About JOHI
Human-centered artistry and craft.
📍 Santa Cruz County, California.
Who We Are
More than furniture makers, JOHI is an independent studio that designs and manufactures furniture and home products in-house. Our mighty team of four manages the entire process from sketching to woodwork fabrication, all from our Santa Cruz workshop and showroom.
Led by husband-wife product and interior design partners Raja Badr-El-Din and Holly Apau Badr-El-Din, we launched JOHI in 2019 Since the beginning, we’ve kept people at the heart of our work, celebrating meaningful connection at home and in our community.
Our team is skilled in product design, interior design, and product manufacturing, with an emphasis on woodwork.
Holly Apau
Badr-El-Din
Founder • Business & Interior Design
Interested in the design of healthier homes and welcoming spaces, Holly's professional background combines interdisciplinary design, brand communications, and creative project development.
Holding a BAH in Music: Music Technology (Stanford University) and a foundational certificate in Interior Design (UCLA Extension, with distinction), she approaches her work with empathy, research, and a goal of creating purposeful experiences. As a Hawaiian-American woman, Holly values connection to place and an interplay of tradition and innovation.
Raja Badr-El-Din
Founder • Manufacturing & Product Design
With a background in product design (Stanford University) and a love for fine woodworking, Raja is head of all things manufacturing and industrial design here at JOHI.
He has explored the curiosities of woodworking since he was a child, growing up in a Lebanese-Jordanian family. His style of woodwork has changed over the years, shaped by rustic farm explorations, a fascination with bent wood and organic forms, and the ways tooling affects processes & possibilities. He is passionate about bringing CAD/CAM-driven processes into our shop to enhance our craft, working in combination with handcrafted techniques.
Nicole Gardner
Design & Manufacturing Development Manager
Trained in industrial design, Nicole is a lifelong lover of getting her hands dirty in the name of marrying form to function. Valuing process, she creates objects with meaning and with the preservation of planetary health in mind.
If you've ever felt a piece of JOHI work and been wowed by product details and the finish, Nicole is a huge part of bringing that to life.
Design & Manufacturing
Our process always starts with hand-drawn sketches, followed by digital rendering that we use for our wood product manufacturing. By maintaining the entire workflow in-house, we’re able to consistently prioritize the intention and expertise behind each piece.
The products you see in our shop are all a culmination of our interdisciplinary experience, bringing you enduring artistry to enjoy in everyday life.
Custom Furniture & Interior Design
We aim to ensure every piece of furniture fits seamlessly into your home and lifestyle, and that includes custom designs for your unique needs. We start with a shared plan and a highly collaborative process. Using our expertise, we’ll work with you to recommend the right materials, finishes, and styles for your vision and long-term use.
If you’re ready for a more comprehensive update to your home, explore interior design with our team. From color strategy to space planning and furniture selection, we leverage our dedication to artistry to create spaces that feel truly personal.
FAQs
Do you curate other brands’ furniture and home goods?
Only on a limited basis. We’re a small team of furniture makers who design and manufacture the majority of products you see in our shop.
Beyond our studio-specific products, we e do sometimes create collaboration pieces with other artisans and businesses. From time to time, we will stock a limited supply of complementary products not made in-house, such as interior design books.
How do you source your materials?
We pursue USA-based sourcing where possible in our practice, with an emphasis on responsible suppliers. To support our projects with high-quality, quality ethical materials and components, we work with leading lumber, hardware, and glass suppliers, local sawyers, local metalworkers, and other fellow small business craft studios.
When it comes to finishes, including clear coat hardwax oils and paint, we opt for those that are tested for no-/low-VOC emissions, meaning they are safer for indoor air quality.
Do you use sustainable practices?
Yes, we’re dedicated to sustainability in our small business through a blend of our business, design, and manufacturing decisions. The domestic U.S. hardwood we source for the bulk of our product manufacturing comes from forests that limit overharvesting and ensure long-term, renewable growth.
By prioritizing durable design and repairable design that supports healthier living, we ensure that our products will retain quality beyond the first use period into generational use.
Can I view your furniture in person?
Yes! We encourage it, and we would love to meet you. Come by our Santa Cruz showroom to see some of our work in person and chat with us. We’re there to help you every step of the way, whether you’re just looking or ready to find that perfect piece for your home.
Words from Our Customers
Each review means so much to us.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences through words and photos!
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our team through the years, and to those who have helped us capture and share life here in the studio!
Shoutout to these special folks:
Nicole Gardner • April Ewers • Elijah Clancy • Juan Ruiz Gomez • Daniel Gorostieta • Hannah Eugster
There are many family members to whom we owe our deepest thanks to. Many of you have shared valuable advice, lent a hand on our crew, and simply listened. Mahalo.