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Solid wood is an expression of the life of a tree, grown for at least 30 years, and the weather patterns it experienced, the absorption of sunshine and minerals. The tree is imbued with meaning, and this meaning is transferred to the piece of furniture it becomes.

Our planks are cut in a way that honours the growth rings and grain, making them clearly visible.

We use only the highest grade timber available, FAS First and Seconds, with the fewest knots and most consistent grain patterns. So valuable are these planks, also referred to as “veneer grade” that they are usually reserved for making veneers only millimetres thick, so as to get the maximum usage out of each. We use them in generously thick and long solid planks.

This timber is only available from sustainable farms, as the regular monitoring, pruning, replanting, and general care of the trees on managed forests is what creates planks of this quality.

Solid wood is a hydroscopic material, which means its moisture content will fluctuate based on the relative humidity (RH) of its environment. As humidity increases, the wood has a tendency to expand, and as the humidity decreases, to shrink. This movement cannot be prevented, but rather can be managed through drying the timber before use, thoughtfully designing and manufacturing to allow for movement, applying finishes, and maintaining appropriate humidity levels in the product’s end environment.

Our products are thoughtfully designed and manufactured to allow for the natural movement of solid wood, though wood furniture will require a stable environment throughout its life, with optimum levels of relative humidity.

More information can be found in our Winter Care document and Looking After Your Furniture pack.

Our American black walnut is from the midwestern United States. This is a prized hardwood with luxuriously figurative grain patterns and great strength. The walnut tree is relatively small, and the dark heartwood is surrounded by sap wood that is blond in colour.

Our American black walnut timber is available in a choice of oil finishes.

Our Danish oil, white oil, and black oil finishes provide a renewable surface for enduring beauty. Damage can be repaired with relative ease, as the timber can be reapplied with wax or oil at any moment.

Find care information here.

Our white oak is from the eastern coast of the United States and from Croatia. Oak has long been used in furniture due to its great density, outstanding durability and simple, understated beauty. Its durability is compounded by the fact that it contains tannin acid, which naturally prevents rotting.

Our white oak timber is available in a choice of oil finishes, or an oxidised finish.

Our Danish oil, white oil, and black oil finishes provide a renewable surface for enduring beauty. Damage can be repaired with relative ease, as the timber can be reapplied with wax or oil at any moment.

Our oxidised timber is sealed with a clear matte lacquer to maintain the colour whilst preserving the tactility of the surface.

Find care information here.

Our European Ash is from Portugal, Spain and France. European Ash is a hardwood that has long been prized by cabinetmakers due to its versatility and simple beauty. This dense timber has a coarse yet even texture, compressive strength, and an appealing straight grain. It varies in colour from a cream to pale tan colour and accepts stains and coatings more readily than other timbers.

Our European ash timber is available in a choice of oil, painted, or stained finishes.

Our Danish oil, white oil, and black oil finishes provide a renewable surface for enduring beauty. Damage can be repaired with relative ease, as the timber can be reapplied with wax or oil at any moment.

Our painted timber is available in a choice of 10 paint colours.

Our stained timber is available in a choice of 10 colours. The stain is sealed with a clear matte lacquer to maintain the colour whilst preserving the tactility of the surface.

Find care information here.

Our European Douglas fir is grown in France. Due to its strength, durability, and attractive grain, this softwood has long been used for joinery and flooring. The natural colour variations include an array of blond and light reddish tones. Douglas fir trees can grow to very large sizes which, when regularly pruned, results in impressively wide and long planks of timber with consistent grain patterns. Knots are naturally present in this timber, lending character to each plank. 

We use Douglas fir exclusively for Manuel Aires Mateus products, the design of which take advantage of the extreme proportions of the planks. Planks of this size and quality are rare, and must be harvested and prepared specially for us, which can impact the lead time of the products. Douglas fir products are on an extended lead time to account for this, though the lead time remains an estimate and, in some cases, the actual lead time may be longer than estimated.

NOTE: As a softwood, Douglas fir will mark will regular use. Our care instructions include guidance on how to steam-repair dents in the timber, however we recommend embracing some level of wear and tear as part of the ongoing story and beauty of your Douglas fir furniture.

A small number of our products have components made out of engineered solid wood, which harnesses the beauty and strength of solid wood, while increasing the possibilities when used as a planar material.

Solid wood is a living, breathing material that continues to expand, contract and change throughout its lifetime. It requires very specific bracing when used as a planar material to prevent warping and other movement. Certain designs do not allow for such braces or similar construction, so engineered wood is used instead.

4mm-thick planks of our signature timbers, cross-banded with alternating grain directions, create an engineered plank made from a single hardwood. Essentially a reconstruction of plank of solid wood, this material retains all the benefits of solid planks of timber, including a renewable surface and consistent appearance even with rounded edges, while having the added benefit of greater planar stability achieved through the lamination of planks. This material minimises waste, as the less desirable planks of wood, such as those with sapwood or knots, are used for the inner layers.