I've always liked the look of spaulted fruitwoods. Not sure if that portends badly for actual function, or for fabrication, but it's also lighter in weight. Maple comes in many handsome figured forms too. If you want a sexy exterior, and you feel good about workability, the interior can be light-sealed outta view.
I would avoid cvg doug fir - which looks grand, but that's because I can't seem to avoid having it want to peel like string cheese. Oh, and it's not all that great for the outdoors either.
Hey, get some hardwood decking cutoffs and take 'em to a furniture shop for ripping and planing. Once you got your thicknesses you could do the laminating and jointery yourself??
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