Martha Stewart's Go-To Cabinet Wood Isn't Expensive, But It Looks Timeless - Tasting Table

"Stewart recommends using poplar wood for the most affordable kitchen cabinets. Along with birch and alder, poplar is one of the least expensive materials for kitchen cabinets. Its unique grain pattern and beautiful, creamy white color can transform your kitchen, enhancing its elegance. In an interview with Frederic, Stewart discussed the kitchen cabinets in her Turkey Hill kitchen, located at her former home in Westport, Connecticut. She said, "They were made from a sycamore tree that had fallen down on the property.""

"However, she noted, "While it's a very beautiful wood, it's also very unstable, so the doors eventually warped and cracked." This experience taught her a valuable lesson: "I learned to use poplar going forward for that very reason.""

"Poplar is a durable hardwood, but it's softer than other varieties. It is easy to work by hand, so it's a popular choice for custom cabinet makers who want to integrate more complex or decorative details into their designs. Plus, it effectively retains stain and paint, making it easy to match your cabinets to your kitchen's color scheme."

Poplar ranks among the least expensive materials for kitchen cabinets, alongside birch and alder. The wood has a unique grain pattern and a creamy white color that can elevate kitchen appearance. Some hardwoods such as sycamore can be beautiful but unstable, causing doors to warp and crack, demonstrating the value of selecting stable species. Poplar is durable yet relatively soft, easy to work by hand, suitable for custom and decorative cabinetry, and retains stain and paint well. Rapid growth makes poplar a more sustainable option that blends neutrally with many kitchen color schemes.

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