Materials Library

Materials are the foundation of everything we build. SENTIENT works primarily with American hardwoods sourced from regional mills and offers specialty species, reclaimed wood, and a full range of finishes.

Our Material Principles

We design around the wood’s natural character, especially in live edge work.
We prioritize stability and longevity: slabs are air-dried up to 18 months, then kiln-dried for a final three months before fabrication.
We recommend finishes based on how the piece will be used and maintained, with hardwax oil as our most common option for live edge pieces.

Wood Species

We work with American hardwoods, specialty figure woods, reclaimed lumber, tropical species, and engineered wood products. View the full wood species guide.

Domestic Hardwoods

American Black Walnut

White Oak

Red Oak

Hard Maple

Soft Maple

Cherry

Ash wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials

Ash

Hickory

Beech

Birch

Black Locust

Specialty Figure

Spalted Maple

Ambrosia Maple

Claro Walnut

Reclaimed

Reclaimed Oak

Tropical & Imported

Teak

Ipe wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials

Ipe

Garapa

Parota

Tigerwood

Redwood

Engineered Woods

MDF

HDF

OSB

LVL

CLT

Polywood

Wood Finishes

Finishes protect the surface, create appearance, and affect how furniture ages. View the full finishes guide.

Wood Finishes

Hardwax Oil

Polyurethane

Water-Based

Lacquer

Shellac

Stains & Charcoal

Bleach & Whitewash

Distressed

Resin & Epoxy

Grain Fillers

Gloss Levels

Metal & Metal Finishes

Our in-house metal shop fabricates custom bases, legs, frames, and accent details in steel, brass, and specialty finishes. View the full metal finishes guide.