Since meeting in Yogyakarta in 2015, Nusantara Lifestyle’s co-founders Will and Anysia have been partners in life and business, bringing complementary strengths to the (reclaimed teak) table.
“Nys and I started Nusantara Lifestyle together, but we’ve got very different strengths,” says Will. “I do a lot of the boring stuff — business operations, team leadership — because I’m a control freak who likes things to run clearly and smoothly. I’m not great at hands-on, so I support our amazing team so they can do their best. With my background in film and communications, I focus on strategy and marketing… but in a small business, you end up doing everything anyway.”
(If you’ve been following Nusantara Lifestyle’s social media, you would probably have caught a glimpse or two at the films created for the brand by the company’s storytelling partner, PORTRAY, which is Will’s other business.)
“My role in Nusantara Lifestyle is more about product creation and design,” says Anysia. “I focus on taking an idea and turning it into something real. Will may come up with the idea or strategy, but I work with the team to actually make it happen.”
Together, they’ve built a brand that stays small on purpose, deeply human in scale, and unwavering in its values.
From heritage timber to modern homes
Anysia’s roots are in Central Java, where she grew up surrounded by traditional Javanese architecture. That’s where her appreciation for old timber — and the stories it carries — began. Her experience working in recycled timber deepened that connection.
“The idea for Nusantara Lifestyle started when I was working at a recycled wood company,” says Anysia. “I was drawn to the concept of taking something old and worn and turning it into something sleek and beautiful for modern homes. Unlike a lot of companies that use plantation wood, we focus on reusing what’s already there.”
From the beginning, Anysia and Will made a clear commitment for their business: no plantation wood, and no greenwashing. Their raw material of choice is exclusively reclaimed teak, mostly salvaged from old Javanese homes that have often stood for generations.
The timber industry isn’t always what it seems — but Nusantara is doing things differently
“We really just wanted to do something that was real,” says Will. “Everyone in the timber industry says they’re sustainable because they use plantation timber or plant trees — but after looking into it, we know that’s just bullshit. We wanted to start something that had as little negative impact on the environment as possible, but still make beautiful furniture. We also wanted to focus on the stories behind all this timber and behind all this amazing teak wood that’s been part of Indonesian life for centuries. That’s kind of where it all came from.”
Will admits that a few years ago, furniture wasn’t something he knew much about, but now he really respects it. “I still don’t know everything, but I wanted to build something meaningful with Anysia — something we could be proud of. I love building — whether it’s teams, businesses, or ideas. This project reflects my values around real sustainability and how business should be done. It keeps me motivated — to grow it, work with amazing people, and do something that makes even a small positive impact.”
Furniture designed to last decades — or forever
For Anysia, the heart of Nusantara Lifestyle is about creating something that will last. “We added ‘lifestyle’ to the name because that’s what we want it to be — something people truly live. Furniture is going to be part of a home, part of a building, that people use and enjoy, and we want it to last for decades, or forever. This is like a soul in the house. We want this business to be a part of the life that we live, not just for profit but for our passion.”
Reclaimed wood, real values
Will and Anysia’s choice to work with reclaimed teak was never about trend or aesthetics alone — it was about integrity. Every decision they make reflects a commitment to the environment, culture, and community.
Rather than scaling up quickly, they chose to stay small and agile, with a workshop in Yogyakarta and close relationships with every designer, artisan, supplier, and partner involved. Every piece is handmade, designed to last, and meant to be lived with — not replaced.
“We spent a couple of years just building the brand — because if you want good quality, you can’t rush it,” says Anysia. But the world moves too fast now; people don’t pause anymore. For me, Nusantara Lifestyle is a passion project I want to keep alive forever. It reflects our beliefs and values — something built to last for generations.”
Sustainability without the spin
At Nusantara Lifestyle, sustainability isn’t a slogan slapped on for marketing purposes — it’s built into the core of the company.
“I actually don’t like the word ‘sustainability’ because it’s so overused and under-practiced,” says Will. “We’re super cautious about greenwashing. What we want is for sustainability to be embedded in everything — in our materials, our operations, how we treat our staff, our partners, and in our daily choices. We’ll never be perfect, and that’s okay. But we try to walk the walk — not just talk the talk.”
“Sustainability isn’t just about the environment; it’s also about people and economies,” he continues. “It’s all of it — environment, people, and profit — in balance. It’s like a tree. It grows slowly, and then someone just chops it down. That sucks. So we’re taking our time to grow something meaningful. We’re just doing our best, and hoping everything flows from that.”
Watch their story
Get a deeper glimpse into the team behind Nusantara Lifestyle by watching this beautiful little film produced by Portray over on our YouTube channel here.
