About Us

What we do:

We build custom furniture from recycled wood and steel with soy-based stains & finishes available. 100% eco-friendly. MADE IN HAWAII. Our materials come from deconstructed homes on Oahu, which we proudly refurbish for a second life.

About the Founder:

Thorben Wuttke (pronounced “Tor-ben”), was educated in a German Cabinetmaker school for three years, earning his Journeyman’s license at age 19. Working for one year after that as a Journeyman, he then chose to work with his father in the insurance business. Three years later, he decided that the industry didn’t fulfill him.

In 2003 he came for a visit to Hawaii and fell in love with the new culture and, of course, the weather.

Upon returning to Germany,  he immediately knew he wanted to return to Hawaii and start a new life in a new country. After living on the Big Island for 4 years he moved to Oahu in 2008. He found work at Re-use Hawaii which got him started on the idea of building furniture from reclaimed wood. In April 2009 he started Wuttke Werks-forward thinking furniture, which later became known simply as “Forward Thinking Furniture” because of its easy pronunciation.

His love and appreciation for the old materials makes him very passionate about his work, which resonates in every piece of furniture.