Prunus Serotina

Cherry Lumber: A Furniture Wood Like No Other

The Appalachian region of the United States produces beautiful Cherry wood, and J. Gibson McIlvain buys directly from many sawmills in Pennsylvania and other areas throughout the Ohio Valley.

Over the years, we have discovered that this region tends to produce the consistent color and characteristics of top quality Cherry lumber that our customers value.

The warm tones and subtle grain pattern of Cherry wood make it an excellent interior wood for doors, windows, mouldings, and, especially, furniture. The predictable movement of properly dried Cherry lumber and the ease with which it can be worked have made the species a staple material in many craftsmen’s projects.

Many people love Cherry wood for its color, but rough sawn Cherry lumber is a much lighter pink than what most expect. Today, many Cherry finishes are much deeper browns and reds, and this can cause some confusion. Over time and with UV exposure and oxidation, Cherry wood’s color deepens into a beautiful brownish-red, so although freshly sawn cherry may not display the species’ famous colors, rest assured that it eventually will.

Many customers choose to expose their Cherry lumber to the sun to speed up this process, while others rely upon dye and/or stains to achieve the deep red color. This “break in” period is something of which everyone should be aware, especially when doing restoration work to match existing trim or furniture.