Handcrafted Wooden Furniture and Decor: A Love Story

ELDARI grew out of my passion for working with wood. I have always seen wood and grasses like bamboo as versatile materials that have become an indispensable part of my life. These materials represent durability, strength and oftentimes creativity. Growing up in Saint Lucia, I took note that the indigenous furniture, art, clothing, utensils and tools were often crafted from natural materials. These items last decades longer than some of their modern counterparts. Sustainability has because a buzzword but it is a part of the culture I embraced throughout my life. ELDARI then, is simply the expression of an old idea. If you can't find what you are looking for in the world, you should do something about it.

Thandi, my wife, the artist, has long been in search of great furniture that didn't just fade into obscurity but rewarded you with every interaction.

We both saw weaknesses in a lot of the furniture available commercially. They seem to lack soul, lack precision and lack durability. Furniture, shelving and even decorative pieces don't last. This is usually because it's made with inferior materials. The design process often does not take into account the stress that the piece will be under. There also isn't attention to detail when it comes to assembly.

ELDARI has allowed us to take my woodworking hobby to the next level. I went from creating pieces out of personal necessity to fulfilling requests from neighbors and friends for unique solutions they could not find elsewhere. My father taught me most of the skills I needed to get started in this industry. He was his own general contractor on one of my childhood homes and also volunteered with Habitat for Humanity. As an adult, I have worked for several years as a carpenter on construction and renovation projects.

Woodworking is peculiar and attractive to me because I'm able to use many of the values I have acquired from various other jobs. From being a computer technician to working in the medical field, these occupations reward precision, education, experience, a meticulous nature and a continuous pursuit of excellence.