Guyanese-born Dasrat picked up his trade accidentally. Originally, he had wanted to study mechanical engineering, but this was not possible at the time. Instead, he took a job as an apprentice at Opel Arts and Crafts, a now defunct government firm in his native Guyana, during his school vacation. The course of his life was now changed and he never looked back. Dasrat's love of art drove him to learn more about his craft. “It became a hobby to me. At one point, I was refurbishing furniture, and to actually see the way that a piece stood up for a hundred years, and [to see] the joints and strategies; and they didn't have any machines. Yet everything was so precise.”

Dasrat migrated to Barbados in 1985 and began working with a local antique refurbisher. The job allowed him to hone his skills, and gave him a keen insight into the antique furniture business. His painstaking work was popular with many clients; and the result, the unforgettable furniture exhibition in 1991 at the Sea View Hotel (now The Savannah).

His business began to expand as a result. So much so, that not even the fire which destroyed his factory could deter him. Presently his newly renovated showroom displays pieces which he built himself, as well as other pieces made in his factory. Not only will you be awed by the display of his quality work, also on display are beatiful pieces of art. This is one tour and not a hunt, that will be worth taking.

Dasrat Sugrim Design Centre will also be providing a special service to customers, if you have a photo, picture or even and idea of something you want created which they do not produce, they will take your image and produce it for you. Customer satisfaction is why we exist. Working mostly in mahogany but we also produce some pickled furniture according to our customers' taste.

All joints are dovetailed; the only nails used are there more for decoration than to hold the furniture together. “We build pieces that will actually last a life time,” he explains. “The glue that we use is the same used to make boats. I don't see the sense of putting a lot of hard work into carving a piece of furniture and putting a good joint together and not using the right glue to make it last.”

The Prime Minister's office of Barbados, has several pieces of Dasrat's furniture gracing his office. The Crane Beach Resort in St Phillips also has no less than 50 of his four-poster beds, which also feature prominently in the Crane's Advertisements for their luxury suites and hotel rooms. Other places where his pieces can be found are Royal Westmoreland and Sandy Lane Hotel.

Dasrat's designs are also award winning. In 1995, he won the first (and last) Furniture Manufacturer of the Year Award, held by the Barbados Manufacturing Association.

Despite his growing popularity, Dasrat will never give up the antique way of doing things. So convincing is his technique that, were you to buy one of his pieces, it might one day be your turn to confide to an admiring friend: “Well, there's this wonderful little place in Barbados …”

 

Products made to last Cross-banded veneer and inlay, installed on solid wood are used to enhance the beauty of the pieces.	We are well known for production the finest quality antique reproduction furniture made from exquisite mahogany. in addition to these wonderful reproduction pieces, the company now produces a unique line of modern furniture, made form several different types of wood. Our other services aslo include Interior Design Consultancy & Drapery   Visit our gallery for examples of our work.
Dovetail on all drawers, table pedestals, cabinets etc, ensures strength
Careful workmanship exemplifies our standard of furniture-making.
Pieces joined by dowel with a water resistant glue, no nails are used.
Our exclusive protective finish resists common spills and stains and helps eliminate watermarks.