The Beauty of Hickory: The Most Variably Grained and Colored Wood

If you’re looking for a wood species that offers a wide range of graining and color consistency, hickory should be at the top of your list.

Learn More

This versatile and beautiful wood has become a popular choice for any room in your home, and for good reason. With its unique graining, natural variation, and warm, inviting color, hickory is a wood species that truly stands out.

One of the defining features of hickory is its variability. Below are two areas in which hickory’s characteristics can vary, providing an unexpected beauty with each cabinet.

Characteristics

Hickory Pampas cabinets in a warehouse

Grain

The graining in hickory can range from straight and fine, to wild and wavy, and everything in between. This variability means that each piece of hickory wood is truly one-of-a-kind, and it gives the wood a natural and organic look that is difficult to replicate.

Vanity in hickory wood

Color

The heartwood of hickory can range from light to dark colors, with a reddish hue that adds warmth to the wood. Sapwood is usually lighter in color and can have a yellow or creamy hue. These color variations within a single piece of wood are part of what makes hickory unique and beautiful.

Hickory is a strong and durable wood, making it a great choice for high-traffic areas like flooring or furniture. It’s also a popular choice for cabinetry and millwork, as its natural variation and character make it a great addition to any kitchen or bathroom.

Hickory stained storage cabinets in the back office of our Harrisburg showroom.
This photo demonstrates the variability of stains on hickory. Sparrow finish shown.

Also, whether you prefer a natural finish that highlights the wood’s natural graining and character, or a stained finish that adds a pop of color to your space, hickory is a versatile wood that can be customized to fit your style.

If you’re looking for a beautiful and character-rich addition to your cabinetry or millwork, hickory is a great choice.

Smart Ways to Save Money on a Kitchen Remodel

Are you planning on remodeling your kitchen in the near future? If budget is on your mind, we have some ways to save money.

Learn More

There are many things you can do to save money on your next remodel project. Your designer may have other ideas, but here are just a few ways to get more for your money when you begin your kitchen refresh.

Before we get to the “Do’s” in budget-friendly remodeling, here is an important “Don’t.”

You’ve heard the saying, “You get what you pay for.” That is certainly true when it comes to cabinetry. No matter what brand you choose, make sure that your cabinets are constructed with high quality materials and methods. In other words, don’t base your decision solely on price. You may regret your decision after just a couple years.

Showplace Cabinetry offers several cabinet lines to meet your style and budget needs. All of our framed lines are KCMA-certified and meet all construction quality requirements. So, you know you’re getting a great product with a limited lifetime warranty to give you additional ease of mind.

Now, the “Do’s” for a successful, budget-friendly remodel project…

White kitchen cabinetse

Keep it Simple

Simple layout and design ideas can help you save money.

  • Use larger cabinets rather than smaller cabinets to reduce the work for the installer, saving time and money.
  • Leave space between the wall cabinets and the ceiling to avoid the need for trim molding (This is a modern look, too!).
  • Use flat panel doors in your design to save money and provide a simple, clean look.
  • Avoid costly cabinet modifications.
  • Use floating shelves rather than book cases or cabinets to save money and gives you a more spacious look.
  • Avoid moving utilities if possible.
"DIY" on dice

Get Creative

You can do things to save money and stretch your dollar even further!

  • Use laminate countertops instead of stone or quartz. Laminate tops are very durable and have many color and pattern options.
  • Do as much of the labor and material running as you can to avoid charges by contractors.
  • If possible, try selling your old cabinets and using that towards your project. The buyer may even be willing to remove the cabinets for you to save you time and money.
Floor Plan

Other Ideas

Some other ways to help you pay for your remodel project are:

  • Ask your designer to create more than one layout option to see what it takes to get the best price and value.
  • Ask your designer if they offer low-interest financing to allow you to get more done.

If you have a small budget, consider refacing your existing cabinets with Showplace Renew. This is a cost-effective way to keep your cabinets and make them look new with materials to reface the cabinet frames, and then replace the doors and drawers/drawer fronts and add other accessories to refresh your kitchen space and make it not only beautiful, but even more functional. Check with your dealer if they offer Showplace Renew products. Read about Showplace Renew in our blog.

Thanks to Curt Johnson, designer at Showplace Cabinetry Design Center in Sioux Falls, SD for contributing to this blog.