An Indian mom-son team turns broken tiles & driftwood into art & furniture

Using reclaimed and upcycled raw materials, Naomi and Yohann Pereira's venture, The Druid's Garden, makes unique, aesthetic, and sustainable products.

That’s what ‘The Druid’s Garden’, a venture run by Mumbai-based Naomi and Yohann Pereira is all about. But the most important thing to note is that they only use reclaimed, recycled, and upcycled materials for making their products. The Druid’s Garden, which was established in 2018, focuses on mosaic art, wood art, and rustic-looking furniture.

The product range includes planters, cabinets, center and side tables, mirrors, wall art, benches, shelves to keep books and curios, chairs, and stools. Naomi explains why the duo decided to name their studio Druid by saying, “Druids were priests and soothsayers in ancient Celtic culture who had a special bond with the natural world.

One day, when she was beautifying her father’s garden, an old bench became her first artistic project in mosaics. My art was mostly cultivated over the years. ” She learned mosaic art from books, videos, and by talking to professional tilers, masons, hardware experts, and, of course, through a process of trial and error, she narrates.

In her style of mosaic work, she collects broken tiles and breaks them further to see what pieces emerge and then gets creative with it. Her keen interest in nature, gardening, decor, and DIY (do-it-yourself) art led her to make pieces for her own home followed by those of friends and family.

Yohann, who had worked in hospitality, sales, and strategy for 10 years, was initially hesitant to give up his corporate job and join the venture. After some research, I realized that very few people work with mosaics and driftwood in India.

Few people understand and appreciate our art,” says the 38-year-old. That’s why they use discarded driftwood and recycled timber – the two most environmentally friendly ways to acquire wood. Every few months they go to the beach at Gorai fishing village and pick up pieces of driftwood that they feel they can work with to make something beautiful.

Naomi uses scrap and discarded materials like old, broken tiles, broken bangles, cracked vase pieces, pebbles and stones, beads, and seashells in her mosaic art. Naomi and Yohann then buy them from the fishermen to make planters embellished with mosaics or to build lotus ponds in which you can also put fish.

We use machines to cut the wood but our products are hand polished,” elaborates Yohann. Naomi's father's bench which she beautified using broken mosaic tiles. When they hear the word mosaic in India, most people think of tiling chips put as flooring in rooms, terraces, and compound walls.

Very few know that mosaic is a truly ancient art form that goes back to ancient Mesopotamia, Greece, and Rome, says Naomi. Since they are exclusive pieces, the mosaic and wood art don’t come cheap. Additionally, two other people in their workshop helped with the mosaic work along with three freelancing carpenters and polishers for the woodwork.

The wall arts from their studio start at Rs 2,000-2,500 per square foot, depending on the intricacy of the design. The price of a driftwood centre table ranges from Rs 18,000 to Rs 40,000 which depends on the size and the quality of wood.

Yohann has a residence-cum-studio in Bandra where clients can take a look at the products. While their mosaic pieces are indeed eye-catching, it’s their driftwood tables and other wares that are equally beautiful too.

It is the joy and immense satisfaction of creating art from waste that drives us,” says Naomi. I am happy to say that I am still here and enjoying my work all while creating products that people truly appreciate,” Naomi says with a smile.

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