WHEN people shop for things Indonesian, they tend to look for batik paintings, ikat cloth or Padang food. Few know the country is the source of some of Asia's finest furniture.
Just a short drive from Clearwater Bay is a small house in a large garden and a business which aims to bring Indonesia to Hong Kong. Java Treasures, run by Roziawati Baharudin, does more than just sell Indonesian furniture and artefacts. Customers are not cajoled into buying. Instead, they are offered a seat on one of several ornate teak benches on the long terrace overlooking the garden, given a freshly made cappuccino, and asked to relax and admire the view.
It is easy to let an hour slip by just browsing, drinking coffee and talking, without even mentioning prices. It is the traditional Indonesian approach to business and a far cry from the pressure in most shops to choose, pay and run.
'The most satisfying thing about the business is sharing my love of the furniture,' says Baharudin, who only buys pieces she would like to keep herself. 'I don't mind if people buy or not, except the house would get quite full.' The house acts a showroom for cupboards, tables, desks, chairs and sofas, mostly made of teak. Upstairs, the beds on display include Baharudin's own. If you like, she can order you one just the same.
With low overheads, Java Treasures' prices are comparatively cheap. A traditional teak cupboard costs around $3,500, a round table $3,000, the benches from $4,000 to $8,000.
Baharudin, a Malaysian who grew up in Singapore, works part time for Cathay Pacific. She started importing furniture last June, after being disappointed by how little was on sale in Hong Kong.
