Frequently Asked Questions
True handmade furniture carries the unmistakable imprint of the maker. When you run your hand along the surface, you don’t just feel the timber, you feel the craftsmanship, the patience, the intention. There are no marks left by machines with rotating cutters, instead carefully beveled edges and hand planed surfaces – all made possible with finely tuned blades.
In a world of mass production, true craftsmanship stands apart. You’ll see it. You’ll feel it. You’ll know the difference.
Every piece of bespoke furniture I create is built to stand the test of time. That’s why I offer a lifetime guarantee. What this means for you is peace of mind when ordering from Lloyd Brooke Furniture. But what this really means is you can trust I stand behind my workmanship ensuring unrivalled quality.
While this doesn’t cover normal wear and tear, the natural upkeep of an oil finish, or accidental damage, I stand by my work. If a rare issue arises and distance is a challenge, I may work with a trusted local craftsman to ensure your piece is restored with the same level of care it was made with.
Behind every piece of handmade furniture I create is a story. Many of the designs featured on this site carry the name of the customer who first brought the idea to life. Others trace their roots back to my own family tree, a nod to the generations of makers and dreamers who shaped my craft.
Crafting handmade furniture isn’t about speed, it’s about creating something truly exceptional. I don’t work to strict deadlines because true craftsmanship can’t be rushed. Depending on my build schedule, each piece takes around 6 – 10 weeks to complete, but that time is spent ensuring every detail is right.
As a one man workshop, I focus on one project at a time, dedicating myself fully to your piece. Once I begin, progress moves swiftly, and you’ll receive regular updates along the way.
At Lloyd Brooke Furniture, there’s no retail store filled with off the shelf designs because every piece I create is entirely bespoke. Each handmade project is crafted to suit the individual needs of my customers, designed with care and built to last.
However, I do welcome you to visit my workshop in Kerikeri, Northland, where you can see a piece in progress, explore timber samples, and discuss the finer details of your commission. It’s a chance to experience the craftsmanship firsthand and ensure your vision comes to life exactly as you imagine.
Every piece of handcrafted furniture I create is finished with my custom oil/varnish blend, the result of years of careful refinement. Unlike mass produced furniture, which is often coated in a thick, plastic like film that cracks and peels over time, my finish is designed to age gracefully.
This blend penetrates the wood, enhancing its natural beauty while providing a moderately durable but easily maintainable surface.
Instead of requiring a full refinish down the line, a simple refresh with oil restores its original warmth and depth.
Want to keep your furniture looking its best?
Send me an email, and I’ll send you a free PDF guide on how to care for and restore an oil finish.
The timber you choose for your bespoke furniture is integral to its character, warmth, and longevity. That’s why I work with locally sourced Blackwood and Walnut—two exceptional, fine furniture timbers that not only stand the test of time but also support sustainable forestry right here in New Zealand.
Blackwood – Acacia melanoxylon
The Blackwood I use comes from a farm in Kaitaia. The owner has won environmental awards for his farm and personally delivers his timber to me. It is excellent Blackwood with a strong connection to the Northland region. This timber has deep amber tones and striking natural variation, ranging from straw gold to dark coffee. Native to Australia, Blackwood is an outstanding choice for handcrafted furniture.
Walnut – Juglans nigra
Walnut is a deep, rich timber with a naturally refined look. I work with locally grown Black Walnut from the Waikato, a rare and beautiful wood that carries the same elegance as its American counterpart but with a slightly lighter tone. Its smooth grain and consistent colour make it perfect for those seeking a sophisticated, timeless aesthetic.
Although I predominantly work with these two timbers, if you have a specific timber in mind, I’m always happy to explore other options to ensure your furniture reflects your vision.
Life happens! Heat rings, small scratches, and everyday wear are all part of a well loved piece. Fortunately, maintaining and restoring your handmade furniture is simple.
With just a light sand and a teaspoon of oil, most marks can be easily repaired, bringing back the natural beauty of your piece. Every custom furniture order comes with a detailed care guide, giving you easy instructions on how to rejuvenate the surface over time.
For those who want a complete maintenance solution, I also offer a furniture care kit for $25 plus postage, which includes everything you need to keep your piece looking its best for generations.
Want to keep your furniture looking its best?
Send me an email, and I’ll send you a free PDF guide on how to care for and restore an oil finish.
I know that getting your new piece of bespoke furniture to you safely is just as important as the craftsmanship. That’s why I work with trusted, owner-operated delivery companies who treat every item like their own. I offer delivery across New Zealand, from the North to the South Island, with prices varying depending on location and access.
I also offer the option for you to pick up your handmade furniture directly from my workshop if that’s more convenient for you.
A 30% deposit is taken once the bespoke furniture design has been finalised. This will secure your spot in the work schedule. When it comes time for work to begin, you will be notified and kept up to date with pictures so you can see the work unfold.
Furniture made in factories serves a purpose but more often than not, when clients get in touch they are after elements that factories cannot provide. Aside from the fact that I can craft your piece with care and design it to perfectly fit your space, there are other details that mass production just can’t match.
For example, have a look at my cabinets. Each one (unless specifically requested) features hand fitted USA Brusso brass hinges and drawers with hand cut dovetails, carefully crafted and fitted into the carcase by hand. These are the types of details that make my furniture unique, alongside the hand rubbed finish that adds a personal touch to every piece. While these features might not be practical for large scale production, they’re what make my handmade furniture stand out and excite both myself and my clients.
This is what I’m here for. To help you create a piece that perfectly fits your space and style. In the beginning, I’ll take the time to understand any special requirements you have, where your inspirations lie, and what existing furniture and décor need to be incorporated into the overall vision.
If you have a clear vision for your space, that’s great! But I know that many clients prefer to trust me to make the design decisions, turning what might start as just a feeling into something tangible and beautiful. My goal is to bring your unique vision to life, whether you have it all mapped out or want me to guide you along the way.
Every piece of furniture from Lloyd Brooke Furniture is built by me, right here in my home workshop in Kerikeri, Northland. There’s a reason for this. It’s incredibly important to me that you receive a piece that meets the highest standard, with no compromises.
By working alone, I’m able to focus on every detail, carefully checking each surface and ensuring everything is perfect before it’s delivered to your door. This hands on approach allows me to guarantee that every handmade piece is crafted with the care and attention it deserves—something I wouldn’t be able to achieve in a larger operation.
When you choose a Lloyd Brooke Furniture piece, you’re investing in the ultimate in sustainability. Unlike factory made furniture that uses massive amounts of energy and creates significant waste, I operate from my home workshop, keeping electricity and land use costs low. My waste is minimal (less than half a garbage bin) and I reintegrate all of the sawdust into the property as compost.
I source my timber locally, so it doesn’t travel long distances, and it comes from sustainably managed, award-winning farms. The finish I use is non toxic, and I primarily work with animal glues for my joinery, which (like my finishes) is repairable, ensuring your piece lasts for generations.
With my lifetime guarantee, you can rest easy knowing that your furniture will never need replacing. The integrity I put into my joinery means it’s built to be passed down through multiple generations.
My design philosophy is simple: if a piece is beautiful and meaningful enough, it’s too hard to throw away. I believe there’s no more sustainable solution than this.
When it comes to sizing your table, it’s important to think about the volume it will occupy in your space, not just its measurements. The best way to visualize this is by creating a cardboard template. Elevate the template to 730mm, the height of the table, so you can truly get a sense of its presence and how it will interact with the room.
While masking tape or using an existing table as a guide can help, the template gives you the clearest picture of how the table will fit and feel in the space. This simple step ensures that your table will be the perfect fit, both in size and in how it complements the room.
I love collaborating with other industry professionals who share the same passion for creating meaningful spaces. What this means for you is the opportunity to bridge the gap between your design practice and the dining room floor.
But more importantly, it means you can now offer your clients a complete and unique package, ensuring they experience ultimate satisfaction with your service and receive a service that’s not just functional, but truly special.
While veneered furniture has its place—and I do use it when the design calls for it, like when veneer is needed for stability or for certain designs that can’t be built in solid timber—my priority is always solid timber. Not only is solid timber durable and repairable, but it also allows me to form a deeper, more intimate connection with the material itself.
What this means for you is that you’re getting a piece that is not only built to last but also crafted with precision. You’ll see the craftsmanship in the joinery and how the solid pieces come together seamlessly. With traditional joinery techniques at the heart of each design, you can trust that your furniture will stand the test of time, in both strength and beauty.
In a furniture factory (even one that works with solid timber) timber is bought by the pack, often from different trees and locations. This means the boards can lack any natural relation to each other which often results in pieces lacking unity and harmony.
The difference in my approach is that I source timber by the tree. This allows me to colour match in a way most factories can’t, ensuring the piece is truly resolved. Colour matching is crucial because it creates wholeness in the design. By using different tones from the same tree, I can highlight specific features, like custom handles or door panels, and bring intentional beauty to every aspect.
What this means for you is that you’re getting a piece with purpose in its aesthetics. It’s unified, it flows, and because of this, it has a stronger presence in your space.
But what this really means for you is that when you look at your bespoke piece, you’ll know exactly where it’s from. You’ll know it was made by one maker, likely from the same tree right here in Northland. You’ll feel a direct connection to its origin, making your piece even more special.