Nov 21, 2022 Urban design
Tell us about the new dBodhi range — what are its origins and how did it become part of the Hunter Home family of products?
dBodhi is an eco-friendly furniture company from Indonesia at the intersection of beautiful design and sustainable materials. We love those values here at Hunter Home and are excited to introduce this range to you. dBodhi was founded by a Dutchman Raymond Davids in 2007. He was based in Indonesia and started producing pieces from century old houses in remote Javanese villages. The use of the reclaimed wood and organic materials manufactured using traditional ancient Javanese traditions is what produces the unique timeless pieces. We have picked collections here that are refined and simple and will sit nicely into all interiors whether you have a modern, traditional or retro look — the dining and occasional pieces are so versatile.
The collection has a beautiful handmade look, who are the makers and craftspeople dBodhi worked with in Indonesia to create it?
dBodhi’s Founder, Raymond Davids, took his bike to Yogyakarta and founded dBodhi in 2007. He was determined to show the world that it is possible to craft beautiful furniture from durable recycled materials. dBodhi currently works with 350 people in the team, including over 200 talented craftsmen.
As the main material is reclaimed wood, which needs more human touch and specific handmade processes, dBodhi works with semi-manual production machinery. This also means less pollution and harm to our environment.
The handmade look comes from the repurposing of the reclaimed wood. The wood is received in all shapes and sizes often with nails and paint still in place which local artisans then manually sand and rework, using old traditional ways of manufacturing which gives the furniture character that is unique providing textures that cannot be produced or imitated by new wood. dBodhi says If you do it right it will last forever.
dBhodi WAVE Coffee Table, SALVAGE Cabinet
A couple of things we immediately responded to in the collection were the wood and the weaving. What can you tell us about the materials used in the dBodhi range?
Let’s start with the coconut tree,described as the “tree of life”. Local Javanese crafters use the strong middle of the palm leaves after they are dried and spin them together with yarn on a loom. Our crafters use the strong middle of the leaves of the coconut palm, and then dry, clean and handpick the good ones. The thin twigs are spun together with yarn on a traditional loom that is manually operated by our craftsmen. The weaving technique requires an absolute level of accuracy and tenacity.
Reclaimed teak wood is sourced from century-old houses from remote villages in East Java, before being repurposed and crafted into new pieces of furniture. The rustic wood comes from mature trees over sixty years old. Repurposing the wood is an elaborate process. Craftsmen receive the wooden slats in all sizes and conditions, often with original nails and paint still in place. After hand sorting the wood, they manually sand and rework each piece. This wood is full of character, with unique and elegant textures that can never be reproduced or imitated by newly cut wood.
Some of the furniture is also combined with other organic materials such as handwoven abaca fiber ( from the banana tree), which is considered the strongest of natural fibers and very eco-friendly. After blossoming, the abaca is cut down and the fiber-bearing stalk is cut into strips of fiber, which are scraped to remove pulp. After washing and drying them, the craftsmen use different traditional techniques to braid or hand weave the fibers into beautiful sustainable items of very high quality.
What are the design qualities of Indonesian furniture?
Handcrafted, harmonising with nature, bringing the outside in, and an impressive use of material — all made from reclaimed wood using natural organic elements where weaving is combined with strong, solid pieces. It’s a simple refined aesthetic, with a story behind it, creating valuable, impressive artisanal pieces that are made to last, whilst being beautiful and timeless.
dBhodi KARMA High Sideboard, KNUT Coffee Tables
If you’re not about to refurnish your entire home in the range, how would Hunter Home suggest people incorporate aspects of the collection into their current interiors?
You don’t need to refurnish the entire of your existing furniture to get a change of “look and feel”. The dBodhi collection offers many beautiful furniture pieces to enhance and accentuate your interior. The reclaimed teak wood and also organic materials such as abaca, rattan and coco can add natural ambiance to your home.
Start with some of the smaller cabinets or coffee tables, such statement pieces. dBodhi will work with all design aesthetics, whatever your style or personality there’s a piece that will work in your home. We are so excited to see this instore complementing our lounge range.
FOR A LIMITED TIME: Buy anything from Hunter Home and be in to win a $1,500 Hunter Home voucher to spend on Dbodhi!
