Eco-Friendly Wooden Furniture in Australia

Buying furniture that lasts is the most environmentally sound thing most of us will do for our homes. A solid timber dining table that serves three generations has a far smaller footprint than four flat-pack replacements over twenty years — regardless of what either is made from.

That's the principle Chocolate Wood has worked to since 2006. We're a Sydney furniture retailer with a showroom in Manly Vale, and our Australian custom-made furniture is built at our Riverwood factory and workshop on Bonds Road. We sell across three sourcing routes, and being straight about which is which matters, so here it is.

Recycled and reclaimed timber

Our recycled elm range is made from timber that has already lived one life — reclaimed and remilled into dining tables, buffets, benches and storage. Every piece carries the marks of its history: nail holes, colour variation, saw marks. No two are alike.

Recycled elm is an imported range and can't be made to order.

If sustainability is your first consideration, this is the range to look at.

Imported solid timber

A large part of our catalogue is imported, handcrafted overseas from solid, kiln-dried timber. Construction varies by range — individual product pages set out the timber, dimensions and finish for each piece.

Indonesian mahogany. Our mahogany range is made in Indonesia. That producer holds a Timber Legality Verification System Certificate (SVLK) issued by the Indonesian Government, verifying that the timber is legally harvested and traceable through the supply chain. That's a documented, independently issued certification rather than a claim we've made about ourselves.

This certification applies to the Indonesian mahogany range only. Our messmate, oak and recycled elm ranges come from other suppliers and are not covered by it.

Australian custom made — built at our Riverwood factory

Our custom-made range is built at our Riverwood factory and workshop on Bonds Road, Riverwood, Sydney NSW 2210.

Available in Victorian ash and American oak, with blackwood, blackbutt, American walnut and New Zealand pine also available. Drawer boxes are built in New Zealand pine. You choose the dimensions, the timber and the finish. Estimated production time is three to four weeks plus delivery.

Because it's made to measure, each piece is built for a specific room rather than produced ahead of demand.

If you're closer to Riverwood than Manly Vale, you're welcome to view at the factory by appointment. Call 02 9949 9892 to arrange a time — it's a working factory rather than a showroom, so please call first.

On finishes

We offer a non-toxic build option on selected ranges, using finishes formulated without the solvents found in conventional lacquers. It's a separate, more expensive specification — not our standard finish — and we'd rather tell you that than imply every piece in the store meets it.

If low-VOC matters to you, ask us which pieces are available in that build.

Why solid timber lasts

Solid timber can generally be sanded back, re-oiled and repaired. A scratch is often a surface issue rather than a write-off. Veneered and particle-board furniture is usually harder to recover once the surface layer is damaged.

That repairability is the whole environmental argument, and it's why our furniture carries a 12-month manufacturer's warranty against manufacturing faults, in addition to your rights under the Australian Consumer Law.

Where to start

• Recycled elm dining tables and buffets — reclaimed timber, most character
• Solid mahogany bedroom and living ranges — SVLK-certified sourcing
• Australian custom made — built at our Riverwood factory, to your dimensions

Come and look

Photographs only tell you so much about timber — grain, weight and colour are worth seeing in person.

Showroom — Shop 33, 228-232 Condamine Street, Manly Vale NSW 2093
Saturday and Sunday, 11am – 4pm. Weekdays by appointment.

Factory and workshop — Bonds Road, Riverwood NSW 2210
Strictly by appointment.

02 9949 9892 · sales@chocolatewood.com.au

We're happy to post free timber samples to anyone considering a custom-made piece, anywhere in Australia. Just ask.

We deliver Australia-wide. Enter your postcode on any product page for a freight quote.