PERFECT IMPERFECTION
For ISTVÁN TUKACS and GYÖRGY ÁCS, wood is not just a building material but a way of life. The two owners of the Hungarian furniture workshop “STOKI” craft distinctive furniture from locally grown fruit trees and hardwoods, following traditional craftsmanship.
“Wood has always been a symbol of quality and elegance in furniture making. But today, fewer and fewer specialists work with this natural material by hand, meaning that handcrafted furniture made from solid wood is already considered a curiosity,” say István Tukacs and György Ács. “Wood is a living material. Even after it has been processed, it does not stop breathing, moving and changing - whether in furniture, flooring or a wooden house.” “Our profession and our respect for wood as a natural product require the furniture we make to be worthy of its material,” notes István Tukacs. That is why it is important to the two wood engineers to preserve the properties of the wood and treat it naturally. The designer furniture is therefore protected exclusively with high-quality oils and waxes from OLI-NATURA, which enhance the wood’s natural grain, color and beauty.
The young entrepreneurs learned the woodworking trade from the ground up and gained professional experience at home and abroad. In 2012, they founded the furniture workshop “STOKI” to create something of their own. István Tukacs and György Ács primarily work with locally grown fruit trees and hardwoods, which by no means have to be “perfect.” “In mass production, all naturally occurring variations in wood are considered defects that increase processing costs and limit usability. Such defects include cracks, knots, various discolorations and deformations,” says István Tukacs. “We, on the other hand, specifically look for such ‘wood defects.’ These deformations and nature-inspired color patches make a tabletop or chest of drawers particularly unique, and producing a duplicate is simply impossible,” emphasizes György Ács, adding: “The changes in the wood often make our work more difficult, because the material is more complicated to saw and plane. But the end result repeatedly makes up for the additional effort.”