DESIGN TALK
WUNDERS
Furniture designers, makers and upholsterers
Nicole Barclay Botha, director
For how long has Wunders been manufacturing furniture? Since 1983 – 35 years and counting!
How many ranges do you currently have? Our website lists more than 350 designs.
What do you enjoy about the challenge of creating bespoke pieces? It’s gratifying to achieve a client’s vision by playing with design and perfecting proportions.
What is the advantage to manufacturing locally? The biggest benefit is creating employment in our beautiful country. Wunders is just another reason I am proud to call myself South African.
What is one of your most popular pieces? That’s a tough one! Wunders makes great furniture and we have a lot of popular pieces. I’m currently in love with our Duke sofa and its clean lines.
Are there any colours, fabrics or patterns that are sought-after at the moment? I’m enjoying everything herringbone. I’m not much of a colour girl, but the burnt oranges, mustards and, of course, black can stay.
What’s the best piece of design advice you’ve ever been given? Keep it simple and be true to your style.
What’s next for Wunders? Expanding into the Johannesburg market has been a great move for us; we’re going into our seventh year, with steady growth. We’re currently redesigning our website, to be launched in August. wunders.co.za
UMDABU
Custom furniture manufacturers
Michael Ferreira, co-owner
How would you describe your design aesthetic? Organic. We celebrate the imperfections and the natural beauty we find within a piece of wood, be it a crack, a hole or an interesting edge.
Tell us more about the wood you use. We manufacture with natural-edged solid pieces of wood, sourced from all corners of Southern Africa. Our passion is transforming fallen and rotting trees into works of art.
What’s your advice for young designers? Being young designers ourselves, we continue to learn and grow. In our short five years in the industry, we have realised that perseverance and passion are vital.
Tell us about We fitted out a tented bush camp called Savuti in Botswana, which will open in spring, and were commissioned to create a 22-seater table for Cellar Door restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff.
