Species and Finishes
Wood has a diverse palette of colors and patterns. Like all natural materials taking time to understand the variations in color, texture and grain allows designers to better apply wood specie choices throughout their specification and design journey. The selection of species is the single biggest factor in determining your design aesthetic. Understanding the differences between softwood and hardwood, solid and veneer, mixed grain and vertical grain, or certified wood and non-certified wood can greatly impact not only your design, but also your budget. You can read more about color variation in this article.
The complexities of these factors can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be. 9Wood will help guide you to the right species for your design intent, application, and budget. All the species options below are selected for their availability within the supply chain. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with a few different categories of species.
Core Species
Five core species, infinite colors. Welcome to Custom made fast. We’ve dialed in these five specie options to be understandable and reliable across a wide variety of custom wood ceiling designs.
Solid Western Hemlock
Our most common solid wood species that is readily available in the Pacific Northwest. Western Hemlock is economical and complements an array of stain colors. It can be used in interior and exterior applications and has many benefits, including strength, workability, and sustainability.
Color & Tone: Western Hemlock has a light, neutral base with subtle golden undertones. Its natural color ranges from a pale straw hue to a soft, warm brown, making it an excellent canvas for a wide range of stains—from light, natural finishes to deep, rich tones.
Grain & Appearance: The grain of Western Hemlock is fine and uniform, with a straight pattern that gives it a clean, consistent look. While relatively smooth, it may occasionally feature tight growth rings and minimal knots, adding a subtle organic character.
Why Designers Choose It: Western Hemlock is a highly versatile solid wood option, ideal for projects that require both aesthetic flexibility and durability. Its ability to take stain evenly makes it a practical choice for achieving customized finishes, while its natural strength and stability ensure longevity in architectural applications. Additionally, as a regionally sourced and sustainable species, it supports eco-conscious design without compromising performance.
Hemlock is a solid, blond softwood with beautiful texture and grain. Its basic hues are flaxen, and clear lumber means the wood is free of any dark knots. Many designers love hemlock’s light color and select a clear, low sheen finish to bring out its natural warmth. But hemlock is flexible. Our proprietary stain technology allows designers to transform hemlock into dark walnuts, warm honey oaks, or rich-hued cherry.
Cherry Veneer
Cherry brings the most color and tonal variation of the core species.
Color & Tone: Cherry starts as a warm, pinkish-brown and deepens over time to a rich, reddish-brown with exposure to light. This natural aging process gives it a dynamic character. Stains can further enhance its warmth, bringing out golden or deeper red tones.
Grain & Appearance: Cherry has a fine, even grain with occasional waves and subtle figure. It often features small pin knots and gum streaks, adding to its organic appeal.
Why Designers Choose It: Cherry is selected for its classic, sophisticated look, often associated with traditional, high-end interiors. It pairs well with warm palettes and lends itself to both modern and timeless designs. The way it deepens with age makes it a great choice for spaces that embrace natural material evolution.
Walnut Veneer
Walnut has richer, darker tones and more pronounced grain patterns than most veneer options. Walnut is known for its rich grain and color contrasts, simliar to Cherry but with less overall variation given how dark the core colors generally start. Walnut does stain well for darker tones however Walnut cannot be stained for lighter tones, such as blonde or brighter wood tones.
Color & Tone: Walnut is known for its rich, chocolate-brown hues, often with undertones of deep purple or gray. Its natural tones are highly desirable. Over time, its color lightens slightly to a warm brown. Unlike the other species, Walnut is rarely stained and only in cases where a designer seeks darker more uniform color variations.
Grain & Appearance: Walnut has a smooth, straight grain with occasional swirling and figure, giving it a luxurious feel. It has a natural luster that enhances its depth and richness.
Why Designers Choose It: Walnut is favored for its depth, elegance, and inherent warmth. It’s often used in upscale, high-end projects where a darker, moodier wood tone is desired. Its ability to contrast beautifully with lighter materials makes it a sophisticated choice for modern and classic interiors alike.
White Oak Veneer
Color & Tone: White Oak has become the preferred option for standard stain options across most product lines. It brings a neutral, light tan to medium brown base, making it highly adaptable. It takes stain exceptionally well, allowing for a broad range of finishes from pale, whitewashed effects to deep, smoked hues.
Grain & Appearance: White Oak features a prominent, open grain with straight patterns, though quarter-sawn cuts can exhibit striking ray flecks. Its texture adds depth and dimension to ceilings, making it a standout choice.
Why Designers Choose It: White Oak is a versatile classic, valued for its ability to balance warmth and modernity. It pairs well with a variety of interior styles, from Scandinavian minimalism to rustic-industrial aesthetics. The ability to take stain evenly makes it a top pick for achieving specific color tones while maintaining the authenticity of real wood.
White Maple Veneer
Color & Tone: White Maple offers a pale, creamy base with subtle yellow undertones, creating a clean, light aesthetic. It has the least color variation among the four species, making it ideal for consistent finishes. Unlike Oak or Cherry, White Maple does not stain well and generally ends up with blotchy color pattersn if pushed too far. It is often recommended and used for fully opaque finishes, like White Opaque or Black Opaque, ensuring a smooth and uniform color application.
Grain & Appearance: Maple has a tight, fine grain with minimal contrast, resulting in a sleek, refined look. While generally straight, it can sometimes display soft curls or quilting for added visual interest.
Why Designers Choose It: White Maple is the go-to choice for designers seeking a crisp, modern aesthetic. Its smooth, uniform surface makes it ideal for contemporary interiors or when a fully opaque finish is required. Because it doesn’t absorb stain as deeply as Oak, it’s best suited for natural or light finishes, or for applications where a painted or solid-color appearance is needed.
Custom Order Species
If you’re able to embrace the higher cost and tedious design and supply chain cycles, there are a plethora of custom order specie options beyond the five core species and infinite stains. Projects that go down this route need margin and often bring a fully bespoke, one-of-a-kind design delivery.
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Engineered Veneers
Engineered veneers are real wood veneers dyed to look like other species. They allow a designer to exercise more control over color range and variation. Another benefit is they can replicate the look of endangered species such as Rosewood, Wenge, and Zebrawood.
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Reclaimed Species
Perhaps the greatest wood ceiling challenge begins with reclaimed wood supply or a hyper local supply source that results in owner supplied wood. A great way to achieve bespoke, one-of-a-kind, these projects have risk, delays, surprises, and can be a heck of a lot of fun.
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Solid Custom Order Species
Inventory may not be readily available for many species. If you would like to specify a species not listed, please get in touch with us to make sure it’s reliably available. We are typically able to source nearly any species not CITES-listed.