Lustrous and golden, extremely hard with a subtle, fine, close grain, Maple gives the kitchen cabinet maker the flexibility to produce looks from cosmopolitan to old-world antique. Maple is a favorite wood for kitchen cabinet because it is very durable, versatile, and takes any color of stain well. Mineral or sugar streaks occur naturally in maple, and can vary from piece to piece. This natural variation is more noticeable in lighter stains. The grain is usually straight and sometimes found with highly figured bird's-eye or burl grain. Bird's-eye resembles small spherical or elliptical figures while burls are clusters of round curls. Bird's-eye figured maple in light finishes are breath taking to see. Maple is heavy, hard, strong, tough, stiff, close-grained with an even texture. Maple has excellent resistance to abrasion and indentation, making it a good choice for kitchen cabinets for active families. Maple takes stain adequately and polishes well. Maple kitchen cabinets bring elegance to your kitchen with a fine, smooth grain and uniform texture. To enhance the appearance of maple, consider glazing. Hand-glazing your maple kitchen cabinets adds character and creates a rich aged look to your cabinets.

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