HOUSE OF RJMCLEAN was featured in The Nation’s Midweek Nation in a story titled “From power suit to power saw,” highlighting founder and lead designer RJ's journey from corporate leadership to woodworking, furniture design, and creative entrepreneurship.
After two decades in corporate London, including senior roles in information technology and management consulting, Rysel made the decision to leave behind the structure of boardrooms and build a new life rooted in craft, design, and purpose. What began as a search for a different way of living evolved into a deep commitment to furniture making, material transformation, and the creation of pieces with presence.
The Nation feature shares how RJ moved from paperwork to woodwork, trained in woodwork in Barbados, and began developing a body of work shaped by persistence, skill, and a belief in the value of quality furniture. It also captures the realities of entering a traditionally male field and the quiet determination required to keep going, keep learning, and keep building.
Today, that journey continues through HOUSE OF RJMCLEAN, a Barbados-based studio creating sculptural furniture and functional art for distinctive homes, villas, hotels, designers, and architects. Each piece is guided by intention, craftsmanship, and the belief that furniture should do more than serve a function. It should anchor a space, carry a story, and command presence.
Read the original Nation feature below, then explore the work behind the story.
