Handcrafted Elegance

Shakti Ganapati Furniture

It was sheer passion that led Late Deepak Chengappa, a civil engineer and his wife Reshma Chengappa, an MBA, to make solid furniture 23 years ago. Taking inspiration from George Nakashima, an American architect and wood worker, Chengappa created solid wood furniture without using any nails or wooden pegs. The joints are honed to perfection which makes sure the piece lasts a few generations at the very least. Sitting across an impeccable solid wood dining table, Chengappa, 50, is now assisted by her son Ganapathy, 21. Pointing at the table she says, “Wood is very alive as a material and over time, the joints adjust with each other. If the joint is perfect, you don’t need any nails. This is how furniture was created before the industrial revolution.” The furniture they make is of the kind that can be passed down generations and hence they put a lot of emphasis on training carpenters who create handcrafted furniture with no machinery. The wood is dried in a solar kiln, seasoned, and an oil finish is used to keep its original look intact.

At 114, 1st Cross St, VGP Layout, Palavakkam Tel 24512269

Price Rs 17,000 onwards