Most commercially available patterns will suggest the size and thickness of wood needed. The species is up to you. Baltic birch ply is a very versatile and relatively affordable alternative, but it lacks the beauty and character of solid hardwood. If you are looking at using solid wood, then choose the species that offers the appearance you desire. Natural hardwoods come in a variety of colors, shades and grain patterns, so use them to your advantage to make the piece as visually appealing as possible.
Provided you have no allergies, then just about any wood can be utilized. Some folks scavenge wood off of old pieces of furniture, shipping crates and pallets. Cabinet shops generate a load of scraps that sometimes can he bad for the asking. Cut what is available to you and affordable. That said, the ease of cutting the wood is also a major factor. Some hardwoods are extremely dense and hard to cut, especially imported exotic species like bloodwood purpleheart, etc. Most North American hardwoods aren't quite as hard, but it's good to know their relative hardness rating to judge how difficult they may be to scroll. Google the term "Janka scale" and you can find charts on-line that will tell you how hard each species of wood is. I don't know what is available to you locally, but if you are ordering lumber on-line, from a place such as Ocooch Hardwoods, you will have a variety of species to pick from.
