You have been dreaming about your new kitchen or bath for a long time now. But have you thought about the fact that your new kitchen has a personality that developed long before you even thought about it? Wood is a material that is very unique. No piece is wood is ever the same, and for that reason, your kitchen is a unique mix of beauty and individuality. The grain of the wood, the knots and pinholes, they all tell a very unique story of their former life. Discover what you should expect as your new kitchen

Joint Lines
Wood is in a constant state of expansion and contraction. This normal movement may cause hairline cracks at the joints in the surface on cabinet doors and face frames. This is natural occurrence and does not weaken or diminish the strength of the joints.

End grain
End grain surfaces are softer in composition than other areas of wood. As such, they absorb more stain and often appear darker. This is natural reaction and potential variances cannot be prevented.

Mineral Streaks
In nature, mineral deposits may form in the wood as the tree extracts nutrients from the soil. Common in many wood types, these mineral deposits cause blackish – blue streaks in the grain. When a finish is applied to mineral streaks, it may appear lighter or darker than other areas of your cabinetry.

Telegraphing
The grain is the identifying feature of each wood type. This grain will “telegraph” or show through the stain. Open or coarse-grained wood (oak, hickory) will telegraph more than closed or fine-grained wood (maple, cherry)

Aging
Certain wood, such as cherry, will continue to mellow and darken over time. This brings warmth to lightly- stained cherry and increases depth below darker stains.

Environmental Factors
A wood product is typically affected by environmental conditions that may alter its appearance from what it looked like when is was new. Here are a few conditions to keep in mind:
As wood ages, the appearance of the finish may change or darken over time due to environmental factors such as interior lighting, sunlight and humidity.

Finishes react to prolonged exposure to tobacco smoke, resulting discoloration, which is very noticeable in white or lighter finishes. Showroom cabinetry samples, depending on age, room lighting and environmental factors, may look different from new cabinetry installed in your home. To ensure satisfaction with a finish color, it is best to view a new sample in your home.