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Kitchen Cabinet Wood Selection

2 years ago

Hello! I’m remodeling my kitchen & would love some advice on wood selection. My home is prairie/craftsman style with golden oak trim, moulding, and floors. I’m planning to remodel my kitchen, and would like to complement this aesthetic, but not perpetuate it.

My current plan for the kitchen is to do mostly painted cabinets in Revere Pewter, with the exception of two counter to ceiling columns in wood stain and the pantry area in the same wood stain. The attached picture shows where one of the columns will be located, along with the current wood trim on the windows. The cabinet you see in the picture will be removed.

My question is what wood species and stain would you suggest to use to complement the golden oak, but not use golden oak? Stick with oak? I know white oak is very trendy right now, but I don’t necessarily want to go lighter as everything in my house is more mid tone. My husband likes walnut, but not sure if that makes sense with the oak?

Thoughts/advice is appreciated!

Comments (23)

  • 2 years ago

    Don't understand the question. You have what appears to be maple cabinets now; the cabinets are not Craftsman style. Raised panel, transitional style if anything.

    Many, many authentic vintage Craftsman style homes used oak, ideally quarter sawn oak. Some pine, some fir, some gumwood....dependent on location and how affluent the owner was. Your trim style is not Craftsman, either.

    So, from what I see, you can't perpetuate something that isn't there. Perhaps introducing it with a nod to authenticity would be a good thing--if the overall exterior styling is Prairie/ Craftsman-esque.

  • 2 years ago

    Have you tested the Revere Pewter? When I sampled RP in my previous house it looked like battleship gray which was not a color I wanted in my house! Get some large boards to paint and place around your space to confirm you like the color in there.

  • 2 years ago

    Is the house a period house or built to feel like a craftsman?

    I would use quarter sawn oak in a darker stain. It's what I did with my house. My floors are a golden oak color and my kitchen cabinets are mostly white with the exception of the island which is a dark quarter sawn oak.

    I'm showing this pic so you can see the dark oak wood more clearly:



    No I would not use walnut.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    @ci_lantro Thanks. Your're right. The cabinet you see in the picture will be removed and replaced. I am only showing it to show the location where the wood stained tower will be located so you can see the existing window trim that will not go away.

    My house isn't authentic vintage craftsman. It is about 15 years old with a prairie style exterior. The cabinets you see in the picture were original to the house (we didn't pick them) and we never liked them. The entire house has golden oak trim like what you see in the picture and golden oak floors. Those aren't changing.

    I am essentially asking for advice on what wood species/stain would look best given the aesthetic of the home and the existing and staying trim and floors.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    I don't think Revere Pewter complements a Golden Oak Finish. It has a pinkish undertone that doesn't work.


    Various shades of green always work to update the appearance of Golden Oak.

    Oak Butcher Block Countertops or Soapstone are often used in Craftsman homes.




  • 2 years ago

    I second the suggestion of green. I love Revere Pewter, but not here.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    @BeverlyFLADeziner Thanks. The walls of almost my entire home are painted in Edgecomb Gray which works great with the golden oak. Revere Pewter is in the same family as Edgecomb Gray and also has a green undertone. I have tested it and think it works.

  • 2 years ago

    I would stay with oak but go to a darker stain as suggested by cilantro. Something that contrasts with the floor and oak molding.
    Cilantro, what stain did you use on your island?

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Do an oak, but a darker stain. Like Omega's Miso finish.





  • 2 years ago

    Did you see my comments above with pictures of my kitchen with the dark oak?

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Yep the Edgecomb is greenish but not the Revere Pewter IMO.


  • 2 years ago

    @cpartist I did see your suggestion! Thank you!

  • 2 years ago

    @bevfladeziner what color is the first greenish color cabinet suggestion you made?

  • PRO
    2 years ago

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Why not just paint what you have, instead of landfilling it?

  • 2 years ago

    @strawberrypatchdesigns we want to make changes to the layout, want cabinets to go to ceiling, style isn’t what we want, and they aren’t great quality

  • 2 years ago

    Also, we’re not interested to paint the cabinets green. Aiming for a taupe that complements BM Edgecomb Gray and Golden Oak.

    Really, my question for the group though was about the wood species and stain for the non painted cabinets.

  • 2 years ago

    Can you elaborate on the columns you hope to add to your kitchen? What are they for?


    Are you keeping the Edgecomb Grey because you like it or because it's there? I ask because I chose it for our family room, never warmed to it and recently had it changed.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Quarter sawn white oak, stained in whatever tone you wish. You'll have to scroll down the page to get to the video of the cabinets. https://www.hummingbirdwoodworks.com/cabinet-videos.html

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Your husband may have a good point. Here's some thoughts about how walnut compliments oak:
    “For a timeless pairing, consider rich walnut (floors). Their deep, warm tones provide a luxurious contrast against the golden oak (baseboards), creating a sophisticated ambiance. Walnut's inherent richness complements the natural warmth of the oak (baseboards), resulting in a harmonious blend that radiates refined elegance.”

  • 2 years ago

    The inspiration for my remodel was Prairie/Art Deco with a soupcon of Arts & Crafts.


    I found none of the door styles appealing to me until I landed on Crown Point which actually had fantastic Praire Style doors


    Crown Point Praire Kitchen Cabinets


    I worked with a designer who had a fantastic local artisan do my cabinets (and other wood pieces). I had them done in Quarter Sawn White Oak with a custom medium stain. The cost was comparable to what I might have paid for a line like Kraftmaid with standard upgrades plus I would never have gotten all of the customization I got which was critical for my relatively small kitchen






  • PRO
    2 years ago

    I have Revere Pewter cabinets in my own home and had them darkened to give them a bit more body and depth (often needed with RP on cabinets). I also have oak floor and personally wouldn’t mix my woods, I might just shift to a rift-cut oak where the grain is finer and less prominent. As for stain color, choose the same ‘color’ but maybe a touch lighter if you want some layering.

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    Btw, oak is one of the most timeless woods. Just because it’s having a moment, doesn’t make it a bad overall choice.