Indian architectural relics become furniture

In an age where mass-produced furniture dominates homes, Far Pavilions in Katy prides itself in creating one-of-a-kind pieces using materials from around the world.

Owned by the husband and wife team of Hannu and Ratna Pande, the furniture store mainly showcases items from Southeast Asia, South America and local Texan artisans.

"It is a great pleasure to get to combine pieces from all over the world and see how it all comes together harmoniously in a person's home," Ratna said. "We travel around the world and go to homes that are being torn down and purchase not only furniture but architectural elements. We take the ceiling tiles, wall tiles, columns and ship them to our workshop in India."

At the workshop, a design team repurposes the parts the Pandes selected and creates new furniture pieces using quality wood from the United States. Ratna said she can also create custom pieces for customers who have their own materials.

Although the Pandes purchase antique architectural materials, Ratna said the furniture does not look ethnic in that it combines traditional and contemporary trends and can stay in style for decades.

Since opening the store nine years ago, the Pandes have set their sights on selling versatile pieces that are not mass produced. Each item is unique.

"People love the individuality of our furniture," said Margie McNabb, sales manager at the store. "They like the fact that they won't walk into their friends' house and see the same piece."

McNabb, who has more than 30 years of design experience and years of working with Houston furniture manufacturers, said the store stands apart because every piece looks "so different than what we have grown accustomed to seeing every day in people's homes."

Although the Pandes are far away from home, their frequent visits to India searching for furniture allows them to keep in close contact with family and friends.

Ratna and Hannu married in India and moved to the United States in 1979 motivated by Ratna's American dream, she said.

In 1981 the couple moved to Houston and found inspiration for their business after friends continued to compliment their distinctive furniture and design of their home.

"People always ask me why we came to America, and I say it was because of a misguided sense of adventure," Ratna said. "I wanted to go to America and start a business, and that's what we did."

Business is good for the Pandes, Ratna said, but she does not foresee any physical expansion in the near future. Her store has become a destination for families and individuals around the state, and expanding the store may jeopardize the individuality and quality of pieces shown, she said.

Above all, Far Pavilions values finely crafted furniture by the artisans they partner with in India, she said. In their warehouse, workers hand make furniture using solid wood and the artifacts the Pandes choose during their travels.

"Artisanship has become a lost art," Ratna said. "It used to be passed down from father to son with pride, and now with so many call centers no one in India wants to do that any more."

Additional Services

• Aside from selling furniture, the store also keeps extra parts, such as table legs, to adjust pieces for the customers needs. For example, a dining table can be made into a coffee table by adding shorter legs.
• Design Assistance: Customers pay $250 for a two-hour session with Owner Ratna Pande, who will act as a design consultant. After a home walkthrough, she gives theme, color and dcor advice and recommends various pieces from her store. The $250 fee can be applied toward furniture cost if a customer spends at least $2,000.
• Customers who want to upholster or re-upholstery their old or new furniture pieces can have that done at Far Pavilions.

• Far Pavilions, 20425 I-10, Katy
• 281-579-3858
• www.farpavilions.com

• Mon.–Thu., 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Fri.–Sat., 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
• Sun., noon–6 p.m.