Blog: Medallion Woodgrain Series: Cherry

This piece is a continuation of the Medallion Woodgrain Series, where we explore and discuss various natural wood species, how they’re often applied in cabinetry, and how you can use them to create inspired designs.

(Gold) Monona Reverse Raised Panel in Night Sky on cherry and Monona Flat Panel in Magnolia on maple

Cherry. In home design, it’s iconic. A wood species that grows more distinguished with time, it delivers a rare duality: honoring tradition yet amenable to trend or personal style. Cherry offers designers a material that carries its own character while remaining a willing participant ready to make the most of the space it inhabits.

Nature’s Patient Artistry

Cherry’s defining trait isn’t what it is, but what it becomes. Beginning its journey in delicate blushing tones ranging from soft pink to warm amber, cherry embarks on a gradual metamorphosis, deepening into lustrous browns that grow richer with each passing season. This living patina—a natural response to oxidation, light exposure, and its own molecular origins—ensures that cherry cabinetry becomes more compelling over time, developing a look that’s nigh near impossible to replicate in synthetic materials.

The species’ smooth, fine grain provides a receptive canvas, while mineral streaks, pin knots, and subtle sap wood variations authenticate its organic inception. These natural markers tell cherry’s story, adding dimension without disrupting its unmistakable refinement.

(Platinum) Providence in Peppercorn on cherry, and Dove Appaloosa on maple

A Transcendence of the Norm

Often adorned in deep, traditional stains that emphasize a certain gravitas, Cherry’s reputation has suffered a bit due to a stereotypical approach that dominated decades of design. However, today’s advanced specialty finishes—like Medallion’s Peppercorn or Cappuccino—can reveal cherry’s remarkable range. These enhanced treatments unlock the type of transitional aesthetics that demonstrate how this classic species can conform to the cleaner styling that defines modern living.

Further amplifying this flexibility, door profiles constructed in cherry tend to exhibit inherently timeless silhouettes—exemplified here by Medallion styles ranging from Chelsea to Lancaster. These looks have proved applicable across design eras.

Supporting everything from ornate detailing to streamlined simplicity, cherry’s acquiescence helps protect long-term investment value.

Providence Raised Panel in Cappuccino

The Designer’s Confidence

Advising clients on material selection? Cherry offers a compelling proposition: choose a species that appreciates rather than merely ages, one that honors heritage while accommodating changing tastes, one that delivers distinction with endurance.

Discover more of what makes cherry truly extraordinary at MedallionCabinetry.com.