USPS Publication Number 16300
T h i s C om mu n it y Ne w s p a p e r i s a p u bl i c a t ion of E s c a m b i a-S a nt a Ro s a B a r A s s o c i a t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icia l Ci rcu it Section A, Page 1
Vol. 21, No. 39
V isit T he S ummation W eekly O nline : SummationWeekly.com
September 29, 2021
1 Section, 8 Pages
ART, NATURE AND EXOTIC HARDWOODS COMBINE
AT MADERA CRAFT FURNISHINGS by Kelly Oden photos by Steven Gray
A
striking, 5-foot tall, hand-carved, petrified teak Buddha greets clients at the recently opened Madera Craft Furnishings in Old East Hill. The statue sets the tone for the stunning pieces on display in the unique space. The narrow brick building that is the Madera showroom was built in 1922 as Pensacola’s first bicycle shop. Now, the open, bright and clean space houses an eclectic mix of luxury furniture and décor from the other side of the world—Southeast Asia to be precise.
Josh and Aimet Oberhausen opened Madera in June of this year. The couple met in Miami where Josh worked in communications and Aimet worked in public relations. The couple, who also own and operate Oberhausen Marketing and Public Relations, moved back to Josh’s hometown of Pensacola as an antidote to the hustle and bustle of Miami. Madera was born out of the couple’s shared passion for art, nature, design and
the built environment. After working on design concepts for a high-end Thai restaurant in Miami, the couple fell in love with the materials, craftsmanship and style of Balinese imports. Luckily, they had a friend in Asia whose family was in the furniture business—a connection that continues to serve them well in their latest endeavor. “We really love with warm, natural feel and the metal elements,” Josh said. “It
really has a coastal element, as well, and we thought it would be a great fit for this area. We had already purchased this space and were using it as a shortterm rental, but last year we decided to go ahead and bring this collection here. The area is growing like crazy and I think this product is so distinctive. We are really trying to support the interior designers, architects and homeowners.”
Josh and Aimet Oberhausen, owners of Madera Craft Furnishings
combines nature and fine art. Standing at 8-feet high and 5 and a half feet wide, it’s sure to be conversation piece in any environment. Another showstopper is the 9-foot-3 live edge slab tabletop that
The area is growing like crazy and I think this product is so distinctive. We are really trying to support the interior designers, architects and homeowners.” The collection at Madera is visually impressive and historically interesting. Madera’s pieces are made of exotic wood including reclaimed teak, suar, mango, tamarind and rattan materials. The showroom offers a selection of dining and coffee tables, chairs, consoles, buffet cabinets and essential furniture for indoor or outdoor areas. A highlight of the collection is the Jakar teak root statue. Made from the excavated root system of an ancient, petrified teak tree, the sculptural piece has a majestic quality that
can be used as a dining, conference or even a restaurant table. The table top rests on a set of brass colored legs, but other legs can be custom ordered as well. The rail tie console table also has an interesting history. Josh explained that the Dutch built the rail system in Southeast Asia. The Dutch didn’t use creosote or other chemicals on their wooden ties as they did in America. Thus, these ancient, solid beams make exceptional furniture components. Madera also carries a large dining table created with a mosaic-like selection of rail ties.
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Some of the pieces combine vintage elements with modern design and functionality. A set of handcarved antique shutters from India are used as doors on a mango wood armoire creating a lovely blend of old and new. Many of Madera’s pieces are multifunctional as well. The long, petrified wood benches can also serve as gorgeous coffee tables, and the petrified stumps can be utilized as side tables, for casual seating, or even as shower stools because the petrified nature of the wood makes it nearly impossible to ruin. The couple hopes the collection will appeal to everyone—from designoriented homeowners and interior designers to commercial restaurant, hotel and corporate designers. For more information, check out the Madera showroom located at 400 North Davis Highway, or visit maderafurnishings.com.
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