Hickory is a fantastic furniture-building material. It’s tough, resilient and durable, and has held that reputation for decades. In fact, during his tenure as our president, Andrew Jackson was consistently referred to as “Old Hickory” because of his staunch demeanor and toughness in the face of battle.
Today hickory accounts for roughly 2 percent of total U.S. hardwoods commercially available, according to the Hardwood Manufacturers Association, which makes it an exclusive but highly prized furniture material. Let’s take a look at a couple of reasons why hickory is a great choice for your furniture.
Coloration and Appearance
Depending on your individual taste, you can find hickory in a variety of different colors. The color of hickory is always beautiful on its own, but can vary with a bit of varnish, offering different shades from natural or light finishes to auburn and even ebony hues. The grain of the wood is distinctive as well, offering unique patterns and styles that add character to any hickory element. No matter what your taste, you can always find something that will catch your eye with this wood grain.
Durable and Resilient
We mentioned that Jackson was nicknamed after hickory, and with good reason. The wood is incredibly durable and will last for a very long time. It’s incredibly strong and is sure to fantastic in your home. If you have children or tend to be the sort of person prone to spills, a simple trick to increase the life of your hickory furniture is to apply a simple clear-coat or a stain yourself. This can help seal the wood and keep spills from soaking in. If something does spill, be sure to wipe it up quickly with soap and water and avoid using bleach, which could cause the colors to run.
Availability
Hickory is extremely easy to get a hold of, due to the popularity and availability of hickory cabinets. It has historically been a hardwood of choice, and Wood Magazine reports that with its reasonably high availability along the East Coast, it continues to be easy to find. However, that’s like saying paper is easy to find – it’s what’s done with it that matters – and the Amish craftsmen who build the hickory furniture at Carriage House Furnishings take care to ensure that every piece is comfortable, appealing and made to last.
Hickory continues to be a wonderful furniture-building material. Hickory can take a long time to grow and mature – in some cases taking as long 200 years to grow and fully mature before it can be used – but like many things in life, the best things are worth waiting for. We’ve made some fantastic items with hickory, including cabinets, benches, tables and more.
To learn more about the full range of hickory products available from Carriage House Furnishings, call us today at 717-768-8712 or stop in and see us at the former Lapps Coach Shop in Intercourse, Pennsylvania.
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