“Before ‘retiring’ from humanitarian work, [Ian] managed to be the first person to arrive in Aceh, Indonesia for Oxfam following the tsunami.”  And then went on to manage the largest NGO program responding to the tsunami, for almost 3 years.  Michelle, the other half of ReOrient, “found herself behind a camera…doing everything from producing training videos for health care workers about tuberculosis, to a David Suzuki documentary on the Aral Sea, to Burmese refugees in Thailand or victims of the tsunami in Indonesia.” 

Riverstone Sink. Designed by Michelle Oser and Ian Small of ReOrient.

The duo was involved in projects that fulfilled their commitment “to populations in danger and the environment around them.” Upon their return to Canada, as a means of combining their human and environmental values with their cool and creative criteria, Michelle Oser and Ian Small started ReOrient. The company brings d-Bodhi, a product line 100% FSC recycled, also called reclaimed, teak furniture to Canada. FSC reclaimed teak wood preserves forests, provides jobs to local artisans, and is embedded with history while exuding permanence. ‘d’ comes from the founder’s last name, Davids and ‘Bodhi’, in Sanskrit, means ‘enlightenment’ or ‘awakening.’  d-Bodhi’s bathroom concept 4Bath consists of the T-Boon Collection, theYK Collection, Liquid and a series of Washbasins.  Rustic or sophisticated, the washbasins serve as focal points, resting on the countertop rather than being recessed within.  This “above-the-counter” or countertop basin came into fashion a few years back.  Ceramic, glass and stainless steel versions took the form of salad bowls.  d-Bodhi takes advantage of the prominent and visible nature of the countertop basin typology through sculptural forms. 

Riverstone, available in small (15 x 40 x 40) and large (15 x 40 x 60), is the newest addition to the collection and will debut at #IIDEX 2009 (booth # 1605). Indisputably rustic, the sink, juxtaposed against the sleek teak cabinets, brings nature indoors.  Its primitive, irregular form seems to have been chipped away and carved from river rock by hand.  d-Bodhi’s mantra, “Beauty in Imperfection” is exemplified in this piece.