The Maker
Maris is the creator and owner of Heartwood Studio. Obsessed with detail and an artist at heart, he loves creating unique, thoughtful design that combines practicality, visual impact and artful design.
Born in Latvia, Maris attended art school as a child and was inspired by the beautiful wooden carvings in his uncle's workshop, as well as the deep history of craftsmanship in his native country. He spent his teenage years in Norway, where his love for nature and the simple beauty of wood continued to grow. After falling in love with an Australian, his journey eventually brought him to the windswept coastline of Ocean Grove, where he lives with his wife, Courtney, who is expecting their first child, and their adored labrador, Freja.
After 10 years in the furniture making industry, Maris brings a wealth of experience and expertise to every project, along with an unwavering commitment to quality and design. He believes that everyone deserves to enjoy quality craftsmanship, and will work with you to create pieces that will continue to delight you for years to come.
Our Values
Sustainability
So much of our inspiration comes from the incredible natural beauty of the world we live in, so it's important to us that our furniture is as gentle on the planet as possible.
Our workshop is solar powered, meaning for most of the year the power building our furniture is all from the sun, and a whole lot of elbow grease!
We source all of our timber from local, family-run businesses whose practices we trust and can verify, and love using Australian native timbers, such as Victorian Ash, Blackwood and Messmate. The majority of our timber comes from a small, family owned timber mill in the Otways, or is recycled timber sourced locally in Geelong. This keeps travel miles low and means every piece you purchase from us helps support locals all across Geelong, the Bellarine and the Surf Coast. this means when you buy from us, you're supporting not just one, but multiple local family businesses to thrive, as well as creating local jobs.
We prioritise using natural and non-toxic oils, finishes and glues, so that every part of our furniture is safe for your family and safe for the planet.
We also value sustainability in the way we work ourselves, and the relationships we build with our customers - prioritising flexibility and family time as part of the way we do business, and focusing on building long-term, supportive relationships with our customers.
Community
As a family run small business, we have been so grateful for the support of our community and are committed to making a positive impact in the way we do business.
We prioritise working and collaborating with other small and family run businesses across Geelong and the Bellarine. Our approach to business is always to be straightforward, fair and committed to excellence, and we love partnering with businesses who feel the same!
We have an open door policy and love nothing more than our community to drop in on their way past, whether to look at some pieces for inspiration, ask a woodworking question or just have a sticky-beak. If the roller door is open, come say hi!
In the future, we'd love to share our passion for craftsmanship by hosting woodworking workshops and events. If this is something you'd be interested in, get in touch!
Craftsmanship
Above all else, our obsession with creating beautiful, detailed pieces is second to none. Our vision is for every piece of furniture we create to be something that will bring you joy for a lifetime, and that your grandchildren and their children will be able to enjoy.
We also believe that craftsmanship is more than just putting together a quality piece of furniture. It starts with every stroke and adjustment of the design process, the conversations we have with our clients as we bring their vision to life, the particular piece of timber we choose, and the love and attention we pour into every step of the production process. Good craftsmanship is weaving a story through the pieces we create, and we treat every piece of furniture we build for you like a work of art.
During our design process, we will work closely with you to help bring your vision to life, consulting on materials, design and budget, and ensuring the beauty, quality and functionality of the final piece. We know that furniture is not just wood and glue - it can be the table that gathers your loved ones together for hours, the nightstand that inspires you to light a candle and put your phone away, or that extra special piece of luxury that finishes the transformation of a house into home.