Your sample box

Welcome to
Cottage Beams

Thank you for requesting our timber samples. The pieces you have received have been made using the same materials, finishes and care as our full-sized products. Take your time comparing the colours and grain - every piece of timber is its own.

Explore Our Collections

Identify your sample

Which finish are you holding?

Compare your sample to the descriptions below. Each finish is applied to the same solid oak - the difference is purely in tone.

Natural Oak

The palest of the four finishes. Close to the raw timber - cool, clean and understated. If your sample is light with minimal warmth, this is Natural Oak.

Warm Oak

A golden mid-tone - our most popular finish. If your sample has an amber or honey quality without being dark, this is Warm Oak.

Dark Oak

Rich and earthy with real depth. If your sample is noticeably darker with a brown or tobacco tone, this is Dark Oak.

White Oak

Soft and limed in appearance. If your sample is pale with a grey or chalky quality, this is White Oak.

Responsibly Sourced Timber

We work with trusted suppliers to ensure our oak is sourced responsibly and to a consistent standard.

Made to Order

Every product is made specifically for you. Nothing sits in a warehouse - it is cut, worked and finished after you order.

Crafted in Yorkshire

Our workshop is in Yorkshire. The people who make your beam or shelf take genuine care in what they produce.

Made to Last

Solid oak throughout. No veneers, no composites. Built to be a permanent part of your home, not a temporary fixture.

Common questions

Before You Order

Almost, but not identically. Oak is a natural material - every piece has its own grain, figuring, and character. Your sample is an accurate guide to the finish tone and texture, but the grain pattern of your finished product will be its own. This is what makes solid oak genuinely individual.

Yes, completely normal. Studio lighting shifts how timber tones appear on screen. Your sample, held in your own home under natural light, is a far more reliable guide than any photograph. Trust what you are holding.

Natural Oak sits close to the raw timber - pale, cool, and understated. Warm Oak has a golden mid-tone that deepens gently over time. Dark Oak is a rich, earthy finish that works equally well in traditional and contemporary spaces. White Oak has a soft, limed quality suited to lighter interiors. All four are applied to the same solid oak - the timber beneath is identical.

Hold each sample against your wall colour in natural daylight. The finish that feels most at ease - rather than the one that stands out - is usually the right choice. If you are still unsure, send us a photograph of your room and we will give you an honest recommendation.

For fireplace beams, the beam typically sits at the same width as your hearth if you have one. If not, add 10 to 15cm either side of the opening as a starting point. A useful trick: cut a piece of cardboard to your intended size, offer it up to the fireplace, then sit back and assess the proportion from the room. For shelves, alcove shelves have square-cut ends on both sides and a front edge in your chosen style. Floating shelves have three worked edges - front and both ends. Most walls are not perfectly square or true, so we recommend either leaving a 5mm shadow gap at each end, or ordering slightly longer so the shelf can be scribed to fit on site. If you are unsure, get in touch before ordering.

Most customers fit their own beams and shelves without professional help. Both fix to the wall with concealed fixings, and full instructions are included with every order. If your chimney breast is an unusual material - granite or original lime plaster, for instance - it is worth checking with a builder first.

Everything is made to order in Yorkshire. Our standard lead time is 6 to 12 working days, though this varies with the seasons - please check the individual product pages for the most up-to-date timeframe. Delivery is next-day tracked once your order leaves the workshop, and you will receive email updates at each stage.

Yes. Because everything is made to order, custom lengths are straightforward. Contact us before placing your order and we will confirm what is possible and provide a price.

Solid oak throughout. We do not use MDF cores, veneers, or composite materials. The timber in your sample is the same timber used in the finished product.

Get in touch and we will make it right. If a product arrives damaged or does not meet the standard you would expect, contact us within 14 days and we will arrange a replacement or a full refund. We stand behind everything we make.