Mandai Design’s DANIELA SUTOR tells us about her love for home design and her passion for the elegant and sustainable shelving units, shelves and storage systems that she sells.
German-native Daniela, along with her husband and two small children, moved to Singapore with her husband’s job in 2015. She worked for German company Mandai Design when they lived in Europe. The family-run business gave her the chance to explore her interest in home design further.
The German company specialises in modular shopfitting for the European market, however in recent years it has expanded its offering to cater to the residential market. So, three years into her stint in Singapore, Daniela set up an online outlet for Mandai Design in Asia. Since then, they have also made it available in their shared Midview City showroom.
One of Daniela’s favourite pieces by the brand is the Addison shelving unit. “It’s a beautiful shelving system characterised by a clean silhouette,” she says. “The robust powder-coated steel combines with teak to create a modern and elegant look. The Addison shelf wood is sustainably sourced and made from reclaimed teak. It’s also modular, so you can adjust the shelf heights to your needs. Also, let’s be honest, you can never have enough storage!”
Daniela has always had a love for craft and home design. “As a kid I used to make little wooden objects in my father’s workshop. I just love the texture of wooden slabs.” To this day, she enjoys crafting, painting and “fixing things”. She also has a large collection of wooden boxes displayed on her own Addison shelving system in her living room. “The greatest thing about them is that you can hide your clutter inside and they have a pretty exterior.”
Daniela’s home has plenty of unique pieces of furniture, many with a story behind them. “They all have a nice wood texture to them, and some are made from reclaimed Indonesian boat wood in ocean colours. I love it when an old, pre-used piece of wood gets repurposed as a table, shelf or box.” Living next to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, she says that her vast array of teak furniture looks particularly good juxtaposed against the jungle background.
It was a passion for décor and interiors that led Daniela to Your Furniture, a store that specialises in reclaimed teak and boat wood furniture. “I ordered a boat wood cupboard from Your Furniture, and then became friends with the owners, Zena and Gregory. We share a love for sustainably sourced teak wood.” Your Furniture has since become the exclusive partner for distribution in Singapore; they share their Midview City showroom, and Zena has just become a local director of Mandai Design.
For now, they stock the Addison shelving unit, but future plans are to offer a wider range of Mandai Design furniture. “This includes the Ceres wardrobe system, an individual shelving unit for walk-in closets.”
Whatever they do decide to bring in will be a welcome addition to Singapore’s stylish shelves and storage options – as Daniela says, you can never have enough!
#06-148 Midview City, 28 Sin Ming Lane 8786 8560 | sg.mandai-design.com
This article first appeared in the September 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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