-
The 10-seater Manu dining table is made of American walnut. -
The Noah table is also made of American walnut, and it is 3,3 m long and 1,25 m wide. -
Andrew Dominic
WORDS Malibongwe Tyilo
Furniture designer Andrew Dominic merges traditional craftsmanship with contemporary flair. After training with UK furniture-design school David Savage, Andrew Dominic moved from his native England to Cape Town in 2009. He focuses on private commissions and has a client list that includes leading South African interior design companies and entrepreneurs, and he has a small signature range.
What made you decide to leave the UK, move to Cape Town and start your business here?
My wife and business partner brought me here. Africa itself wasn’t new to me, as my father and grandfather spent years living in East Africa. I like to think that I’m subconsciously exploring my “African heritage” by creating a business here, and in the context of Cape Town as an emerging design capital city, it has proved fertile soil in which to offer quality craftsmanship.
Why did you decide to launch a signature range in addition to your private work?
Certain pieces I’ve made over the years have evolved into a signature range through repeat commissions and refining of the design. This year we felt these pieces were ready to be curated into a limited-quantity range.
When you choose which wood to work with, is sustainability a factor?
Yes. We don’t work with exotic hardwoods. Most of the timber we use comes from the US or Europe, from sustainably managed forests. We also gift a tree for each order of furniture that leaves our workshop through the organisation Greenpop.
If you weren’t doing what you do, what else would you be doing?
Living in Italy, restoring a classic yacht to sail around the world with my family.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to someone shopping for furniture?
Look for longevity – in materials, design and workmanship.
