Discover the Unique Woods of Rustic & Renewed Decor

When you choose a handcrafted piece from Rustic & Renewed Decor, you are not just selecting a product — you are choosing a wood. Each species we work with has its own character, grain pattern, and story. Some are grown locally here in Ontario, while others are rescued for a second life. All of them are chosen with intention.

Here’s a closer look at the woods you will find in our shop and why we love working with each one.

Ontario Maple — Local Roots, Lasting Strength

There is something special about working with wood sourced from your own backyard. Our Ontario Maple is harvested right here in Southwestern Ontario, making it as Canadian as it gets.

Maple is one of the hardest domestic hardwoods available, making it exceptionally durable for everyday use. Its grain is tight and fine, giving it a smooth, clean look that works beautifully in both modern and rustic settings. The colour ranges from creamy white to a warm pale gold or pink, and it takes a food-safe finish exceptionally well. This is why it is one of our favourite choices for charcuterie and cutting boards.

A quick note if you are considering a stained finish: Maple and stain are not the best of friends. The same tight grain that makes it durable also makes it resistant to absorbing stain. The result is often lighter than expected. We recommend letting Maple shine with a natural or oil finish — it does not need any help looking beautiful.

When you choose Ontario Maple, you support local forestry and receive a piece built to last a lifetime.

Oak — Timeless Character

Oak is one of the most recognized and beloved hardwoods in the world, and for good reason. Its bold, open grain pattern gives every piece a strong visual presence — no two boards ever look exactly alike.

We work with both red and white oak varieties. White oak, in particular, is prized for its tight grain and natural resistance to moisture. This makes it an excellent choice for serving pieces and organizational items that see regular use. Oak has a warm, honey-brown tone that deepens beautifully over time with proper care.

One important distinction with Oak: Red Oak is great for serving boards, charcuterie presentation, and décor, but we do not use it for cutting boards. Its open-pore structure allows moisture and bacteria to penetrate the wood, making it hard to sanitize fully. White Oak does not have this issue — its pores are naturally plugged with a growth called tyloses, making it far more moisture-resistant and food-safe for cutting surfaces.

If you love a wood that tells a story through its grain, Oak is your wood.

Cherry — Warmth That Grows Over Time

Cherry is the wood that rewards patience. Fresh off the shop floor, it presents as a soft pinkish-tan — elegant and understated. However, over time, with exposure to light, Cherry undergoes a natural transformation. It deepens into a rich reddish-brown that genuinely gets more beautiful with age.

Its grain is smooth and straight, with a fine, satiny texture that feels as good as it looks. Cherry is a joy to work with in the shop — it cuts cleanly, finishes beautifully, and has a warmth that photographs exceptionally well.

It is a favourite for wine and beer accessories and decorative pieces where that rich, warm tone can really shine.

Curly Maple — Nature's Showpiece

If Maple is the reliable workhorse, Curly Maple is the showstopper. This is the same species as our Ontario Maple, but with a rare and stunning figure in the grain — a rippling, three-dimensional wave pattern that seems to shift and shimmer as the light changes.

The 'curl' occurs naturally when the wood fibres grow in an undulating pattern rather than straight. It cannot be manufactured or replicated — it is entirely a gift from nature. This means every piece of Curly Maple we use is one of a kind.

We use Curly Maple selectively for pieces where we want the wood itself to be the statement. If you want something that genuinely stops people in their tracks, this is it. One of our favourite pairings in the shop is Curly Maple with Walnut. The pale, rippling figure of the Maple set against Walnut's deep, rich chocolate tones creates a contrast that is nothing short of stunning — light and dark, subtle and bold, each wood making the other look even better.

Walnut — The Dark Horse of the Workshop

Walnut is the most dramatic wood in our shop. Its deep chocolate-brown colour, often streaked with purple and grey, creates a richness that no stain or finish can replicate — it is all natural.

Black Walnut is one of North America's most prized hardwoods. Its grain is typically straight with occasional waves, and its natural oils give it a lustre that only improves with a good finish. It is moderately hard, making it a pleasure to work with while still being highly durable in use.

Walnut pairs beautifully with lighter woods as a contrasting element. On its own, it makes a bold, sophisticated statement. It is the wood we reach for when a piece needs to feel genuinely premium.

Pine — Rustic Charm, Honest Character

Pine is the wood that wears its heart on its sleeve. Softer than our hardwoods, it dents and marks more readily — but that is part of its appeal. A piece of pine develops character with use, telling the story of the life it has lived alongside you.

We use pine for builds where a lighter, more rustic aesthetic is the goal — planters, storage pieces, and decorative items where the warmth and informality of the wood suit the purpose. Its knotty grain and golden tones bring a cottage-country feel that no hardwood quite replicates.

Pine is also one of the most sustainable choices we work with, as it grows quickly and abundantly across Canada. It is honest, unpretentious wood that does exactly what you ask of it.

Pallet, Barn & Crate Wood — History You Can See

When we say pallet wood, we are referring to any combination of pallet, barn, or crate wood — and the species can vary depending on what we have on hand at the time. It might be hardwood, softwood, or a mix of both. What ties it together is not the species but the character — the age, the weathering, the nail holes, and the blemishes that give each piece its story. No two pieces will ever be the same, and that is exactly what makes it special.

This is reclaimed wood in its most honest form. We do not try to hide its history — we celebrate it. Every blemish is a detail, and every hole is a reminder that this material had a purpose long before it arrived in our shop.

Pieces made from pallet, barn, or crate wood are genuinely one-of-a-kind. No two will ever look the same, and that unpredictability is exactly the point. If you want something with soul, this is it.

Reclaimed Hardwood — Rescued and Reimagined

Not all reclaimed wood tells its story through blemishes. Our reclaimed hardwood comes from a very different source — thick hardwood staves used in grain pallets, bound at the ends to hold them together. The stave itself was never nailed, never weathered, and never exposed. It simply did its job quietly and was set aside.

What we get is solid, dense hardwood with genuine character — occasional knots, natural grain variation, and the honest look of wood that was grown for strength rather than appearance. We carefully cut around any imperfections, yielding the narrower boards you will see glued together in many of our pieces.

Much of what we find in this source is Oak and Maple, but that is only part of the story. Periodically, we come across Curly Maple, Hickory, and other species. The honest truth is we do not always know what we have until we plane and joint it. That element of surprise is one of the things we love most about working with this material. What looks like an ordinary stave on the outside can reveal something genuinely beautiful once it is cleaned up and opened up.

Caring for Your Piece — Regardless of Species

Not every piece in our shop is cared for the same way — it depends on the finish and where the piece will live. Here is a quick wood guide by type:

Food-Safe Oil Finished Pieces (Cutting Boards, Charcuterie Boards, Serving Pieces): Hand wash only — never soak or put in the dishwasher. Dry promptly after washing and stand upright to allow airflow. Every few months, apply a food-safe mineral oil or board butter to keep the wood nourished and prevent drying or cracking. Keep away from prolonged heat and direct sun.

Varathaned Indoor Pieces (Décor, Organization, Trays, Wine & Beer Accessories): Wipe clean with a damp cloth — avoid soaking or harsh cleaners that can break down the finish over time. Keep away from direct heat sources and prolonged sun exposure, which can cause the finish to yellow, fade, or lift at the edges. If the finish ever dulls or scratches, a light coat of furniture wax can help restore its appearance.

Outdoor Pieces (Planters and Exterior Items): Even with an outdoor or marine-grade Varathane finish, wood and the elements are always in a slow negotiation. To extend the life of your piece, avoid leaving it in standing water. If possible, bring it under cover during extended periods of heavy rain or harsh winter conditions. Reapply an outdoor finish every season or two as the coating weathers. Keep in mind that direct prolonged sun will fade and dry any finish over time — a shaded spot is always kinder to wood than full sun exposure.

The Bottom Line: A little care goes a long way with any wood piece. Treated well, a handcrafted piece will outlast anything you would find in a big-box store — and get better-looking along the way.

Find Your Wood

Wood is personal. The species you choose, the finish, the size — it all comes together into something that is uniquely yours. Browse our full collection at rusticandreneweddecor.ca, or explore our made-to-order options where you can choose the wood that speaks to you. Have something specific in mind? We take custom orders — just reach out.