Do you have any photos you can share? I usually like a mix of woods but can't picture what this looks like.

here's a pic of the piano/ wood sample/ floor

more pics of the room, please excuse the boxes of books waiting for shelving

Wow of all the woods I'd heard of, and I have a folder full of just wood species on my computer, I'd never heard of Sapele. It's gorgeous and very similar to Mahogany. Before I made any decisions I'd ask to see samples of Sapele stained in various ways.

Your piano, what little I can see of it, appears to be maple. What a beautiful room. I'm looking forward to seeing it decorated.

I had never heard of sapele either, the cabinetmaker insisted I see it because I was going on and on about walnut grain. he thought I'd love this, which I do.
and I think it is also referred to as African Mohogany, so you're right about that.
I have samples stained in cherry, dark walnut and a shade lighter than dark walnut. the colors are nice, but the wood is so much more beautiful in its natural color.

this room is a challenge, its long and narrow, lots of windows on the end with southern light, but no natural light anywhere else. and in the corner is a brick wall with fireplace. not sure what to do there

Oh seeing this fireplace makes me understand why he chose the Sapele.

I do have a question though. Are all the doors in your home like the one shown on the left here? They look like maple or birch. I would tend to want built ins to match other woods that are a part of the home itself. That's my preference, you may not feel that way though.

I'd think about adding a mantel to the fireplace to match the built ins no mater what wood you choose.

none of the other doors are like those, we are thinking of removing those altogeter. the other doors are painted, no moldings or anything. just flat. which I like.

and I'm not sure what we are planning to do with the fireplace. I hated the brick, was thinking of tiling over, or at least sheetrocking above the (not yet existing) mantle.
dh loves the brick (he doesnt know any better, he grew up in this house!)but cabinetmaker knows our plans do not necessarily include the brick.
he will be building a mantle for us to match the built ins.

but what is your opinion of the sapele with the dark floor?

Well it depends on how you stain it really. I can see it look drop dead gorgeous with just a clear coat. I personally wouldn't try to match it.

As for the brick, I'm with your hubby. Sorry. I like almost anything in it's natural state if at all possible. I bet if you had a mantel or surround made in the Sapele you'd love the look too.