Wood Species Guide

SENTIENT primarily works with American hardwoods: black walnut, white oak, red oak, hard maple, cherry, and ash. We also offer specialty species including spalted maple, ambrosia maple, reclaimed oak, and claro walnut. For outdoor furniture, we use teak and ipe for weather resistance.

How to Choose a Wood

  • Start with the visual range you want: light vs dark, calm grain vs dramatic figure.
  • Match performance to use: high-wear dining surfaces vs decorative casework.
  • For live edge work, consider slab figure and edge character. Every slab is unique.

Domestic Hardwoods

American Black Walnut wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
American Black Walnut
White Oak wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
White Oak
Soft Maple wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Soft Maple
Hard Maple wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Hard Maple
Red Oak wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Red Oak
Cherry wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Cherry
Black Locust wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Black Locust
Hickory wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Hickory
Beech wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Beech
Birch wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Birch
Ash wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Ash

Specialty Figure & Reclaimed

Spalted Maple wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Spalted Maple
Ambrosia Maple wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Ambrosia Maple
Claro Walnut wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Claro Walnut
Reclaimed Oak wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Reclaimed Oak

Tropical & Imported

Teak wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Teak
Ipe wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Ipe
Garapa wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Garapa
Parota wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Parota
Tigerwood wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Tigerwood
Redwood wood grain swatch showing natural color and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Redwood

Engineered Woods

MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard)

MDF is an engineered panel made from wood fibers bonded with synthetic resin under heat…

HDF (High-Density Fiberboard)

HDF is a denser, harder version of MDF, pressed under greater force to produce thinner…

OSB (Oriented Strand Board)

OSB is a structural engineered panel made from wood strands arranged in cross-oriented…

LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber)

LVL is a structural engineered wood product made from thin veneers laminated together…

CLT (Cross-Laminated Timber)

CLT is a mass timber panel system made from layers of solid lumber glued together at…

Composite Lumber (Polywood)

Composite lumber is made from recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic,…

Wood Finishes

Resin and Epoxy Fills epoxy resin river table surface showing surface appearance and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Resin and Epoxy Fills
Stained stained wood finish showing surface appearance and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Stained
Charred charcoal wood finish showing surface appearance and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Charred
Bleach and Whitewash bleached wood finish showing surface appearance and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Bleach and Whitewash
Distressed Techniques distressed wood finish showing surface appearance and texture - SENTIENT Materials
Distressed Techniques

More Wood Finishes

Hardwax Oil

Hardwax oil is SENTIENT’s most common finish for live edge furniture.

Polyurethane

Polyurethane builds a tough, abrasion-resistant surface film that guards against daily…

Water-Based Finishes

Water-based finishes form a clear, durable protective film with minimal color shift,…

Lacquer

Lacquer dries fast and cures to a hard, polished surface with crisp visual clarity that…

Shellac

Shellac is a natural resin finish with centuries of use in fine woodworking.

Grain Fillers

Grain fillers fill the open pores in ring-porous hardwoods like oak and ash, creating…

Gloss Levels

Sheen is one of the most visible design choices in any finished piece of furniture.

Related Resources

Wood Finishes Guide

Choose finishes based on use, desired look, and maintenance.

Care and Maintenance FAQ

How to protect, clean, and maintain your SENTIENT furniture.

Custom Furniture

Bespoke design and fabrication for hospitality, commercial, and residential projects.

Need Help Choosing?

Tell us about your project and we will recommend the right species.

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