HARD MAPLE FURNITURE
Handmade Hard Maple Furniture, Built to Order
Hard maple is bright, clean, and tough as nails. Its creamy, light color makes a room feel open and airy, and it’s one of the hardest domestic woods I build with, so it shrugs off the bumps and scrapes of everyday life.
Questions about maple? Call or text Fran directly at 607-218-2044
About Hard Maple
Hard maple, also called sugar maple (Acer saccharum), is the same tree that gives us maple syrup. It grows right here in New York and across the Northeast. Because it’s so dense and wear-resistant, it’s used for butcher blocks, bowling alleys, and basketball courts.
- Color: Creamy white to light honey, with occasional darker streaks.
- Grain: Fine and mostly straight. Some boards show curly, tiger, or bird’s-eye figure, which can be stunning in a tabletop.
- Hardness: About 1,450 on the Janka scale, the hardest of the five woods I offer.
- Aging: Warms gently to a soft golden tone under an oil finish.
- Best for: Dining tables, kitchen islands, vanities and countertops, built-ins, kids’ furniture, and cutting boards.
What to Expect from Hard Maple
- Price: $$ (middle of the range of the five woods I offer). Affordable to middle. Hard maple usually costs a little more than red oak and about the same as cherry. Figured maple, like curly or bird’s-eye, costs more.
- With kids and pets: The toughest of the five woods I offer. It’s my top pick for kids’ furniture, busy kitchens, and anything that will see hard daily use.
- Color over time: Creamy white to light honey, and it warms slightly to a soft golden tone under oil.
- Matching your home: Makes a room feel bright and open, and it’s ideal for modern, Scandinavian and minimalist spaces.
- Care: Coasters for hot and wet items, wipe spills promptly, and a fresh coat of oil and wax once or twice a year.
Why I Like Building With It
Maple is local, it’s incredibly durable, and it pairs beautifully with darker woods. One of my favorite combinations is a walnut top on a maple base. If you want a light, modern look that will last for generations, maple is a great choice.
WHERE MY WOOD COMES FROM
I hand-pick every maple board myself from mills here in upstate New York, including Wightman Lumber in Portlandville, Southern Tier Hardwoods in Apalachin, Butler Hardwoods in Horseheads, and Heartwood in Sherburne. Choosing boards in person lets me match color and grain across your whole piece, so it looks like it came from one tree.
SHOP
Hard Maple Pieces You Can Order
Each of these designs can be built in maple. Don’t see what you need? I build custom pieces to your exact size.
Hard Maple FAQ
Is maple a good choice if I have kids or pets?
Yes. Hard maple is the hardest wood I build with, so it resists dents and scratches better than any of my other options.
Does maple turn yellow over time?
It warms a little to a soft honey tone under an oil finish. It’s a gentle change, not the bright yellow you may have seen on old varnished maple.
Can maple be stained?
It can, but maple tends to stain blotchy. I usually recommend its natural color, or choosing a wood that already has the color you want.
What’s the difference between hard maple and soft maple?
Soft maple costs less but is noticeably softer. I use hard maple, also called sugar maple, for its durability.
Is maple good for cutting boards?
It’s one of the best. Its tight grain and hardness are why butcher blocks have been made from maple for generations.
Still deciding? Compare all five in my Choosing Your Wood guide, or explore Black Walnut · White Oak · Cherry · Red Oak.
Ready for a Custom Maple Piece?
Tell me what you have in mind and I’ll send a free quote with pricing and lead time.
Or call or text me at 607-218-2044