Can I get two-tone furniture?

Perhaps the first thing you notice about a piece of furniture is its color. This is true even with wood furniture. Our customers always get to pick their favorite finish color for their new furniture – American hardwoods & over 30 stain colors available. But did you know that you can have almost anything finished in two colors? This is called “two-tone” and it’s one of many options available to personalize your new furniture.

What can be two-tone?

The most common way to two-tone furniture is to finish the top in a different color than the base. This is very popular with tables, dressers, nightstands, and cabinets. Two-tone tables are typically matched with two-tone chairs, with the chair seats matched to the tabletop.

Logan Table & Chairs with Extendable Bench

Table legs/apron, chair frames, and bench legs/apron: Brown Maple with Ebony stain Table top, chair seats, and bench seat: Brown Maple with Driftwood stain

Cabinets & casepieces – like dressers or TV stands - offer more opportunities for two-tone options. In addition to a simple contrast top, an accent color can also be added to door and drawer fronts.

Two-Tone Woodbury Buffet with Wine Rack

Case, backsplash, and wine divider: Oak with Rich Tobacco stain

Buffet top, door & drawer fronts: Oak with Seely stain

Delivered June 2023 | Aliquippa PA

Two-tone display cabinets (or curio cabinets) with a dark exterior & natural interior are really hot right now. West Elm, Crate & Barrell, and Arhaus each offer their own take on the trend. Our Amish builders & finishers have taken notice and offer contrasting interior/exterior two-toning in any standard colors.

Easton Buffet

Exterior: Brown Maple with Ebony stain

Interior: Brown Maple with Sandstone stain

On display in our showroom in The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills

How do I pick what colors to use?

That really depends on what look you are trying to create. The most popular two-tone combos are usually high-contrast, and usually with black stain. Michael’s cherry stain is a rich red color that looks great on any wood species (oak, brown maple, cherry, or elm) and creates a beautiful contrast against black. Our second-most popular option is Seely stain, usually on rustic cherry. Seely is a warm golden color that’s popular in classic farmhouse schemes.

Cortland Writing Table

Legs & apron: Brown Maple with Onyx stain

Table top: Brown Maple with Michaels stain

It’s also important to consider the texture & grain pattern of the woods selected, in addition to the stain color added. People usually choose brown maple, stained black, brown, white, or gray, as a neutral base color because of its smooth texture. This lets your featured wood, like elm, quartersawn white oak, or walnut, act as a focal point, with a smooth neutral base providing a place for the eye to rest.

Master Living Room Tables

Legs & aprons: Brown Maple with Rich Tobacco stain

Table tops & shelves: Elm with Medium stain

On display in our showroom in The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills

Examples of Two-Tone Furniture

Shaker Leg Table, Empire Chairs, Baxter Upholstered Chairs, and Settler's Ridge Buffet

​ Table legs/apron, chair frames, and buffet: Brown Maple with Onyx stain Rustic Quartersawn White Oak with Cocoa stain

Delivered July 2023 | Canonsburg PA

This customer’s elegant dining room shows a carefully curated mix of wood tones and fabric for a unique and dynamic design. The first thing you notice is the beautiful quartersawn white oak tabletop – the smooth black finish on the chairs and buffet allows your eye to rest. Cocoa stain is a slightly cool brown, which compliments the calm scheme of the room. The customer says “We think the furniture looks great and completes our space.”

Vienna Bookcase

Case: Brown Maple with Driftwood stain

Base: Brown Maple with Asbury stain

On display in our showroom in The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills

Builder Wayne drew inspiration from classic Scandinavian style when designing his Vienna collection, including living room (coffee tables, end tables, TV stands) & office furniture (desks, file cabinets, bookcases.) The rich warm brown base contrasts beautifully with the smoke gray case and keeps the piece from looking flat & boring.

Nelson’s Modern Shaker Living Room Tables

Legs & aprons: Rustic Cherry with Michaels stain

Table tops & shelves: Wormy Maple with natural finish (clear coat)

On display in our showroom in The Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills

This unique two-tone combination was suggested to us by builder Nelson. The blonde wood with dark streaks used for these table tops is wormy maple. Once considered a utility wood, wormy maple has risen in popularity as more customers prize wood imperfections as proof of authenticity. Dark streaks appear where beetles have fed, and ambrosia wood has grown to fill the void left behind. Paired with classic red cherry, this combination is both striking and approachable.

Buying from Us

When you visit our showroom, the first thing you’ll notice is our huge array of wood and stain options. We show as many options as possible on full-sized pieces of furniture, instead of tiny color chips. Our customers appreciate the color resources available in our showroom. We can also let you borrow stain chips with a small deposit to view in your home. We can help guide you through color selections, finish options, and more. Visit us in the Galleria at Pittsburgh Mills to see two-tone furniture is right for your home.