What your table is made of, and what protects it.
Two finish options, a handful of American hardwoods, and an honest account of how
each one behaves in a real house. Everything here is chosen when you configure your piece.
Two finishes, and when to choose each
Every piece is stained by hand, then sealed. The difference between the two options is how much
punishment the sealed surface will take.
Water-based polyurethane
Minwax water-based polyacrylic polyurethane over Minwax oil-based stain. Fast-drying, and it
doesn't discolor the stain underneath, so the wood color you approve is the color you get.
- Protects from
- Water and heat stains
- Use caution
- Standing water and hot pans — wipe spills promptly and use trivets
- Best for
- Dining rooms with ordinary daily use
Catalyzed varnish
Sprayed over your finish and chemically hardened into a far tougher surface. This is the same
finish we specify for restaurant tables that get wiped down dozens of times a day. Applied at a
10% sheen, so it still looks and feels like real wood rather than plastic.
- Resists
- Chemicals, moisture, heat, scratches and dents
- Sheen
- Satin, 10% — not glossy
- Best for
- Households with children, heavy use, or anything commercial
Not sure which you need? If the
table will take homework, craft projects and dinner every night, the catalyzed varnish is worth it. If
it's a formal dining room used at weekends, the standard finish is genuinely fine.
Catalyzed varnish on our work
The most common question we get is what this finish actually looks like. Here it is on real pieces.
The hardwoods we build with
We use hardwood exclusively. It costs more than the alternatives, and it's the reason a table
can be sanded and refinished decades from now instead of replaced. Hardwood is also more resistant
to scratches and dents, and more stable through seasonal humidity swings.
White Oak
The toughest option we offer, with a pronounced open grain. If durability is the deciding factor, this is the one. Takes stain well across a wide range of tones.
Walnut
Deep chocolate tones straight from the tree, with no stain required. The most expensive of the three and the one people fall for on sight.
Maple
More budget-friendly, with a tight, subtle grain that takes stain beautifully — if you want a specific color, maple gets you there most predictably.
Cherry and hickory are available on
request, and some pieces use a genuine hardwood veneer over a solid core where a matched grain pattern
— a starburst, for instance — needs to run across a wide top without cracking through the
seasons. Ask about any specific piece and we'll tell you exactly how it's built.
Materials & finish FAQs
How long will it last?
With reasonable care and stable humidity, generations. That isn't marketing — solid hardwood can be sanded back and refinished, which means wear becomes maintenance rather than replacement.
How do I take care of it?
A damp cloth is almost always enough, and warm soapy water won't hurt either finish. Avoid dry dusting, which drags grit across the surface, and skip polishes containing silicone, wax solvents or abrasives.
Which hardwood is best?
There's no single answer. White oak is the hardest. Walnut is naturally dark and needs no stain. Maple is the most affordable and takes stain most predictably. Each has a genuine case — it depends on whether you're optimizing for durability, color or budget.
What humidity should I keep the room at?
Between roughly 35% and 45%. Too dry and wood can crack; too humid and it can warp. This matters more than any finish you choose.
Can I see the finishes before I order?
Yes, and we'd rather you did. The sample pack sends four finished hardwood samples to your house so you can hold them against your floor, your chairs and your light. Wood looks nothing on a screen like it does in a room.
Can I upgrade to catalyzed varnish later?
It's applied during finishing, so it needs to be chosen when you order rather than added afterwards. If you're on the fence, it's the cheaper decision to make now.
Order the sample pack.
Four finished hardwood samples, mailed to you. See the grain, color and sheen under your own
light before committing to a table.