I’d probably pick Honduran mahogany. Straight grained. Lovely color, easy to work. Expensive, and not as common as it once was - it’s been over logged - but damn that’s a nice wood.

Red oak is another obvious choice with many similar properties. The grain is a bit wild and tends to attract the eye. But in general it’s an easy wood to work, and there is a zillion board feet still growing in the continental USA.

People tend to overlook the softwoods these days, but they are VERY easy to work, inexpensive and quite handsome. Alaskan Yellow Cedar is a lovely wood, as is Douglas fir. Good straight grained hard white pine makes fine furniture, and the slightly softer nature of the wood, makes it easier for beginners to work with.