Kayu Ayu - JP/Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak

Amid the presence of international furniture stores offering mass-produced goods, an Indonesian-owned business is making innovations in the shopping experience right in the heart of the city.

Sole distributor of quality mattresses PT Duta Abadi Primantara (DAP) has joined hands with Vinoti Living Group and opened home furniture and accessories boutique Living Soul at Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta.

The 750-square-meter store was designed to represent the elegant, warm and modern classic characteristics of the products on offer.

DAP, which has been in business for more than 20 years, has brought in exclusive products of Aireloom, King Koil, Serta and Norwegian recliners of the Stressless brand that are not sold at its other stores.

Vinoti Living Group, founded by architect Halistya Pramana in 1988, offers products from Vinoti Living by Halistya, Livvi Casa and Kayu Ayu.

Offering a combination of world elegance and the beauty of Indonesia, the store has something for everyone who appreciates quality home furniture.

'€œWe wish to cater to the demand for a complete collection of mattress, linen, bedding accessories, furniture and home decoration. The one-stop shop makes it easy for customers to peruse and to make a decision,'€ said DAP marketing and sales director Anthony Setiawan.

Vinoti Living Group product designer Vinny Susilo, the daughter of Halistya, said they targeted high-end and ultra-high-end communities for their market. '€œIn the future, we expect Living Soul to be the foremost in people'€™s minds when it comes to a place to shop for high-quality home furniture and accessories,'€ said Vinny.

Hot item: A wall screen with Balinese dancers carved on it is the most salable item at Vinoti Living. JP/Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak

An auction was held during the grand opening of the boutique, which offered vintage batik cloth from the private collection of batik designer Obin and a painting by renowned artist Josephine Linggar, among other things. The proceeds from the auction will go to Yayasan Wisma Tuna Ganda '€” a foundation providing care for children with multiple disabilities '€” and the library of Tanjung Barat Islamic boarding school.

The event picked the theme '€œDivine Creation: The world of luxurious comfort meets the elegance of Indonesian beauty'€ in which invitees took a tour around the store, which was arranged to give a homey yet elegant atmosphere.

Every corner is a centerpiece thanks to the touch of seasoned interior designer Roland Adam.

Vinny said most of the furniture on display was exclusively designed for Living Soul, while bringing in the collection of the group'€™s other stores.

Vinny said her design was made to suit the current trend, adding that customers preferred classic-styled goods on white for a modern touch. '€œThe color preference for fabric furnishings has also changed from brown or cream colors to a more modern grey or blue,'€ she said.

While Vinoti Living'€™s design is simple, Livvi Casa'€™s is more elaborate in detail and decoration.

Kayu Ayu collection is a combination of traditional Chinese home furniture and Vinoti'€™s modern lines. Living Soul is the only store selling the Kayu Ayu collection besides its boutique on Jl. Benda, Kemang, South Jakarta.

'€œWe use Sulawesi-grown Nyatoh wood and mahogany for our products,'€ said Vinny. '€œWe are determined to largely use material produced in the country.'€

For charity: Batik designer Obin prepares a vintage cloth from her private collection for the auction at the opening of Living Soul store. JP/Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak