The wood is Birch. Do you mind telling me what difference it would make if it was Beech or Poplar since you plan to paint it and it already has paint on it?

Thanks - that is helpful. I didn’t realize that was paint haha I thought it was stained. I was thinking more so on the lines of walnut - then I would try to strip and re-stain vs paint. Looks like I will paint though.

I think it's a very dark stain, and yes I would paint it.

As someone once said when I asked a similar question.."It's tree wood"....neither oak nor maple nor walnut nor cherry...