Our Story
Handmade - A home for the soul.
Our trip to Lovina Living Bali:
Our story doesn't begin in Bali, but at home in Germany – more precisely in Fellbach near Stuttgart. We are not just travelers, but a happily married couple of many years, proud parents, and family people. Our anchor is our private passion project: a Swabian half-timbered house over 150 years old, located right at the foot of the Kappelberg mountain.
Here, with our daily view of the vineyards, we learned the meaning of permanence. We completely renovated this house ourselves, uncovering its historic charm. We've been living the style we now sell for years: surrounded by centuries-old, solid oak beams, now complemented by mango wood furniture and pure natural wool carpets.
It is precisely this blend of Swabian craftsmanship and tropical ease that defines LOVINA LIVING BALI. We know how to fill a space with soul – whether in the jungle or in a vineyard.
We furnished the house in a "boho style" long before we founded the company because we only feel comfortable with genuine, natural materials. During the renovation, we followed a strict principle: resource conservation and upcycling . We didn't throw away a single historic brick or one of the valuable old oak beams, but painstakingly restored everything by hand. We are aware that we bear responsibility for our carbon footprint and the future of our children. Anyone who builds and lives like this knows what true value means.
The encounter that changed everything
With precisely this intuition in mind, Yana and I traveled the world together with our little three-year-old daughter. We have a direct comparison, having seen much of the world: from North America and Hawaii to South America, the Caribbean, Eastern, Western, and Southern Europe, North Africa, the Arab countries with their modern metropolises like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and on to India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Thailand. But when we arrived in Bali, it was different from all those other beautiful places.
We deliberately chose to avoid the noisy tourist regions and opt for the unspoiled north, the Lovina area and the adjacent mountains – also to find peace and quiet as a family.
When our GPS failed in the mountainous hinterland of Lovina Beach, we stumbled upon an old man working on a piece of wood by the roadside in front of his house. I immediately sensed that art was being created here. The fact that we struck up a conversation stemmed from a deep, instant connection. Although he spoke hardly any English, we understood each other perfectly: from one craftsman to another.
A legacy that connects generations . Suddenly
His whole family stood behind him –
Young and old alike peered out curiously. But the best moment was yet to come: when Grandpa's grandchildren came around the corner with small, clumsy puppies, our daughter couldn't contain herself. Pure joy: children and puppies playing together.
immediately together, completely carefree and without any language barrier.
We watched, fascinated, as the craftsmanship here was passed down from one generation to the next like a precious inheritance. When buying, we consciously chose not a perfectly polished piece, but a bowl that had been left in the corner as a "reject." We saw no flaws in it, but rather character – just like our old house. As a parting gift, the family gave our daughter small bananas straight from their garden. That moment stayed with us.
Our vision: Love for the Earth. It was during this time that our idea was born: We want to help these families by distributing their unique craftsmanship globally and preserving their traditions. The name "Lovina" reflects this: It is composed of "Love" and "Ina" (Indonesian for Earth/Mother).
Core promise: Your analog anchor . We don't sell disposable items. Our pieces are meant to be cherished for years to come. We offer you a conscious escape from the digital hustle and bustle: When your day is dominated by screens and notifications, our design is your reset button. We create analog retreats for you, surrounded by nature.
Your first taste of Bali – right from the moment you open it. For us, unpacking isn't just a means to an end, but the start of your journey. We're 100% plastic-free, but never at the expense of the experience. When you open your package, you're greeted by our signature scent and the soft rustle of fine tissue paper. A multi-sensory ritual that shows you: This is made with love. For you and for the environment.
Yours, Yana & Sebastian
The Minds behind LOVINA | Yana & Sebastian Richard Tondera.
Swabia meets Bali.
We believe that a home is more than just four walls. To fulfill this aspiration, we bring together two perfectly complementary worlds:
Structure and feeling.
Sebastian Richard Tondera | Vision, Strategy & An Eye for Space. Sebastian is the architect of our vision. He combines what rarely comes together: the creative eye of a trained media designer and the pragmatic expertise of a craftsman with over 25 years of experience. As the founder of the successful craft business SUNMEX (sun protection technology), he works daily on demanding architectural projects. His advantage: He not only knows how to sell things, but also how they need to work to harmonize with light and architecture. This trained eye for aesthetics and his worldwide business network (BNI) guarantee that only products that meet the highest standards end up at LOVINA LIVING.
Yana Tondera | Creative Direction & The Touch. Yana is the soul of our aesthetic. As a trained fashion designer, she brings what can't be learned, but only felt: a deep understanding of textures, fabrics, and tactile qualities. She knows what "true naturalness" should feel like. With her flair for international trends and her background in collection design, she curates our range. She ensures that our products not only look good, but also feel exactly as you dream they should.