Lesters of Whitford

· nz native furniture master craftsman ·

The Craftsman

The Furniture

The Kitchens

The Wood

“Every piece of New Zealand wood has its own personality.
My passion is to understand that personality and craft it into a unique expression”

Recent Work →

Did You Know?

Our Colonial furniture evolved from the English Pattern Books into a look of its own that is distinctly NZ and uses our native timbers to look their best. Functional and decorative, the wood draws you in to look and is silky smooth to touch.
American and English Oak has the masculine quality of strength and coarseness. This reflects a style that has continued through the ages with a country furniture look: cruder, but functional and strong. Designed to be used.
French Oak along with Mahogany and Walnut is a lot finer in grain and more feminine so pieces made from these woods tend to be more formal and decorative.
Kauri has a rich, brown colouring but often ranges from golden yellow to deep red. Kauri is a favourite for building and was exported around the world throughout the 19C. It is a perfect wood for the cabinetmaker, easy to work with, silky and has a fine grain.
Rimu is a slow-growing tree that matures after 500-1000 years. It is a handsome timber of deep red colour with dark or light and sometimes even yellow streaks. Rimu is perfect for general building, flooring and bridge beams because of its durability. It is also unique in the fact that one piece of wood may contain streaks of over 12 different colours, from purples to yellows and even black.
Totara is one of Mark’s favourite woods. Perfect for building and joinery, Totara is light and strong; with a tight, even grain. Mature trees produce a deep red or even purple colour with a silky grain, making it a beautiful choice for furniture. The Totara, in Mark’s opinion, reflects the beauty and unique nature of New Zealand.
Matai is one of New Zealand’s more rare native woods, is slow-growing and very hard. It is more brittle than other woods, yet produces a very rich red-brown finish. Matai is a favourite for flooring due to its durability.