Traditional Diwan in Walnut and Gold Teak with Ruched Seat Border

A ruched border is a band of cloth gathered into pleats, and whether it looks generous or mean comes down to one number decided before cutting: the fullness ratio.

The band is cut longer than the distance it has to cover, and the surplus becomes the pleats. Cut it only slightly longer and the pleats are shallow and spaced far apart - the border looks starved, as though the cloth ran short. Cut it much longer and the pleats crowd into each other, the band thickens, and the seat edge looks padded rather than dressed.

There is a proportion that works, and it is fixed as a ratio of finished length rather than as a pleat count - so a longer diwan gets proportionally more cloth and the border looks identical on a piece of any size.

Every pleat is then formed by hand at its marked position and folded in the same direction, so light runs consistently along the band, and the pleating is set out from the centre of the front so it resolves symmetrically at both ends.

Where the band turns the rounded end of the seat, the pleats are opened very slightly - the outer edge travels further round a curve than the inner one, and unless the pleats are allowed for that, they close up and the band tightens.

Frame: solid teak throughout, hand-carved, finished in a walnut tone with hand-applied gold on the carving.

Back: deep buttoned, rising to a carved gilded crest at the head.

Seat: patterned covering on a sprung and webbed platform.

Border: ruched band gathered into hand-set pleats, running around the full seat edge, set out from the centre front and eased at the curve.

Apron and feet: carved gilded apron running the length of the front, into carved feet.

Cushions: coordinating scatter cushions at the head.

Handing: built with the high end to the left or the right, to your requirement.

Made to order: length, back height, seat depth, handing, finish and coverings are all customisable. Custom sizes made to order - final measurements confirmed in writing before production.

The ruched border projects around the entire seat edge and would flatten under any pressure, so a soft foam collar is run around the whole band before wrapping and nothing is allowed to bear on it.

The upholstery is wrapped in clean breathable cloth and then soft polythene, loosely, with all strapping taken around the frame rails only.

The gilded carving takes acid-free tissue directly against the gold, then foam padding shaped along the mouldings, then bubble wrap, with individual blocking at the crest, the apron and the carved feet - which are the furthest projections on the piece.

Scatter cushions travel in their own sleeves.

Feet are detached where the design allows, sleeved in foam and boxed.

Everything ships in a hardwood crate, corner-protected and marked for orientation. Multi-layer protective packaging is included on every order at no extra cost.

Delivery is free anywhere in India, with guaranteed dent-free arrival. No distance charge, no size charge and no handling fee.

Production begins once your length, handing and coverings are confirmed in writing. We photograph your actual diwan through the build - the frame in the white, the carving, the walnut tone and gilding, the buttoning, the ruched border set out and pleated, and the finished piece.

Our team carries the diwan in, fits the feet if they have travelled separately, sets and levels it, and places the cushions.

Send us lift dimensions, stair turns and doorway widths ahead of dispatch so the route can be planned. Every photograph on this page is of the actual product, not a render.

The solid teak frame and joinery carry a 20-year warranty - the seat rails, the back frame, the crest, the apron and the feet, along with every joint between them.

A lifetime warranty against termite damage runs with the diwan and never expires. Teak's natural oils are its own protection and our warranty stands behind them.

The sprung and webbed platform, the buttoning and the ruched border are covered against manufacturing defect.

All coverings, the walnut tone and the gilding materials are recorded against your order number, along with the fullness ratio used on the border. That last figure is what allows the border to be remade years later at exactly the same proportion rather than by eye. Contact us with your order number and we will arrange it.