Thelen Woodworks was created in 2015 by Matthew Johnson, a US native who relocated to La Paz, BCS with his family. Having always had a love for the craft of woodworking, Matthew’s first endeavor was a renovation for new cafe (more information below) using built-in design elements and furniture made of Mexican Parota. The ambiance of the deep, figured wood is perfect for adding warmth to spaces. Especially when working with concrete building products, this added layer of comfort goes a long way and goes perfectly with the green natural features of the desert.

Thelen Woodworks carpentry studio gained traction locally with projects in La Paz, then became involved with Strata Designs in 2017 on several high-end residences in La Ventana. Matthew’s experience brings a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail to his projects. Every piece is built from scratch, using hand-selected lumber stock imported from Mainland Mexico. Hard woods like Mexican parota, teak and tornillo among others, are both dimensionally stable and very dense. They resist termite damage which can cause problems with pine and other softer woods. As an added layer of protection, marine finish is then mixed with teak oil, to create a protective sealant that can withstand the harsh sun of the Baja summer.

Our partnership with Thelen Woodworks allows us to produce some of the finest woodworking in the La Paz / La Ventana area of Baja California Sur, Mexico.