Wood warmth returns

Wood is moving back into office and contract furniture, as designers and makers push warmer finishes and visible grain over colder, uniform surfaces. (markrichey.com) WallGoldfinger, a custom corporate furniture brand now operating as a division of Mark Richey Woodworking, says it has been making corporate furniture for more than 50 years and is highlighting lines built around wood forms and mixed materials. Its current range includes boardroom tables, credenzas, desks and café tables for businesses, institutions and government clients. (markrichey.com 1) (markrichey.com 2) The company’s Doko line is described by WallGoldfinger as bringing “warmth to the workplace” through curved wood, while its broader product catalog lists veneer edges, solid wood edges and other wood-forward finish options alongside stone, glass and metal. (markrichey.com 1) (markrichey.com 2) The shift lands as commercial interiors are being recast around wellness, residential cues and “timeless craftsmanship.” The American Society of Interior Designers’ 2025 Trends Outlook, released on January 29, 2025, said designers were responding to demand for spaces that support well-being and pair sustainability with longer-lasting materials. (floorcoveringweekly.com) In practice, that has helped move wood from a legacy boardroom material into lounges, café spaces, reception areas and hybrid office settings that borrow more from hospitality and home interiors. WallGoldfinger’s current custom categories span all of those spaces, from reception desks and executive offices to dining tables and benches. (markrichey.com 1) (markrichey.com 2) The sourcing language around that look has changed too. The Forest Stewardship Council says chain-of-custody certification tracks forest-based material from sourcing through distribution, and that a finished product can carry the FSC label only if those steps are documented and controlled. (fsc.org) That makes “traceable timber” more than a style note for specifiers and showroom buyers. FSC says certified organizations must identify and track certified material during manufacturing and distribution, keep records of purchases and sales, and meet core labor requirements. (fsc.org) WallGoldfinger is also tying its furniture pitch to that procurement language. The company says it operates as a green manufacturer, and a 2023 company news post said parent company Mark Richey Woodworking received an FSC Leadership Award for sustainable practices across corporate, institutional and residential projects. (markrichey.com) (wallgoldfinger.com) The result is a warmer office palette with more visible wood, but also more paperwork behind it. In contract furniture, the finish on the table now increasingly comes with a sourcing story attached. (fsc.org) (markrichey.com)