Our Story
In 2012, Ravi (left) & Dan (right) met in Cornwall, amongst mutual friends, sharing dinners, music, dance, outdoor adventures, a love of the Cornish landscape and its lifestyle. They came with their own directions. Dan as an Expedition leader and Carpenter, Ravi as an Arts Educator and Designer Maker.
It wasn’t until 2020 when, in the wilds of Pendeen, camping on a cliff, in the wind and with fire, there was a moment of reflection between them about their future as makers. Then unfurled talk of working together, combining their interests and making something of beauty, quality and value to bring to the interior world.
Over the next few years, before launching in late 2022, Dan & Ravi’s joint ambition has developed into the business you see today. Building upon core values, huge sustainability promises and honest transparency, Stratum Marquetry creates beautiful sustainable surfaces, unique to the world of interiors.
Our Ethos
We’ve built Stratum Marquetry around a simple belief: the materials already around us deserve greater consideration.
We recognise that making has an impact. Rather than make absolute claims, we focus on the choices we can make — working with reclaimed and recycled materials, challenging assumptions about waste, and finding new value in resources that might otherwise be discarded.
This approach extends beyond the materials themselves. It informs how we think about design, production and the role of the business we are building. Our ambition is to create distinctive surface materials with a different origin, while working thoughtfully and responsibly within the realities of manufacture.
That is the principle behind Stratum Marquetry.
A video created by Plymouth University
Our Actions
Getting trees in the ground
Our commitment to Plant One Cornwall of £36 per month, as well as a promise to donate a whopping 5% of our profits, means we are responsible for creating new & conserving existing woodland habitats here in Cornwall.
Recycled Plastic Only
As standard, we only use recycled plastic in our work. Those pops of colour you see are made from broken fishing crates, lost fishing nets, Recycled CDs, discarded builder buckets to name a few. We source this plastic from a variety of businesses around us, here’s a few:
B-Corp Process
A journey we know will take many weeks, if not months, of work and a financial commitment. Becoming a B-Corp is a huge goal for us and we believe it should be one for all businesses. Watch this space!
Waste Material Rescue
We contribute to a circular economy by gathering timber & plastic offcuts produced by businesses far and wide. These materials, regarded as waste by these businesses, are perfect for our fine, intricate work and therefore partnerships like these benefits both us and them.
Pattern Design
We design each new pattern around what others discard. All our signature patterns turn readily available off-cuts into scalable, customisable surfaces—maximising the potential of waste materials.
Green Energy
We power our workshop from 100% renewable sources, such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power. Our aim is to also have our own solar system!
100% Recyclable Packaging
Every order we send out is safely wrapped in super protective, planet friendly, 100% recyclable packaging. In order to make sure you know what to do, we provide an easy step-by-step guide through these stickers.
Meet the Team
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Dan
FOUNDER & MAKER
After 10 years in the Outdoor & Overseas Expedition Industry, I began following something exciting, creative and innate. Something that allowed me to stay creative. I moved to Cardiff and trained on a City & Guilds L2 Diploma in Carpentry and Bench Joinery. The course was the perfect introduction to working in the trade and it wasn't long before I was running my own workshop. My work designing and building beautiful hand crafted furniture has been purely a joy & built entirely on word of mouth.
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Ravi
FOUNDER & MAKER
My passion for design and making first led me to study sculpture, during which I gained an understanding of visual language, materials and design. It allowed me to create, and it's a process that brings me great joy. I brought my enthusiasm to an educational context, teaching degree students from a workshop, whilst also working as a freelance maker, focusing on bespoke furniture and storage solutions. I only want to make quality, and that's what Stratum Marquetry Ltd does.
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Moss
GOOD TIME GUY
This little chap has no real input to the business. He’s usually late for work and is often found digging holes, running riot or sleeping in awkwardly placed locations. Like under our feet. He does however bring plenty of joy and cheekiness to the workshop.