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As you look through the pages of Rohan’s portfolio, it is apparent that each piece has been designed to carefully preserve and highlight the natural beauty and character of the wood itself. His trademark of exposing the unique joinery in a table or bench gives the illusion of the piece being put together much like a jigsaw puzzle, showcasing superior craftsmanship and an attention to detail. Rohan’s furniture evokes a sense of effortless beauty and functional simplicity through the use of clean lines and uncomplicated finishes. As a designer, Rohan understands the balance of achieving a client’s vision while maintaining the integrity of his design style and philosophy: his process is a true collaboration with clients from start to finish.
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Rohan’s influences stem from the people and places that shaped his life. He was born in Sydney, Australia in 1977, the son of two professional artists. In addition to his parent’s creative influences, his grandfather was a Professor and well-published Chinese historian who also collected Ming Dynasty furniture. Growing up, Rohan spent his summers on the rugged beaches of Australia’s Eastern coastline in his family’s home surrounded by the dense Australian bush. His exposure to driftwood filled beaches, complex landscapes of Australian hardwoods, as well as his travels throughout Europe and Asia, helped shape his approach to furniture design and construction today.
Rohan received formal training from Australian National University’s Canberra School of Art where he studied Woodworking & Furniture Design from 1995 to 1999. At university, Rohan studied under the late George Ingham, a Master Craftsman and prominent figurehead within the Australian visual arts and crafts community. After graduating with First Class honors, Rohan began his own custom furniture business in Australia’s capital of Canberra. |
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In 2003, Rohan was commissioned to build a Japanese Tea House for a client in England who sought a serene, contemplative garden den to compliment the beautiful countryside and flowing river within his property. What began as one project in England quickly developed into several years of working for private clients throughout the English countryside and London. It was there that Rohan met his future wife, and the two were married in that very Tea House years later.
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Rohan and his wife relocated to her hometown of Chicago in 2006, where he spent four years managing Bernacki & Fil Workshops, a Chicago-based custom furniture business creating high-end furniture, built-ins, cabinetry and home theatres for top interior designers around the Midwest. The launch of Rohan Ward Designs LLC marks the culmination of years of practical experience, technical training, and a relentless passion for creating beautiful furniture from wood.
Rohan currently resides in the suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two young sons. |
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