As the golden warmth of autumn gives way to the crisp sparkle of winter, we enter what we lovingly call the Hospitality Season—that beautiful stretch of time in November and December when our homes become gathering places, creative spaces, and the heart of how we celebrate the people we love. Across Colorado and beyond, kitchens hum with activity, living rooms glow with laughter, and dining tables become the center stage for the rituals that make the season meaningful. And as 2026 approaches, many of us are looking for ways to welcome the new year with intention, rooting ourselves in connection, beauty, sustainability, and joy.
At CS Woods, we see this season reflected in the materials we work with every day. Wood is inherently hospitable. It invites warmth, encourages gathering, and helps create spaces that feel grounded, alive, and deeply human. When our clients welcome family and friends into their homes, whether for holiday meals, game nights, craft sessions, gingerbread decorating marathons, cookie-baking chaos, or Santa’s grand entrance, they are often gathering around a custom solid wood centerpiece that reflects their personalities and tells a story that is uniquely theirs.
And that’s why this season is the perfect moment to think about adding (or upgrading) the solid wood surfaces in your home. Not just for practicality. Not just for design. But for connection, intention, and the creation of memories that last long after the decorations are packed away.
Whether it’s a show stopping dining table, a well-loved kitchen island, or a mantel that frames your holiday traditions, CS Woods is here to help you bring nature’s warmth into your home this season and all year long.
Gathering Around The Table: Where Memories Happen
There is something magical about what happens around a solid wood table. It’s more than furniture. It’s a stage for the story of your family. Picture this: A Thanksgiving table set with your grandmother’s dishes, surrounded by loved ones sharing food, gratitude, and easy conversation. Or, maybe a lively Hanukkah or Christmas evening full of candlelight, festive music, and plates of cookies “cooling” (but actually disappearing) as quickly as they’re placed on the table.
My personal favorite are those lazy holiday mornings with puzzles, board games, colored pencils, and kids laughing while adults sip coffee.
A solid wood table, especially one chosen intentionally, is a place where people lean in, relax, and connect. Wood helps with that. Unlike cold surfaces like stone, metal, and plastic, solid wood has a natural warmth that makes people feel comfortable and welcome.
At CS Woods, our clients often tell us their tables become the most-loved spot in the house. After all, this is where gingerbread houses collapse (and get rebuilt), where pies cool, where craft supplies explode across the surface, where homework gets done, and where tradition takes shape year after year.
A custom table becomes a family heirloom in real time.
The Kitchen Island: The Unofficial Heart of Every Holiday
If the dining table is the heart of celebration, the kitchen island is the heartbeat of preparation, the behind-the-scenes location where magic truly happens.
A CS Woods solid wood island top brings a sense of warmth and life into the busiest room in the home. And during the Hospitality Season, kitchen islands work overtime:
-
Cookie baking: rolling, cutting, sprinkling - every family has its special recipe.
-
Turkey carving or ham slicing: the big moment of every holiday meal.
-
Potato mashing: a beloved tradition with nostalgic force (sometimes a full-body workout).
-
Charcuterie artistry: the cheese board becomes a masterpiece on its own.
-
Gathering with a drink: for hosts and guests alike as the conversation flows.
Unlike stone or engineered surfaces, wood feels personal. It softens the noise of the holidays and adds natural texture and beauty that transforms utility into enjoyment.
Plus, our slabs; whether walnut, elm, maple burl, cherry, or exotic sustainable wenge or bubinga - carry the history of the tree they came from. Your island top starts with a story, one we’re proud to share, so you can share it with your guests as they gather around the centerpiece of your kitchen.
Mantels That Tell a Holiday Story
A beautifully crafted solid wood mantel does more than hold stocking, it holds tradition.
For many families, the fireplace is where favorite photos are displayed, Holiday cards from friends far and wide gather, and stockings are hung with anticipation! This can also be Santa’s entry route as my daughter likes to remind me, and he wants it decorated and (carefully) prepared! She hangs the garland, places the tiny bird decorations and sets out the cookies and milk with care.
A live edge mantel or a sleek, modern beam from CS Woods instantly transforms a living room into a cozy, welcoming place where people want to linger, talk, nap, and just be together.
And unlike manufactured mantels, solid wood pieces are naturally non-toxic, sustainably sourced, and timeless. Memories from years past are framed in warm, soft light
Why Wood Belongs in Your Home—Especially Now
1. Warmth & Connection
Wood makes spaces feel alive. The grain, color, texture, and organic feel of solid wood invite people in and help them feel grounded and relaxed. During a season centered on togetherness, wood sets the tone.
2. A Reflection of You
Every slab in our inventory—over a thousand pieces—has a unique personality. No two tables or mantels or island tops are alike. Choosing a slab with us is an experience: the moment you see your wood, you know. It reflects your taste, your values, and your story.
3. Easy to Maintain
Our tung oil–based finishes are natural, food-safe, and simple to refresh. If someone spills wine, icing, gravy, or glitter (it happens), you can relax—your wood surface was made for living.
4. Non-Toxic & Family Safe
Unlike particle board or MDF, which off-gas chemicals over time, our solid wood surfaces are naturally low-tox and treated with non-toxic finishes. This matters even more during a season when kids are crafting, guests are gathering, and surfaces get more use than ever.
5. Sustainable, Intentional Living
Bringing natural materials into your space is a powerful act of biophilic design, helping you feel calmer, more connected, and more intentional in how you shape your environment.
Starting 2026 surrounded by natural materials that uplift you can truly change the trajectory of your year.
Bring the Warmth of Wood Into Your Home This Season
This Hospitality Season, and throughout 2026, we invite you to celebrate the holidays with intention by surrounding yourself with natural, beautiful, sustainable materials that elevate your space and enrich your life.
Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving, celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas, ringing in the New Year, or simply spending time with people you love, your home deserves pieces that feel as warm and personal as the memories you’re creating.
A custom solid wood surface from CS Woods is more than a purchase. it’s an investment in connection, beauty, and your family’s future stories.
Come Walk Through the Woods at CS Woods
We invite you and your family to visit one of the most unique stores in Colorado.
Walk among slabs taller than you, explore burls, mantels, and incredible species from around the world, and experience firsthand the warmth and magic of natural wood.
🌳 CS Woods Open Warehouse
4355 Monaco St, Denver
✨ Showroom at the IDC
For finished tables and inspiration.
Let us help you discover the perfect piece to make your home glow this season—and every season to come.
From all of us at CS Woods:
Happy Holidays, and may your home be full of warmth, joy, and beautiful wood. 🎄🌟
