Or, for the less daring, pieces such as the Harper Sofa made from reclaimed teakwood in an aged finish strike a perfect balance between earthy and contemporary. The demand for eco-friendly furniture design across projects and industries of all types is clear with Uniqwa pieces being seen around the globe. From ‘glamping’ and resort projects in Fiji and Mauritius and an Italian boutique hotel in Milan, to clients making purchases from Scandinavia, America, Asia and New Zealand. ‘People love to buy into a concept or story that they may not have been able Harper to imagine on their own’ Sofa When it comes to building and marketing homes, the importance of including furniture settings can’t be overstated. These pieces promise to bring instant warmth to a space. They make a brand new house with open space and big white walls feel like home for anyone who walks through the door. ‘People love to buy into a concept or story that they may not have been able to imagine on their own,’ Charl concurs. He says displaying a home with thoughtful decoration helps make it inviting and alluring for potential clients. This rings true even for custom-built homes – one of the best things you can do to secure future business is to invest in professional photography to promote your completed and furnished projects. ‘We are living in a visually stimulating environment and people have become accustomed to scrolling through thousands of beautiful images all over the internet and social media,’ Charl says. So it’s important to be able to not only meet the expectations a client may have, but to impress behind the business them with your portfolio too and a good build, a good setting, and good photos can do just that. Director and founder of Uniqwa Furniture Charl van @uniqwacollections Heerden grew up in South Africa where he says his www.uniqwafurniture.com.au career truly began in a woodwork classroom. info@uniqwafurniture.com.au ‘Our woodwork teacher expected the best of us 07 5596 0884 and guided us very well in the art of working with timber,’ he says. ‘It became an ingrained part of who I was and the passion and work ethic I learnt THESE PIECES in those early years were carried through into my PROMISE TO career.’ He recalls with fondness his final exhibition BRING INSTANT piece, a solid American White Oak Welsh dresser. WARMTH TO But there was a slight deviation when he began a A SPACE marketing degree at Stellenbosch University, until he eventually relocated to Australia, completed a diploma in furniture design and technology, and Bindu began working in the industry. Baskets ‘The opportunity to begin Uniqwa came from the closure of the company that I had been working for, leaving the franchise stores stranded without the supply chain they had bought into,’ he explains. ‘Uniqwa was born with their support to continue the supply of the product the franchises were in desperate need of.’ MAY 2018 HOUSING 73 INTERIORS