The Fine Woods We Use
Wood is tactile, warm and inviting - a natural to come home to. For centuries the finest furniture has been made from wood, and Residence continues that tradition.
To learn more in general about furniture woods click here
Our furniture is made from carefully selected hardwood solids and veneers sourced from reputable approved suppliers.
Before our furniture is made all timber is carefully kiln cured to remove natural oils and other moisture. After removal from the kiln the timber is further air-dried. The end result is timber with a moisture content of 7% to 8%, which maintains the natural beauty of the wood and helps preserve and protect the wood from movement in all types of climate.
Rosewood
Rosewood comprises a number of trees species from various regions of the world. Our rosewood (Pterocarpus macrocarpus), also known as Siamese Rosewood, comes from Laos , where the government carefully controls the resource and has an extensive re-afforestation programme.
Rosewood is a heavy, hard and strong timber, with a specific gravity of 0.85 - heavier and harder, in fact, than Red Gum and Jarrah. It has long been valued for its beauty and durability. In the late 19th Century it was often used by English cabinetmakers as a substitute for mahogany when genuine Cuban mahogany became increasingly more difficult to obtain.
In addition to its natural golden colour our rosewood furniture is offered with a number of stains from light brown to translucent pearl black, all of which highlight the natural beauty of the wood. A stunning solid black lacquer finish is also available.
Teak
Teak (Tectona grandis) is found widely throughout SE Asia . Our teak is sourced from government-controlled sources in Myanmar
Teak is well known for its beautiful colour range from golden brown to rich reddish brown, and for its great durability. A medium density hardwood (specific gravity 0.65) with a fine silky and generally even grain, Teak makes up into beautiful indoor furniture.
Teak furniture from Residence is available in its natural colour or with a mid brown stain to complement a range of decorator styles, and is finished with our unique natural lacquer to enhance the use and durability of the furniture.
Kwila
Kwila (Intsia bijuga) is found widely throughout SE Asia and the eastern Pacific islands. It is also found in northern Australia where it is known as Johnstone River teak or scrub mahogany.
Whilst lighter in appearance than teak, kwila has similar properties including exceptional durability, but has a higher specific gravity of 0.80 and higher resistance to crushing. It is more plentiful than teak and is quite often used as a less expensive alternative.
American Mahogany
There are many woods from around the world that are called “mahogany” but the mahogany furniture from Residence is made from genuine American Mahogany Swietenia Macrophylla . It is sourced from plantations established in Fiji by the British after World War II using seedlings imported from Honduras . These plantations are the only source of genuine American mahogany in the world approved by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
American Mahogany is a straight-grained medium weight wood, which varies in colour from light to dark reddish brown, and it is without doubt one of the finest cabinet making timbers in the world.
White Oak - American
American White Oak (Quercus) is found in the eastern United States and south eastern Canada .
It is a straight-grained wood with a medium to coarse texture. The colour varies from pale yellow to yellow-brown, sometimes with a pink tinge similar to European oak. It has a specific gravity of 0.76 and medium resistance to crushing.
Red Oak - American
American Red Oak (Quercus) is found in the east of Canada and the United States .
It is mostly straight-grained and has a courser texture than American white oak. The colour is pink to biscuit but with a soft reddish tinge. It has a specific gravity of 0.77 and has high resistance to crushing.
American Cherry
American Cherry (Prunus serotina) is found in Canada and the United States .
It has a fine straight and close grain with a smooth texture that polishes very well. The colour is generally reddish-brown. With a specific gravity of 0.58 it has a moderate resistance to crushing and it is far less likely to warp than its European cousin.
American Walnut
American walnut (Juglars nigra) is found in Ontario in Canada and in the Eastern United States.
It is mostly straight grained with occasional wavy sections and is generally coarse in texture. The colour varies from rich dark brown to grey brown and purplish black. It has a specific gravity of 0.64 and is most used as a veneer.
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