Design
SinCa Design
Arco Side Table
Image courtesy of: Design Milk
SinCa Design is a furniture design studio founded in 2016 by the husband and wife team of Dave Sinaguglia and Maria Camarena. Based in Tolland, Connecticut, the studio has become known for their simple aesthetics and hand-crafted wooden furniture. Using traditional woodworking techniques, the pieces constructed are mostly made-to-order.
The studio’s vision is simple; courtesy of SinCa Design’s web site, they hope “to design a harmonious lifestyle where the centerpiece is the well-being of our people and the planet.”
Mezcal Dining Table. Available in white oak, walnut, bleached maple, natural ash, cherry, and black ash.
Image courtesy of: Behance
The idea behind SinCa Design occurred quite organically. When the pair met, Maria was studying furniture design while attending RISD’s graduate program. Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, the designer had been working on architectural carpentry in Mexico prior to coming to the United States. Already passionate about woodworking and furniture design, the meeting with Dave was kismet. At the time, Sinaguglia had just completed a boatbuilding program in Newport, Rhode Island. Like Maria, he was also in the process of starting up his own workshop.
The studio’s first piece of furniture was a desk. Ironically, the budding woodworker had been using a used Ikea desk during grad school. Dave persuaded Maria to write her thesis on the value of having a nicer desk; so she designed one and Dave built it. From then on, SinCa has been forging ahead with Maria at the helm and Dave helping as needed.
Maria Camarena and Dave Sinaguglia
Image courtesy of: Design Milk
Each piece purchased is made-to-order… this allows Maria to ensure that each item receives due attention. Clients absolutely love that the carefully curated collection of handcrafted furniture can be customized as the buyer picks the wood type, stone, finish, and size.
Once shop drawings are created (according to the specifications), the templates are formed. Following, the material is sourced and ready for use. When all the pieces are back at the studio, Maria applies the plant-based wax and oil finish by hand. The finished furniture piece is then ready to go home.
An assortment of wooden side tables.
Image courtesy of: SinCa Design
Sustainability is very important at SinCa Design; the firm hopes to make a difference by planting trees through a partnership with One Tree Planted. The not-for-profit has planted over 40 millions trees in more than 47 countries since it was founded in 2014. To go one step further, SinCa Design has committed to planting ten extra trees for each piece of furniture that is shipped abroad.
In addition, Maria has plans of starting a program where she can repurpose SinCa Design pieces that clients wish to sell back. Adding those gently-used furniture items to their stock, SinCa Design would be among the first to orchestrate a “furniture recycling program.”
The Rattattan Credenza is one of the studio’s bestselling pieces. Wood options include White Oak, Black Ash, Cherry, Walnut, and Bleached Maple and stone options include Marble and Limestone.
Image courtesy of: Behance
At the heart of the studio’s designs are pieces that fill a functional need within the founders’ own home, to “create an atmosphere that is as visually pleasing as it is tangible.” The importance of “home” post-pandemic has a much bigger meaning today and thus, filling an abode with welcoming and warm furniture pieces is all that more pivotal. Thank you SinCa Design… for helping us fill our homes with pieces that have meaning.
