True Wood Furniture by Lancaster Legacy
Choose the character you want to come home to.
The wood species, color and surface treatment work together to shape your furniture's appearance. Use this guide to compare a clean stained finish, painted color, a softly worn look or a more deeply antiqued surface. Finish names and treatments below follow Lancaster Legacy's 2026–2027 catalog.
- Wood: Choose the grain and natural character.
- Color: Select a stain, paint or natural appearance.
- Surface treatment: Choose a clean look or an available distressed treatment.
A color name does not guarantee the same appearance on different woods. Availability depends on the furniture model and wood selected. Screen images are a guide; a physical sample is the best way to judge color in your own lighting.
Compare the finish styles
| Finish or treatment | What you will see | Choose it for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard stain | Color with the wood's grain still visible. | A tailored look that celebrates hardwood. |
| Solid paint | A painted color treatment; wood texture can still influence the surface. | A coordinated color or a contrasting base. |
| Natural Effects | An ultra-matte, protected surface designed to preserve the wood's natural color and feel. | A fresh, low-gloss, nearly unfinished appearance. |
| Standard Distressing | Light decorative nicks, simulated wormholes and worn edges. | A gently lived-in character. |
| Aged Distressing | Nicks, softened corners and selectively filed edges. | The relaxed appearance of a well-loved piece. |
| Antiquated Distressing | Additional nicks and holes, filed edges, simulated cracks and heavier glaze. | A pronounced antique character. |
| Two-tone | Two selected colors on designated parts of the same piece. | A contrasting top, seat, base or cabinet detail. |
Standard stained finishes
Stain brings color to the wood while allowing its grain to remain part of the design. A light tone can keep a room airy; a richer brown can give it warmth and depth. The catalog offers different color selections for Brown Maple, Red Oak, Quartersawn White Oak, Cherry, Hard Maple, Hickory and other listed woods. Colors such as Natural, Seely, Briar, Michaels and OCS Cappuccino appear on selected species; they are not a universal menu for every piece.
Natural is a color choice. Do not assume that a finish labeled Natural is the same coating as Natural Effects. Select Natural Effects specifically when that ultra-matte coating is what you want.
Solid painted finishes
Paint gives your furniture a deliberate color presence, from a quiet neutral to a striking accent. The catalog's standard paint selection includes Almond, Metro Gray, Royal Blue, Black, Chelsea Gray, White and Parchment. Painted samples can also be shown with distressing, rub-through or glaze, so choose both the color and the treatment when those options are offered.
Natural Effects: protected wood with an ultra-matte look
Natural Effects is a water-based urethane finish with an added cross-linker for hardness and durability. It is designed to protect the surface while keeping the wood close to its original color, texture and natural feel. The result has very little sheen and an almost unfinished appearance, while still being a finished surface intended for everyday use.
Lancaster Legacy lists Natural Effects for all of its wood species. Select it only where it is offered for the particular item or request a confirmed configuration. It still needs normal furniture care and protection from heat, standing moisture and harsh cleaners.
Standard Distressing: a light touch of history
A few intentionally placed nicks, decorative wormhole marks and worn edges give stained or painted furniture a gently weathered character. These marks are part of the chosen decorative treatment. This is a good starting point when you enjoy rustic detail without the stronger texture of Antiquated Distressing.
Aged Distressing: softly worn edges and corners
Aged Distressing combines small nicks with rounded corners and irregularly filed edges for a relaxed, time-softened look. The catalog shows this treatment on Rustic Red Oak, Sap Cherry, Brown Maple, Rough Sawn Wormy Maple, Rustic Hickory and Rustic Quartersawn White Oak. It also states that Standard Distressed colors are available with Aged Distressing; model and wood compatibility still apply.
Antiquated Distressing: a more expressive antique surface
Antiquated Distressing adds more pronounced nicks and holes, filed edges, decorative simulated cracks and heavier glazing. The treatment can be applied over stain or paint in supported combinations. It creates deliberate variation and shadowing for customers who want stronger antique character. Each hand-worked surface will have its own arrangement of marks.
What do glaze and rub-through mean?
Glaze adds a secondary layer of tone that emphasizes surface detail and gives the finish more visual depth. Rub-through selectively wears back a painted layer to reveal contrast beneath it. Neither is a wood species or a stand-alone color; these are parts of a finish recipe.
Understanding the catalog's finish codes
| Code | Treatment |
|---|---|
| 7-SSG | Standard distressing, stain and glaze. |
| 10-PG | Paint and glaze. |
| 10-SPRG | Standard distressing, paint, rub-through and glaze. |
| 10-SPG | Standard distressing, paint and glaze. |
| 10-PRG | Paint, rub-through and glaze. |
| 10-SPR | Standard distressing, paint and rub-through. |
The code identifies the treatment; the color name identifies the color. For example, a painted White surface with 10-SPR has a different appearance from a clean, undistressed White painted surface.
Two-tone finishes
Pair two colors to highlight the shape of a piece—for example, a stained tabletop over a painted base, a contrasting chair seat or a cabinet top in a different tone from the body. Specify which parts receive each color. The permitted layout and any additional charge depend on the item and construction; a two-tone option does not mean any division of colors is possible.
Hand-planed and rough-sawn surfaces
These describe the wood's surface texture rather than a stain color. A hand-planed top has deliberately worked surface character. A rough-sawn top retains a more visibly textured appearance. Some models offer plank tops, breadboard ends or V-groove details as separate construction choices. Choose the top style first, then an approved color and finish treatment.
Rustic wood and select wood: character starts before finishing
Rustic wood has natural irregularities such as knots and other character marks. For the rustic species identified in the catalog, open knots are normally filled with black epoxy unless otherwise specified. A rustic wood choice is different from adding distressing: one comes from the wood itself; the other is an intentional surface treatment.
Select wood is an available upgrade intended to give more consistent color. It does not make natural wood perfectly uniform. Rustic and select grades are available only on supported models and species.
Unfinished furniture, where offered
Selected items can be ordered unfinished for a project that calls for a separately chosen finishing process. Unfinished is different from Natural stain or Natural Effects: it does not mean the furniture has an almost invisible protective finish. Confirm the unfinished specification for your item and arrange an appropriate finishing process before normal use. Availability is item-specific.
Custom colors
Lancaster Legacy offers custom stain or paint matching, including Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore paint colors. OCS stain colors are also available through the manufacturer. A custom request needs the brand, color name and color number so the builder can confirm the specification. A paint-brand color name does not mean that brand's wall paint is used as the furniture coating. Confirm suitability and pricing before ordering.
How finish choices affect the price
Many standard color and finish packages carry no separate manufacturer finish surcharge. Antiquated Distressing, select wood, certain two-tone layouts, custom matching and optional hand-planed tops can add to the price. Some items already include a particular texture or treatment. Your product's selected configuration or written quote determines the final price; this guide is not a universal surcharge schedule.
Caring for your Legacy
- Keep indoor humidity steady, ideally between 35% and 45%, and place furniture away from direct sun and heat sources. Avoid attic or damp-basement storage.
- Dust with a soft cloth that is slightly damp, wiping with the grain. Avoid dry rubbing that may leave fine scratches.
- Remove spills promptly with warm, mildly soapy water, then dry the surface with a soft cloth.
- Avoid silicone products, heavy waxes, ammonia and harsh general-purpose cleaners.
- Use coasters, protective pads and trivets. Lift furniture when moving it rather than dragging it.
Need help choosing? Email help@ecommersify.com with the furniture name, wood species, color and finish treatment you prefer. We can help confirm an available combination before you order.