<p>One caution with teak furniture. Not all that is sold as teak really is. There are many tropical hardwoods that look like teak, but will not hold up like teak. Make sure you buy from a reputable dealer and it you really want quality, make sure it’s FSC certified. That will ensure it has been harvested responsibly. </p>
<p>In June I toured a factory in Vietnam that makes furniture for Restoration Hardware and they utilize every scrap of wood. (best part of tour was watching the employees struggle with getting the prices in the box to line up with the styrofoam shell - I could feel for them and they do this every day!)</p>