PHOTOS: Sean Calitz | PRODUCTION: Etienne Hanekom | WORDS: Mirelle Leyden
Cape Town-based Karella Carving is making a name for itself here and abroad with its beautifully handcrafted wooden pieces. Even Fendi Casa is a fan!
Drawn by Cape Town’s jaw-dropping beauty Slava, from Russia, and Monika, from Switzerland, saw South Africa as the ideal country in which to improve their English skills. Little did they know that six years later they’d be the founders and owners of Karella Carving, a high-end furniture-manufacturing company that specialises in transforming African mahogany and other wood into objects of desire. Yin and Yang balance
Slava is the creative force behind the signature contemporary African designs. He originally started specialising in woodcraft without ever imagining it would become the successful business venture it is. Monika is his level-headed partner: ‘I take care of the business side of things and give Slava objective opinions about what works and what doesn’t,’ she says.
Slava is determined that each of his pieces should have a unique character, and he prides himself on the fact that every item is designed and manufactured in-house. Together with his team of dedicated carvers, all of whom are trained by him personally, Slava has made a name for himself that extends beyond South African borders – Fendi Casa, the homeware offshoot of the famous Italian fashion label, has become one of Karella Carving’s biggest clients.
The company’s also been involved in exciting local projects supplying bespoke furniture, accessories and fittings, such as handcarved doorframes, to hotels such as the Arabella Western Cape Hotel and Spa in Hermanus, Pezula in Knysna and the Graham Beck wine estate.
The furniture’s fluid forms and sleek lines appeal to lovers of both traditional and contemporary design.
Karella Carving recently launched a new range, Pearl Collection, at this year’s Maison et Objet interiors trade show in Paris. Needless to say, we’re keeping a keen eye out for their future ventures.
Karella Carving showroom, In Fin Art Building, Buitengracht Street, Cape Town, 021 423 2090, www.karellacarving.com, info@karellacarving.com
