Our Story
From a family's cultural journey to sustainable mahogany craftsmanship
The Beginning
The history of Black River Home began when Richard Machen, a homebuilder in southern Louisiana, and his wife Louise sought to give their children a cultural experience that would help shape their character. Through a friendship with a Honduran family in New Orleans, they were invited to visit the remote community of Catacamas, Honduras.
The Machen family made the journey—and fell in love with the country, its rich culture, and its incredibly warm, loving people. But they also encountered overwhelming need and deep poverty in what was then one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
The Machen family's first cultural journey to Honduras
Building schools, medical clinics, and lasting relationships
Building Relationships
Over the next decade, the family returned again and again, often bringing others with them. They built lasting relationships and became involved in development projects including orphanages, schools, medical clinics, and model farms.
Each visit deepened their connection to Honduras and its people, laying the foundation for what would become a lifelong commitment to the community and country they had come to love.
Creating Opportunity
Richard and Louise set their sights on creating jobs. Drawing on their background in homebuilding, they established a small door shop to produce mahogany doors and cabinets, using Honduras' plentiful natural mahogany to generate local employment.
They chose the beautiful colonial city of Trujillo on Honduras' north coast—a bay first visited by Christopher Columbus in 1504 and once the Spanish capital of Central America. What began as a door shop for their own homes quickly attracted interest from others, and the company became known as Mahogany Bay.
The historic colonial city of Trujillo, Honduras
The beginning of Mahogany Bay
The devastating impact of illegal harvesting on Honduras' forests
Facing Reality
Unfortunately, the supply of mahogany did not keep pace with demand. The talented Honduran workforce remained, but decades of illegal harvesting had depleted the wood supply. Sourcing legal mahogany became increasingly difficult.
Unwilling to purchase illegal lumber, the family made the difficult decision to close the business. But rather than walk away, they turned their attention to the root of the problem: the shortage of sustainable wood.
"We could have taken the easy path, but our values wouldn't let us contribute to the problem. Instead, we chose to be part of the solution."
Planting for the Future
The family acquired a sizable piece of land along the Black River in Trujillo, bordering a national forest. Their goal: responsibly cultivate mahogany while protecting the surrounding land from illegal logging.
Since 1996, they have been cultivating Swietenia macrophylla (genuine Honduran mahogany), planting an average of 3,000 seedlings per year. A devoted team has stewarded the land, protecting both Black River Home's plantation and the adjacent national park.
The Black River plantation, sustainably cultivated since 1996
3,000 seedlings planted each year
Twenty-five years later: mature mahogany ready for selective harvest
Coming Full Circle
Twenty-five years later, the mahogany is ready to be selectively and sustainably harvested. Rather than simply selling raw lumber, the family has returned to their original dream—crafting doors and home furnishings.
This time, however, the wood comes from their own land, responsibly grown and harvested by their own hands. Every piece is crafted by talented artisans, rooted in heritage and shaped by hope.
Master Craftsmanship
Skilled artisans creating heirloom-quality pieces
Timeless Beauty
Doors and furnishings that tell a story of sustainability
Our Commitment
Every piece we create reflects the values that have guided our journey for over four decades.
Sustainable
Every piece comes from our own responsibly cultivated mahogany plantation, ensuring the future of Honduras' forests while creating beautiful furniture that lasts generations.
Authentic
Genuine Honduran mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) crafted by skilled local artisans using time-honored techniques passed down through generations.
Purpose-Driven
Creating meaningful employment while protecting Honduras' natural heritage. Every purchase supports sustainable livelihoods and environmental stewardship.