The journal
Notes on wood, craft & living well
Latest — 14 July 2026
The Best Wood for Furniture in Ghana: Odum, Teak or Mahogany?
After thirty years at the bench, here's our honest comparison of Ghana's furniture timbers — durability, termites, humidity, cost — and what we'd build with each.
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Is Odum Wood Good for Furniture? An Honest Answer
We literally named our workshop after this timber. Here's why odum (iroko) earns it — termite resistance, stability, and how to spot the re…
From God First Furniture Works to Odum: 30 Years at the Bench
In 1996 a carpenter opened a roadside shed on Spintex Road. Thirty years, one rebrand and forty apprentices later, this is the story of our…
How Much Does It Cost to Furnish a House in Ghana?
Real numbers in cedis for furnishing a home in Ghana with handmade solid wood — room by room, from a workshop that publishes its prices.
How to Care for Rattan and Cane Furniture
Cane furniture can outlive its owner with five minutes of care a month. Our weavers' rules for cleaning, humidity, sun and sagging seats.
How to Care for Teak Furniture (Indoors and Out)
Teak is the lowest-maintenance hardwood we build with — if you make one decision early. Silver or gold: here's how to keep teak either way.
How to Maintain Wooden Furniture in Ghana's Climate
Rainy-season swelling, harmattan cracks and termites are the three killers of wooden furniture in Ghana. Thirty years of workshop rules for…
How Long Does Custom Furniture Take in Ghana?
"Two weeks" is the most expensive lie in Ghanaian carpentry. Here's the real timeline of a custom piece — and why the fast quote costs you …