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Our Story
Furniture made to outlast the room you designed it for.
Founded 2018 · Bengaluru, India
Arjun & Leila Rao
Founders · Bengaluru, India
"We started Nordhaus because we were tired of buying furniture that looked good on a website and disappointed in person. We wanted to make things that rewarded patience — objects you notice improving as years pass."
Nordhaus began in a small Bengaluru workshop in 2018, when Arjun and Leila Rao grew frustrated with furniture that looked good on a website and collapsed in two years. They set out to make pieces that reward patience — objects that get better as they age.
The name Nordhaus (Norwegian for 'north house') was chosen for its evocation of a place designed to withstand: long winters, honest materials, and time. Every design is tested over a full year before it reaches the catalogue.
Today Nordhaus works with a network of craft workshops across India and Europe, sourcing solid wood, hand-woven rattan, and natural stone that meet strict environmental standards. We ship to every major Indian city with our own white-glove delivery team.
What we stand for
Longevity First
We design for a 20-year life, not a 2-year trend cycle.
Honest Materials
No MDF cores in structural pieces. No veneers where solids are better.
Craft Partnerships
We work directly with artisans, paying fair prices and crediting their work.
Low-Impact Shipping
Carbon-offset delivery, minimal packaging, reusable crates.
Our Journey
Eight years of deliberate making.
2018
Founded in a Bengaluru workshop by Arjun and Leila Rao, frustrated by furniture that lasted two years.
2019
First solid-oak collection shipped. The Oslo sofa sells out in 48 hours.
2021
Craft partnerships established with artisans in Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
2023
Expanded to natural stone and marble tabletops, sourced directly from quarries in Rajasthan and Italy.
2025
10,000th piece delivered. Pan-India white-glove delivery now available in 24 cities.
2026
Nordhaus launches the Made by Hand collection, fully crediting each craft workshop.
Materials
What we build with, and why.
Every material we choose has a logic. Here is what we use, and how to care for it.
Solid White Oak
Sourced from FSC-certified forests in Europe and North America. White oak's tight grain and natural oils make it resistant to moisture and remarkably durable over decades of use.
Care
Wipe with a damp cloth. Re-oil annually with natural linseed oil to maintain the finish.
American Walnut
Dark, rich, and characterful — walnut is prized for its figured grain. No two boards are identical. We use solid planks or book-matched veneer across a stable engineered core.
Care
Avoid direct sunlight to prevent fading. Polish with beeswax every 6 months.
Belgian Linen
Long-fibre flax grown in Belgium's Lys river valley produces a linen that softens beautifully with age. Naturally anti-bacterial and hypoallergenic, it's the ideal upholstery for family homes.
Care
Removable covers are machine washable at 30°C. Tumble-dry low.
Natural Stone
We work with Pietra grigia, travertine, and Bianco Carrara — selected in quarry for consistent movement and colour. Stone is sealed before shipping for everyday resistance.
Care
Clean spills immediately. Re-seal annually with a natural stone sealant.
Ready to bring Nordhaus home?
Browse the shop, explore a collection, or speak to one of our interior advisors about building a room from scratch.
Free Delivery
Complimentary white-glove delivery on all orders above ₹30,000. Pan-India.
Professional Assembly
Our trained assembly team sets everything up, checks levelling, and takes away all packaging.
10-Year Structural Warranty
Every solid-wood piece carries a decade-long structural guarantee. We stand behind our joinery.
30-Day Returns
Changed your mind? We collect the piece, no questions asked, within 30 days of delivery.