as an early form of writing paper.

The South Beach Lounge Chair in solid birch hardwood.

Tuscan Prep Kitchen Island in Modern setting

Customize your Tuscan Prep Table. The perfect kitchen companion.

The Mitered Dresser in solid birch hardwood.

Why Solid Hardwood Matters

Solid hardwood furniture isn’t just a style choice—it’s a commitment to quality, sustainability, and longevity. Unlike mass-market pieces that are destined for the landfill in just a few years, our solid wood furniture is built to last generations. It can be refinished, repaired, and passed down.

At Pompanoosuc Mills, our supply chain starts and ends in North America. We source from responsibly managed forests and work with regional suppliers who share our values. We build everything at our workshop in Vermont, using traditional joinery techniques and hand-finishing processes that respect the integrity of the material.

This is furniture you can feel good about—and furniture that feels good to live with. That’s the promise of Fewer, Better.

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