Frequently Asked Questions

About Veneer, Solid Wood, and Luxury Furniture

Is your furniture made of real wood?

Yes—absolutely.
Our pieces are crafted using genuine hardwood veneers and solid wood components, carefully chosen for where they perform best. Veneer is not imitation wood; it is real wood, sliced from the same logs used for solid furniture.

Why use veneer instead of solid wood?

Because veneer is the preferred construction method in modern high-end luxury furniture.

Wide, solid wood panels naturally expand and contract with seasonal humidity. Over time, this movement can cause surfaces to warp, drawers to bind, and joints to shift.

Veneer—when applied over a stable engineered core—allows us to create:

  • Perfectly flat surfaces

  • Consistent drawer alignment

  • Continuous, uninterrupted grain patterns

  • Furniture that performs beautifully year after year

This is why veneer construction is standard in luxury hotels, yachts, galleries, and museums.

Is veneer less durable than solid wood?

No. In fact, it is often more durable.

Veneered panels resist warping, splitting, and cracking far better than wide solid boards. The result is furniture that maintains its integrity—and its beauty—over decades of use.

The most stressed and tactile elements of our furniture—drawer boxes, edges, bases, and structural components—are made from solid wood where strength and feel matter most.

Will veneer peel or chip over time?

Not when it is properly made.

Our veneers are:

  • Thicker than mass-market standards

  • Professionally pressed and balanced

  • Finished with the same multi-coat systems used on solid wood

Veneer failure is typically a sign of poor construction, not the material itself. High-quality veneer, correctly applied, is extremely stable and long-lasting.

Why does veneered furniture often look more refined?

Veneer allows for artistry and control that solid wood cannot achieve.

Using veneer, we can:

  • Book-match or slip-match grain

  • Create symmetry across wide surfaces

  • Ensure color consistency across an entire piece

This is why many fine antiques, museum pieces, and iconic 20th-century designs are veneered—the visual result is calmer, more intentional, and more elegant.

Are antique and heirloom pieces veneered too?

Yes—many of the finest historical pieces are.

Federal, Regency, and Art Deco furniture frequently relied on veneer for both beauty and stability. Veneer has long been associated with craftsmanship and sophistication, not shortcuts.

Does veneer mean the furniture is mass-produced?

Not at all.

Veneered furniture can be—and often is—more labor-intensive than solid wood construction. Veneer selection, matching, layout, and finishing require a high level of skill and judgment.

The difference lies not in whether veneer is used, but how it is used.

Why do some brands advertise “all-solid wood” as superior?

Because it is easy to explain—but not because it performs better.

“All-solid” sounds reassuring, but it often leads to furniture that changes with the seasons in ways clients don’t expect. Modern luxury furniture prioritizes precision, longevity, and consistency, which is why engineered cores with real wood veneers are the professional standard.

What’s the Good Bones approach?

We build furniture using:

  • Solid wood where it’s touched and stressed

  • Engineered cores where stability matters

  • Real hardwood veneers for beauty, balance, and longevity

This approach allows us to create pieces that feel timeless, function effortlessly, and age gracefully—true heirlooms for modern living.

For a deeper look at why modern luxury furniture uses veneer—and how this approach supports sustainability—read our blog.