RL: Describe the evolution of the Sticks & Stones (S&S) family business over the last 25 years.
JLF: Twenty-five years ago, my mother, Jani La Fortune, thought Cayman needed more furniture and retail options, so she and a few friends travelled to Indonesia and returned with three containers filled with furniture to create a pop-up shop. In early 2004, after much travel and learning about the Indonesian production and cargo process, she opened Sticks & Stones (S&S) in Red Bay. In 2006, I then moved from California to work in S&S, and in 2008, we purchased the Industrial Park location, familiar to many.

RL: Tell us more about your new location. How will you create shopping experiences and inspire S&S clients?
JLF: To celebrate 25 years of this adventure, we decided to evolve into something a little different. In November 2023, the Sticks & Stones Home Collection opened in the Grand Pavilion, offering a personalised, one-on-one, furniture shopping experience in an inspiration suite.
It is furnished with some of our favourite items we have discovered or designed over the years. You’ll be greeted by an antique panel from Bali and What Happens When It Rains, a cherished painting by Miami-based artist Erin Parish, that travelled with me from California to Cayman. The walls showcase locally crafted batik featuring Caymanian content and some whimsy sourced from Pure Art. The floors are elegantly dressed with unique rugs from Ledger & Looms. We created this space to showcase the uniqueness of what we can do. It has been designed to grow and change with us.

RL: Your furniture is so unique. How do you work with clients to create custom orders?
JLF: S&S can create a single piece of custom furniture or an entire home collection to suit each client’s taste and aesthetic. We draw inspiration from items we have designed over the past 25 years or a client’s sketched idea, keeping value and quality at the forefront.
Clients are invited to visit our inspiration suite, where we have created a calming space to discuss and reflect on what their home means to them. For those ordering a sofa or sectional, we have all the fabric options on-island, and you can relax on our Sylvie Sofa while we help you create your perfect sofa to unwind. Alternatively, we can meet clients at their home for a walk-through to
better understand the space and their desires.

RL: How is the furniture tailor-made for THE Cayman climate? What materials are used?
JLF: We specialise in custom-made furniture, primarily teak furniture made in Indonesia using teak that is either reclaimed or sourced from government plantations. Our upholstered furniture is made exclusively with Rowe & Robin Bruce Furniture, USA. All our outdoor rattan furniture is customised using an anodised aluminium frame and UV-stabilised outdoor rattan in various colours and woven patterns. S&S’s furniture is designed and made to give you years of easy living with minimal upkeep. We even offer S&S clients an outdoor teak refinishing service.

RL: S&S host unique pop-up events. When can we expect to join these?
JLF: To celebrate how and where it all began, we will create pop-up stores several times a year at The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park.
This will give those who prefer to touch and feel items a place to see what we offer. The pop-ups will always feature the fundamental elements of the Sticks & Stones Home Collection. The Botanic Park has always been a special place for us, and we are thrilled to support it even more in the coming years.

RL: What does 2024 hold for S&S?
JLF: I am so excited for 2024. I have been working on several homes in Bahia and Olea, and I look forward to showing more customers how to get what they want for a fair and reasonable price. A big highlight for me will be assembling a stunning Murano glass chandelier in a client’s dining room. It has been 20 years since I’ve had the opportunity. It takes a steady hand and plenty of patience.
We have a few more surprises and partnerships for 2024, so watch this space.