Nusantara: Crafting the Story of Indonesia
Image: Nusantara Furniture
Nusantara Lifestyle delighted visitors to the Green Design Show 2026, 15 – 17 July at Melbourne Exhibition Centre. Based in Bali, the furniture business is born out of founders Will and Anysia Shea’s drive to do something right and impactful through business.
Both had seen the destruction caused by the Indonesian timber industry, through Anysia’s work in furniture and Will as a filmmaker focused on social and environmental issues.
“We wanted to make furniture that has as little impact on the environment as possible and also tell the stories of where the wood came from,” says Will.
Nusantara Lifestyle creates timeless furniture and homewares that celebrate the beauty of natural material sourced from across the Indonesian archipelago. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted from reclaimed teakwood and other sustainable materials. Working in partnership with local artisans, each piece tells its own story.
Preservation is a key part of Nusantara, whether that’s preservation of the natural environment in Indonesia, or preservation of the stories and memories found within the reclaimed timber that the company use.
“While we would love to see the traditional houses in Indonesia stay standing, we feel that using the timber after they have been dismantled is a way for tradition and stories to continue.”
“Part of our work is also to tell those stories,” says Will; such as this beautiful short film on stories from the traditional houses of Java.
Nusantara incorporate traditional design features through little touches in carvings or weavings and always seek to preserve the woodworking skills that Indonesia is renowned for.
Nusantara Furniture
A Sleek Take on Tradition
Part of the brand’s unique design approach is that while they use reclaimed timber and traditional techniques, the aesthetic is most often sleek and modern.
“We have a motto,” says Will. “Reclaimed not rustic. We also like to let the beauty of reclaimed timber do the talking, with water-based finishes that allow the grains to talk. Small blemished and patched holes display their past life, while the design keeps it contemporary.”
“As the majority of our clients are designers and developers with an interest in environmentally conscious design and furniture, we often turn to them to guide us, to find ways to deliver their designs using reclaimed teak and other sustainable materials.”
A Journey Into Sustainable Design
“Sustainability for us is a journey, and it is not something that can be ‘ticked off’, especially working and operating in the Indonesian furniture and timber industry.”
“We are slowly looking at every aspect of our business as we grow, and trying to do our best in each space without over-stating anything.”
“Our clear sustainable ‘achievements’ start with using 100% recycled timber. That in itself is huge and can be a challenge to bring to all clients. While we are FSC and SVLK certified, for us that isn’t enough, and are currently launching our own timber tracing database for customers to see where their furniture originated from.”
“We are also working on locally available low-impact packaging, such as using coconut husk and recycled or plant-based plastics. Our current studio and office in Bali is built completely from bamboo and recycled teak. Our new showroom and workspace (target open 2027) will also be built using locally-sourced, low-impact materials. It will also run on solar energy and incorporate other environmentally-friendly features. Our aim is to become carbon-neutral in practice by the end of this decade.”
Explore Nusantara Lifestyle’s website here. This article first appeared on Green Design Show 2026.