Stories, insights, and craft wisdom from one of America's great furniture makers. Stephen Robin has spent over 60 years working with fine wood in Woodstock, NY — here he shares his knowledge on custom furniture, cabinetry, materials, and the art of making things built to last.
When a client comes to us wanting a custom dining table, the first question we ask isn't about size or style. It's about wood. The species you choose will determine how the table looks, how it ages, how it feels underhand, and how it holds up to decades of family life. Get it right, and you'll have a table that becomes an heirloom. Get it wrong, and no amount of fine craftsmanship will save it.
After more than 60 years of building furniture in Woodstock, NY, Stephen Robin has helped hundreds of clients navigate this decision. Here's what he's learned.
Black walnut is the wood most people are thinking of when they imagine a beautiful dining table. Its chocolate-brown color is warm and rich, its grain is straight and elegant, and it photographs so well that it has become almost synonymous with high-end furniture. Walnut is also a pleasure to work. It cuts cleanly, holds detail beautifully, and takes an oil finish that brings out its natural luster without obscuring the grain.
Walnut's one limitation is that it can lighten slightly over time as it's exposed to sunlight. This isn't a flaw. Many clients find the warm, honeyed tone that walnut develops over the years even more beautiful than the original. But it's worth knowing. If your dining room gets strong direct sun, consider placing the table away from the window, or choosing a species that changes less.
American cherry is the great sleeper of fine furniture woods. Fresh from the mill, cherry is a pale pinkish tan, pleasant enough, but not immediately striking. Give it a year in a sunny room, and it transforms. Cherry darkens dramatically with exposure to light, developing a deep, glowing amber-red that is one of the most beautiful colors in all of nature. Antique cherry furniture, with its centuries of patina, is among the most prized of all American pieces.
Cherry is also slightly softer than walnut, which means it will develop small dents and scratches over time. Most of our clients consider this a feature, not a bug. Those marks become part of the table's story, evidence of meals shared and years lived.
No wood has risen faster in the last decade than white oak. Its pale, cool tone and distinctive ray-fleck grain pattern suit contemporary interiors perfectly, and it has become the go-to choice for clients who want a clean, Scandinavian-influenced aesthetic. White oak is also extremely hard and durable, harder than walnut or cherry, which makes it an excellent choice for a table that will see heavy use.
Quarter-sawn white oak, in which the log is cut at a right angle to the growth rings, shows the ray-fleck pattern most dramatically. It's worth asking for if you love that look.
Hard maple is the whitest of the common furniture woods, almost pure cream, with a fine, tight grain that gives it a clean, modern appearance. It's extremely hard and durable, and it takes paint beautifully if you want a two-tone kitchen or a lacquered table. Figured maple, curly or quilted, adds extraordinary visual interest at a premium price.
We occasionally work with exotic species, bubinga, wenge, teak, zebrawood, for clients who want something truly unique. These woods can be spectacular, but they come with caveats: they're often harder to source sustainably, they can be difficult to work, and they may not be available for future repairs or additions. We always have a conversation about sustainability and long-term practicality before committing to an exotic.
There's no universally right answer, only the right answer for your home, your family, and your aesthetic. We're happy to show you samples of every species we work with and talk through the trade-offs. That conversation, in our experience, is one of the most enjoyable parts of the custom furniture process.
To talk about your dining table project, call us at 845-679-8527 or visit the Robin Elliott Gallery at 2488 Route 212, Woodstock, NY.
.svg){kind=small}
.svg){kind=small}