July 3, 2026
Black walnut, hard maple, and cherry are all excellent hardwoods, but each offers a different balance of durability, appearance, and maintenance. At Coonhound Woodworks, we select the hardwood based on how the finished board will be used, from everyday meal prep to serving family meals or creating a personalized gift. Understanding what each one offers makes it easier to choose a cutting board that fits your kitchen and the way you cook.
Before we recommend walnut, maple, or cherry, we ask a few simple questions.
The answers help us recommend a hardwood that fits your needs. Someone who cooks every day may value durability above everything else, while someone looking for a wedding gift may prioritize appearance and the way the wood ages over time.
That’s why we consider the complete picture, from how the board will be used to how it will look and perform for years to come.
Black walnut is one of our most requested hardwoods, and it’s easy to understand why. Its deep brown color, bold grain patterns, and natural elegance make every board unique.
It also hides light knife marks better than lighter woods, making it a great choice for homeowners who want bespoke serving and cutting boards across Cumming that always look beautiful on the countertop.
We often recommend walnuts if you:
Maple has been used for butcher blocks and commercial kitchens for decades because it’s incredibly durable and has a fine, closed grain that’s well-suited for food preparation.
If someone tells us they cook every day, hard maple is usually one of the first woods we recommend for bespoke handcrafted chopping boards in Holly Springs. It stands up well to frequent chopping and slicing, making it a dependable choice for everyday meal prep. Its light, natural color also suits kitchens that lean toward a clean, classic style.
Insight: Don’t judge a maple cutting board by the first few knife marks. Over time, those marks become part of the board’s natural wear pattern and don’t affect its strength or performance. With regular oiling, a well-made maple board can continue performing beautifully for many years.
Cherry is known for the way it matures over time. Its reddish-brown color gradually deepens with exposure to light, giving each cutting board a unique look that’s difficult to replicate.For customers ordering bespoke kitchen cutting boards from Lawrenceville and Cumming, cherry is often the preferred choice thanks to its classic appearance and the rich patina it develops over time.
Although cherry can show wear a little sooner than maple during heavy chopping, many owners enjoy the character it develops through years of everyday use.
Walnut, maple, and cherry are all relatively easy to care for, but they age a little differently.
Walnut naturally disguises small scratches because of its darker color. Maple’s lighter surface makes knife marks more noticeable, while cherry develops a rich patina that softens signs of everyday use over time.
Regardless of the wood species, washing by hand, drying the board promptly, and applying food-safe mineral oil regularly will help keep it in excellent condition.
If you’re still deciding, think about how you’ll actually use your cutting board.
Choose maple if you cook almost every day and want maximum durability for meal prep.
Choose walnut if you want one board that handles chopping vegetables during the week and serving charcuterie or carving roasts on the weekend.
Choose cherry if you’re looking for a thoughtful gift or a handcrafted piece that develops even more character over time.
The right hardwood lays the foundation for a cutting board you’ll enjoy for years. At Coonhound Woodworks, every bespoke cutting board is handcrafted for customers in Lawrenceville, Holly Springs, and throughout the USA, with every detail tailored to your kitchen and cooking style.
Have a design in mind? We’d be happy to help you choose the right hardwood and build a bespoke cutting board that’s made for years of everyday use.
