'From humble beginnings to sophisticated lifestyle brand': Jardan's secret to success

Living on the Mornington Peninsula and surfing since his teens, Nick Garnham forged a close connection with the natural world around him. 

Not surprisingly, sustainability became one of the driving forces behind his furniture company, Jardan.

“I’m a keen surfer and have always been really passionate about the environment,” he says.

Epitomising the laid-back, relaxed, natural, but stylish Australian way of life, Jardan has grown from strength to strength in recent years.

Its evolution from a humble furniture company to a sophisticated lifestyle brand has steered it on the road to success. This ability to change and innovate – and tap into the design zeitgeist – has kept it at the top of the home lover’s shopping list.  

“Innovation and design are the bedrock and driving force of company,” he says. “It’s what we enjoy – we like being creative.”

Vegan alternatives, fresh new designs, drop-dead gorgeous homewares and crafty lighting mean the home-grown company’s offerings are aspirational for many.

Garnham, who runs the company with his brother, co-director Michael, and his wife, creative director Renee, admits last year’s disruption with the pandemic was a huge challenge.

Based in Melbourne, Jardan had to contend with a lockdown where staff worked from home and production fell behind with orders.

Luckily, on the positive side, there was renewed interest in home furnishings all around Australia.

“People looked inward to their homes, wanting to turn them into more beautiful spaces and into working environments as well,” he says.

Jardan was founded in 1987 and the Garnhams bought what was then a small company in 1997. Due to high labour costs, many of their peers moved offshore or closed but the family wisely decided to take Jardan upmarket. The change in direction certainly worked and Jardan has gone from employing eight to 180 people.

Initially, the furniture was sold to architects and designers, but Jardan opened its doors to the public for the first time with a plush store on Richmond’s Church Street in 2014. Showrooms in Sydney and Brisbane followed, and last year the company launched the Perth outlet.

With borders opening and closing, Garnham’s plans to visit Perth have been delayed. “I still haven’t been to the store, and I’ve only interviewed staff on Zoom.”

Jardan’s latest range, Living Forms, is all soft lines and curves with over-textured fabrics yet at the same time, it’s tailored and pure – organic sofas that invite you to snuggle up with a good book.

Colour also plays a big role in Jardan’s recent designs.  Australian tones create a calming sense of place. Garnham (who leads a design team of five while creative director Renee manages the brand’s direction and Michael looks after the financial side) says they have become more confident with colour. In fact, the Perth store’s interiors were inspired by WA’s wildflowers.

While Jardan has built its reputation on its beautiful sofas and armchairs, in recent times, lighting, textiles and homewares have become more important as the company offers a total lifestyle approach.

Sustainability is always on Garnham’s mind. The company is carbon neutral, uses sustainable timber and materials, and water-based glues. 

Most importantly, the furniture is designed to last a lifetime and can be repaired. If a piece is completely worn out, it can be returned to Jardan and recycled. 

Looking to the future, Garnham wants to create one of the best manufacturing plants in Australia by merging their two existing factories into one big one. 

Of course, the design team is already working on new ranges for next year and preparing to roll out prototypes soon.

Family vision, a skilled workforce, a creative design team and an ability to innovate have all contributed to this Australian design success story. 

“You’ve got to be good at everything,” Garnham says.