By turning reclaimed solid wood into tables, Archibold Solid Woods brings mother nature into the home.

When a tree fell over in Mark Buchanan’s garden, he made a table out of it as a gift for his wife. He showed some images of the table to friend and fellow designer Suly Kuhn, and they decided to collaborate. One table led to the next, and Archibold Solid Woods was born – and named after Mark’s great-grandfather, who was a carpenter.

The side tables are made by hand using only reclaimed solid wood. The beauty of their design and craftsmanship is in their celebration of imperfections and asymmetrical shapes. Instead of sanding away uneven grain or forcing their medium into a preconceived geometric mould, they let the natural form of the wood dictate the outcome of the design.

Mark and Suly’s aim is to create from each piece of wood an object that is as lovely to look at as it is to use.

Archibold tables are for sale through their online shop. For more information, visit archiboldsolidwoods.com.

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Local furniture design studio and manufacturer The Streets Furniture Company was established by Neil Du Plessis nine years ago in Pietermaritzburg.

Motivated by the desire to produce beautifully crafted pieces, he started out by creating a dinner table out of reclaimed timber.

The designs, which make use of new, as well as industrial-inspired materials, centre around contemporary Scandi style and its minimalist qualities, with collections including trendy side tables, indoor and outdoor benches, chairs and barstools.

Operating as a niche furniture manufacturer, The Streets also creates custom furniture and offers specialist shop-fitting services in and around its location, including Durban, Howick and Hilton.

All of the pieces are locally produced and made from reclaimed wood and hardwoods from Northern America and parts of Europe.

For more information, visit thestreets.co.za.

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VISI is publishing a series of profiles on fresh creative talents during the month of June, in celebration of Youth Day 16 June. First up we have the duo behind Victor Design in Cape Town who are making magic with reclaimed wood.

It’s no secret that creative sparks fly at AfrikaBurn, the wildly fantastic Karoo art event. For one thing, Louis Botha (furniture designer, ex-first officer, seasoned world traveller, and psychology and marketing student in his youth) met up with his childhood friend, Guy Smit (a passionate reclaimed-wood worker with five uncompleted degrees to his name). With a raging fire as the backdrop, the two realised that their shared love of, and experience in, woodwork would make them perfect business partners and so Victor Design was born. A phoenix of sorts, it was brought back to Cape Town to be nurtured – in a studio in the City Bowl. Charmed by their Zulu and Ndebele-inspired wooden boards, wall panels and coffee tables, we asked the marketing man to tell us more.

Who is Victor Design?

It’s me, super-craftsman Guy and workshop Jack Russell, Zoey. Plus, anybody who has a great idea for a personalised piece of furniture is regarded as a fellow “Victor”!

What does Victor Design do?

We design individual, bespoke furniture and we help customers with ideas if they’re stuck. We then design, craft and deliver.

What inspires you?

Liberating the hidden potential in people and tangible objects.

What makes you special?

We enjoy challenges and therefore are solution-focused and not limited by any material, style, trend or methodology.  

021 426 4675, victordesign.co.za

Celebrate Youth Month with us and browse more of our Fresh Talent profiles here.

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