Every so often a customer opens their new Cherry box, looks it over, and sends us a kind but worried note: "I think you sent me Maple." I understand why. Fresh cherry doesn't look anything like the deep red cherry furniture most of us grew up with. So I wanted to explain what you're seeing, and what your box will look like down the road.
We build every box by hand in our family shop in Murfreesboro, TN, in Red Oak, Maple or Cherry. Cherry is one of my favorites to work with, partly because of what it does over time.
Why New Cherry Looks Pale
When cherry is freshly cut and left unfinished, it's a light salmon or pinkish-tan color. That's just how new cherry looks. Some boards are paler than others, and the sapwood (the lighter wood near the outside of the tree) can be very pale, almost creamy. When a box has some of that lighter wood in it, I can see how it might look like Maple at first glance.
If you're ever not sure, send us a photo. We're always glad to take a look.
How Cherry Darkens Over Time
Here's the good part. Cherry darkens as it ages. Light and time slowly warm it up, and over months and years it turns into a richer, deeper reddish-brown. How fast that happens depends on things like how much light it gets, so every box ages a little differently. That slow change is a big part of why people love cherry. Your box gets more beautiful as it's lived with.
Will It Turn Dark Red Like "Antique Cherry"?
No, and that surprises a lot of folks. The dark red "antique cherry" color you see on furniture isn't cherry wood that has aged. It's a red stain furniture makers created to get that look. Natural cherry will warm up and darken, but it won't reach that deep red on its own. If that's the color you love, you can stain your box. All our boxes ship unfinished, all natural with no finish added, so you can finish yours however you like.
Red Oak, Maple or Cherry: Which Should I Choose?
- Red Oak: bold, open grain with a warm, classic look.
- Maple: light and clean with a smooth, fine grain. Engraving really stands out on it.
- Cherry: starts out a light salmon color and darkens over time into a rich, warm tone.
Most of our boxes come in all three woods. A few favorites folks order in Cherry:
- Unfinished Wood Box with Hinged Lid (12 x 9 x 4¼), the box in the photo above.
- Extra Large Unfinished Wood Box with Hinged Lid, our biggest box, and a favorite for family keepsakes.
- Personalized Wedding Memory Box for anniversaries and wedding keepsakes.
- Wooden Tea Box Organizer with 12 compartments.
- Grandpa's Magic Box, which looks great in Cherry.
Make It Yours: Custom Engraving for $10
For $10 we'll engrave a name, a date, a message or a picture on your box. Every engraving is custom-designed for you. We don't use stock images, and we send you a proof before we engrave anything.
Questions Folks Ask
I ordered Cherry, but my box looks like Maple. Did I get the wrong wood?
Probably not. New cherry is pale, and the sapwood can be very light. It will darken over time. Send us a photo if you'd like us to take a look.
How long does cherry take to darken?
It happens gradually over months and years, and it depends on how much light the box gets.
Will my cherry box turn dark red?
It will get warmer and darker, but not the deep red of "antique cherry." That color comes from a stain.
What woods do you offer?
Red Oak, Maple and Cherry, all handcrafted in our Tennessee shop.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for supporting our family shop. If you have any questions about which wood is right for you, just send us a message.
— Mick