Fifty Years in the Making

The story of Mahogany Masterpieces — from a garage in Colombo to a craft house recognised in 16 countries.

It Began in a Garage. In 1974.

In 1974, Sumith Gooneratne set up a workshop in the garage of his sister's home in Colombo with his four younger brothers, a name (Craft Supplies), and a conviction that things made from timber, made properly, were worth making at all.

The first significant commission was for barrel-shaped wooden buttons for Barefoot — the iconic Sri Lankan brand. For those who grew up with Barefoot, this connection runs deep.

Then, in the early 1980s, came the encounter that changed everything. A Scottish furniture expert approached Sumith with a commission: period furniture reproductions for the European market. The training that followed connected a Sri Lankan workshop directly to the great tradition of English cabinetmaking — the lineage of Chippendale, Hepplewhite, and Sheraton.

Building the Standard

By 1992, the workshop had outgrown its origins entirely. The current facility — over 50,000 square feet at 155 Neelammahara Temple Road, Boralasgamuwa — was established. A self-sufficient manufacturing operation.

In 2004, Kishan Gooneratne — who had grown up with the workshop as the backdrop of his childhood — assumed leadership. Craft Supplies became Mahogany Masterpieces. The craft that had always been exceptional would now be presented as such.

Fifty Years of Firsts

1974 - Founded: Craft Supplies established in Colombo.

Early 1980s - The Training: Connection to the great English cabinetmaking tradition.

1992 - Boralasgamuwa: The current 50,000+ sq ft facility is established.

2004 - Mahogany Masterpieces: Kishan Gooneratne takes leadership and rebrands the company.

2010 - The Furniture Spa: Sri Lanka's pioneering dedicated furniture restoration service launches.

2012 - 100% Solid Wood: Commitment to solid wood construction across every component.

2016 - Plant A Plant: Commitment to reforestation and industry sustainability.

2022 - Total Interior Solutions: Integration of full turnkey interior solutions.

The Design Vision

MM's design language is guided by Ayesha Gooneratne — one of Sri Lanka's foremost interior designers, and Head of Design at Mahogany Masterpieces.

A graduate of the Academy of Design, Colombo, she furthered her studies at Harvard University and completed a prestigious internship at the Creative Office Pavilion, the largest Herman Miller furniture dealership in the United States, at the Boston Design Centre — one of the most prestigious design environments in America.

With over 15 years of experience designing exceptional living spaces, Ayesha brings a design philosophy that holds classical craft tradition and contemporary vision in balance.

The Hands That Build The Heritage

Some of our craftsmen have been with MM for over 40 years. Their hands hold the institutional memory of the craft.

Giving Back to the Source

In 2016, on World Environment Day, MM launched Plant A Plant — a commitment to the long-term sustainability of the natural resource that makes everything we do possible.

Now, Plant A Plant is entering its next chapter: the establishment of MM's own mahogany plantation — growing timber to our exact maturity and quality specifications, closing the full chain from sapling to masterpiece. We take from the earth. We have a responsibility to give back more than we take.