Our StoryMade with love,
Made with love,
built to last.
Handcrafted wooden kids furniture, designed and made in our Cape Town workshop.
Where it began
A nursery search that started a business
When I was pregnant with my first child, Declan, I started looking for nursery furniture. I had a clear picture of what I wanted: solid, well-made pieces that would last more than a season or two. But almost everything I found was either imported, out of budget, or simply not available in South Africa.
So instead of settling, I started designing. With my husband's help in the workshop, we turned those early sketches into real pieces. Word got out. Friends started asking where they could get them. That was the beginning of Declan & Leah.
The name comes from my two kids. They have been the reason behind every product we have made, every collection we have added, and every decision we have taken as a business. I wanted furniture that was genuinely built for children: not just scaled-down versions of adult pieces, but things sized right, finished safely, and sturdy enough to survive real childhood use.
I studied teaching, and eventually found myself working in corporate sales and marketing. It was fine work, but it was never where I wanted to stay. Starting this business meant I could do something I cared about, be closer to my kids, and build something real.
Nell-Mari
Founder, Declan & Leah
Every piece we make is built to last well beyond childhood.
Our workshop
How we build
Everything is made to order in our Stikland workshop in Cape Town. We use carefully selected solid timber and finish each piece in premium, child-safe PU coatings. Not veneer. Not pressed board. The kind of furniture that feels solid when you pick it up.
Solid timber, properly finished
We build with solid wood and finish every surface with child-safe PU coatings. The result handles sticky fingers, rough play, and years of daily use without falling apart or looking it.
Made to order
We don't hold large stock. Each piece is made when you order it. This keeps quality high and means your furniture leaves the workshop in perfect condition, not sitting in a warehouse.
Designed for real kids
Our products are sized and constructed with children in mind. Rounded edges, solid joints, proportions that work for the way kids actually use furniture every day.
Delivered across South Africa
We deliver to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Pretoria, Durban, and everywhere in between. Lead times vary by product. See our production page for current timelines before you order.
Why Declan & Leah
We're a small family business, and that's intentional. It means we keep standards high and communication direct.
Made in South Africa
Every product is made locally, in our Cape Town workshop. You're supporting a South African family business, and getting furniture built for South African homes.
Built to last
Good kids furniture should outlast the stage it was bought for. We build with that in mind: solid construction, quality finishes, pieces that can be passed down or repurposed.
Here to help
Need help planning a nursery or kids room? We're happy to advise. Get in touch at hi@declanandleah.co.za and we'll help you figure out what works for your space.
Browse our collections
Beds, bunk beds, house beds, desks, storage and more. All made in South Africa, delivered nationwide.