There may be dozens of woods represented in the whole cabinet manufacturing realm. The most commonly used woods in the U.S. are Oak, Maple, Pine, Cherry, Hickory, Poplar, Alder and Birch. Of these, Hickory and Oak are the hardest and heaviest. Cherry, Birch and Maple are also fine hard woods well suited to cabinetry. Alder and Poplar are less expensive, more plentiful woods that take well to glazed finishes with distressing (factory applied impressions to create an 'antique' look), but are apt not to absorb stains in an even, full coverage. Pine, treasured for it's rustic appearance, does take many types of stains well, but is a soft wood and will be more easily dented and scratched, even with high quality conversion varnish finishes. Choose Pine for its 'old time' appearance and recognize that it may age a little more quickly than hardwoods, especially when used for cabinets in a busy kitchen environment.
   
Woods commonly develop what is called a 'patina' by professionals and recognized by homeowners as 'darkening color'. Woods such as cherry and pine develop this phenomenon more quickly than others. These two species can be expected to darken for a year or two after installation. The degree to which they darken is influenced by several factors including the stain and finish. Best quality finishes contain Ultra Violet inhibitors to help slow or restrict the process. Another important factor is the amount of light to which the cabinets are directly exposed. Usually, areas exposed to the most direct or indirect lighting for the greatest amount of time, will darken faster than those in low light or shaded areas. Keep in mind that this process is NATURAL and cannot be completely inhibited by stains or finishes. The darker the finish, the less noticeable the patina. Natural cherry or natural pine are the most susceptible to this effect, so if these finishes are your passion, be prepared to accept this natural darkening with time.