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FEATURE
What about maintenance? “Teak naturally greys so to maintain its new look it can be cleaned seasonally with a teak cleaner which we supply, before putting another coat of sealant on it. “But even without doing that, the wood will still last. You can leave it outside for 10 years and still easily bring it
SO TEAK: QUALITY FURNITURE THAT LASTS A LIFETIME T here’s no doubt Antigua’s abundant sunshine can reap dividends for your health and pieces – and why they’re ideal for our sun-soaked environs. First things first, how did the name SOTEAK come about? pieces, such as lanterns and teak cutting boards. We sell single items straight from our studio on island as well as bespoke and larger custom orders for villas, refurbishments, hotels and restaurants. “We first brought a few pieces here
afterwards that if you’d made the living room 10 centimetres bigger you could have had the sofa you really wanted. “It makes more sense, when spending all that time and money building something really fantastic, to put the exact furniture on the floor plan to start with. “In our own house, we are completely blurring indoor-outdoor living so the breseze flows straight through, which makes SOTEAK pieces perfect. “I am happy to work with architects too, so if a client is building a house I can help them plan the furniture around it. I need at least five to six months to get exactly what they want. I love that part of the business and I do that for free to ensure we get it right.” Business aside, what made you choose Antigua to live? “We had been coming here on holiday for more than 10 years. Covid accelerated our plans to do something totally different, so we moved straight from Singapore to here. “The outdoor lifestyle is ideal for kids. But more than anything we liked the ambience. We have been expats for a long time; we have also lived in Japan, Australia and the UK. Settling in all those places was nice but there’s a real intimate sense of community here, so we’re here for the long term now!” n Visit www.soteak.co
Ah yes, the prices. Expensive, right? “They’re actually more affordable than you might think. Because we bring everything in directly from the suppliers (who are also family friends) there are no middle men. “You also have to bear in mind that the cost of shipping and taxes are already accounted for, so the prices in the catalogue are final. Taking all the extras into account, SOTEAK works out to 30- 50 percent cheaper than importing - plus we will deliver anywhere on island.” How long after placing an order can we expect to receive it? “We have some items already in stock which can be bought directly from our studio. But we give a four to five-month lead time for big custom orders. The pieces take 45-60 days to make and roughly the same time again to ship here. Of course, the longer we have the better we can do.” Do you work with existing homes as well as those under construction? “Absolutely! We really have a passion for what we do and spending time with clients, helping them choose the ideal pieces to complement their home – whether they’re building or just buying new furniture – is what we do best. “We are now building our own house in Turtle Bay and I have designed it around our pieces. If you’re creating your dream home, you don’t want to realise
back to its former glory.” Who are your clients?
wellbeing. Unfortunately the sun, coupled with high humidity and tropical showers, can wreak havoc on your furniture. When decking out a new home, or renovating an existing one, it pays to ensure your prized pieces are tough enough to stand up to the unforgiving Caribbean climes. Not only is it ultimately more cost-effective to choose items that guarantee longevity, it’s better for the environment too. Two years ago, Danish couple Tom and Camilla Barnes gathered up their possessions, and a dollop of Covid- inspired laissez-faire, and swapped the vibrant urban scenes of Singapore for the halcyon lifestyle of Antigua and Barbuda. Happily for the twin island nation’s residents, another thing they brought with them was a Singaporean-based outdoor living furniture business which has been in operation for more than 25 years. The company’s Antiguan offshoot SOTEAK is now in its second season and is already proving a hit with islanders nationwide. Luxury Locations Magazine caught up with Tom to tell us more about SOTEAK’s high quality teak and wicker
“The reaction since we set up business has been great. We have been working with a number of large private villas,
‘SO stands for Scandinavian Oriental because the design is modern Danish but built with Indonesian-Oriental quality. “From living in Singapore we have strong links with designers there who have 25 years’ experience in the furniture business. They manufacture in Indonesia and export their items across the world. “In Singapore, their pieces can be found in many private houses and condominiums, as well as hotels including the Mandarin Oriental, the Four Seasons and the Fairmont, plus a host of restaurants, because they last so well. “While the company has been going for many years, it is completely new to Antigua.” What kind of items do you provide? “One of our flagship products is a chunky live-edge solid teak table which we can do in almost any size and with a range of different table leg styles. “We do outdoor living products, like sofas, loungers and large dining tables with chairs as well as bar stools and side tables. We also have some homeware
six years ago when my in-laws bought a family holiday home in Turtle Bay. We have personally used these products in our own homes in Singapore and Denmark as well as Antigua, so we know personally how well they last in harsh environments. “We wanted furniture that would last forever. We realised that if we had those concerns, everybody else probably did too - and SOTEAK was born.” What makes SOTEAK pieces so durable? “We use teak because it lasts forever – or at least way longer than you will need it for – and it is termite-resistant. “The wicker is also very durable. People don’t believe me when I say it will last for decades. While other types of wicker get eaten alive in the sun and only last two seasons, ours is polyethylene- based and is completely UV-resistant. You can leave it outside all year round, even in the rain; we personally do and it still looks like new.”
and homeowners from all around the island who are looking to replace some particular items or even upgrade an entire living space. There have been orders from a few high-end resorts and restaurants too. “We are also doing an entire new luxury house in Barbuda, creating everything including custom beds.” Where can we see your pieces? “We have a studio in Falmouth where anyone is welcome to come in and see some of the select pieces we have in stock. Clients can arrange an appointment with me by WhatsApp to suit their schedule if needed. We are working towards also having our available on-island stock viewable online. More details and our opening times can be found on the website, where there is also a comprehensive catalogue including the range of products we can offer, along with our prices.”
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