Our Story

As a long time student of Yoga and Meditation as well as a Mechanical Engineer turned woodworker it was a natural fit to start creating designs for the things I loved. When a friend returned from India with the tracing of the first backbending bench Harmony In Design was created.

Some time later the opportunity came to begin partnering with some families in Java Indonesia to create the line of meditation chairs we had begun here in the USA.

Javanese workers laughing

Kapok Tree

We insisted on using only eco friendly woods such as Mango which can be harvested first for fruit and also be plantation grown.

For the cushion filling we used natural Kapok similar to cotton but growing from pods in large trees !

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Javanese wood harvesting family

Co-creating with a furniture maker in Java was quite an adventure. Navigating the language and culture differences as well as different building techniques proved a lesson in surrender.

What emerged was a transformed design different than our original but equally beautiful and functional.

Lastly we were the first company in the area to insist on using waterbase finishes to replace the toxic laquers normally used. We have heard the practice may have spread to other customers now. We sure hope so.

PS: Guess which one is the designer ?

Regards: Jim Lester/Designer