Not many find a way to make their passion their career. I’m lucky to be doing that a second time. Having fulfilled my boyhood dream of becoming an architect, I’m now fulfilling my other long held dream, to design and make furniture. 

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I have always been passionate about designing. My new path brings me back in touch with my love of making, and is a beautiful compliment to my architectural work. 

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I hand make limited run and one-off commissioned pieces in solid wood. Made of the highest quality, my desire is to create furniture that is enjoyed and cherished beyond the lifetime of those I make it for.

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I love to push beyond convention, making pieces that stand alone as a statement within a space, not just a functional item within it. My designs seek to bring a sense of importance and occasion to whatever it is used to house or display, whilst creating engagement and interaction with the piece. I achieve this through the composition of elements that can only fully be understood and admired by moving around and interacting with it.  

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I began learning my craft after hours at the Melbourne Guild of Fine Woodwork in Melbourne. After five years, my desire to make could no longer be contained. I closed the doors on my architecture practice of 18 years, moving to Mittagong in NSW, the home of Australia's best woodworking school - The Sturt School for Wood. After undertaking their year long full time course, I opened Darren Naftal Fine Furniture in 2021.

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I love everything about this work, designing, making and seeing my ideas come to life. What I love even more, is getting to share my creations with others. 

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Click here to see some of my past Architectural Work.