Western red cedar is one of British Columbia's most iconic trees. Found throughout the coastal rainforests and into the interior wet belt, it has been revered by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest for millennia — used for everything from longhouses and canoes to ceremonial carvings. Today, it remains one of the most versatile and beautiful species available to furniture makers.
The heartwood ranges from warm cinnamon-pink through rich reddish-brown to deep chocolate, often with all these tones swirling together in a single board. This natural colour variation is cedar's calling card — no two pieces look alike. The wood darkens and mellows with age, eventually settling into a distinguished silver-grey if left unfinished outdoors, or a warm, even amber tone under indoor clear finishes.
Cedar's aroma is immediately recognisable: warm, sweet, and slightly spicy. The scent comes from thujaplicin and other natural oils that also give the wood its remarkable decay resistance. Western red cedar heartwood can last decades outdoors without chemical treatment — an extraordinary quality that makes it equally suited for exterior benches and interior heirloom pieces.
At just 350 lbf on the Janka scale, cedar is a soft wood. This limits its use for heavy-duty work surfaces, but it is a significant advantage for carved and sculpted pieces. Hand tools glide through cedar, making it a favourite for detailed shaping work. It also means the wood is lightweight — an important consideration for wall-mounted art and shelving.
Gerrasimos sources western red cedar locally, often from salvaged logs and sustainably harvested stands in British Columbia. The Okanagan sits at the transition between coastal and interior ecosystems, giving us access to both the wide, colourful slabs of coastal cedar and the tighter-grained interior variety.
For wall art, cedar is unmatched. Its colour variation provides a natural palette — warm tones that complement both modern and rustic interiors without any stain or pigment. We finish our cedar wall pieces with a clear oil that enhances the colour while preserving the subtle texture of the grain.
Care for cedar is minimal. Indoor pieces need only occasional dusting and a light oil refresh every year or two. For outdoor pieces, an annual application of UV-protective oil will slow the natural greying process. Many clients prefer to let outdoor cedar silver naturally — the patina is beautiful in its own right.
Gerrasimos reaches for western red cedar when a project calls for warmth, aroma, and the unmistakable presence of British Columbia's ancient forests.