Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 14, 2007 04:06pm | #1

   To me, it looks like maple, with maple veneer panels.  It's had a bit of dye, and/or perhaps a lightly toned finish, and from the pictures also some kind of glaze. 

   If you have this factory finished piece, I'd make the companion bookcase from walnut or cherry and not attempt to match the other finish.  But if this is just a design reference for a bookcase that won't actually sit in the same room as the pictured pieces then I'd use maple.  You'll likely get a pretty attractive, and similar finish with some care. 

   
   

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   Edited 10/14/2007 9:09 am ET by SteveSchoene

1. 
   mapleman | Oct 15, 2007 06:49am | #2

   I would agree the pictured bookcase looks to be maple.

   However I'm not sure I would agree with making a "matching" piece out of a contrasting wood such as cherry or walnut? It sounds as if the OP's question is what wood to use to best match the pictured bookcase.

   Lee

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Oct 15, 2007 12:54pm | #3

   Matching factory finished furniture, even with the correct wood, maple, is extremely challenging and likely calls for spraying and fairly sophisticated processes.  I just wouldn't reommend that if the new piece must actually sit beside the factory piece so that direct comparison is inevitable. That's why I would go for enough of a contrast avoid the sideby side comparison.  

   But if the pictured furniture is just a design idea, then definately go with maple and work out a finishing schedule that gives an excellent finish that is similar to the picture.  But it doesn't have to be so exact to be great.  And that's a lot more fun. 

1. 
   mapleman | Oct 15, 2007 06:33pm | #4

   Hi Steve,

   I would agree about trying to match factory furniture - it's not easy.

   When I first started bulding furniture, I built quite a few pieces for our home (living room in particular). I built a bookshelf out of maple, a desk in cherry, and a tall CD cabinet in walnut. In addition to the fact that these were early pieces and the construction is not up to what I am capable of now - nothing matches. So when I look around my living room I think how I would like to replace 2 of the three pieces so there would at least be some uniformity. That was more what I meant - something to think about before you have a bunch of furniture that is not similar.

   Cheers,

   Lee

2. 
   frenchy | Oct 16, 2007 07:16pm | #5

   JMadson,

    I'd attack it from a totally differant point.  If I liked that piece I'd make two of them and sell the orignal.    That way the two would match and you'd hopefully get enough for the one you sell to pay for the two you make..