Our Story

Hi there!

We're Keenan and Carmi O'Connell, a young married couple with a passion for design and craftsmanship. After spending three years sourcing, fixing, and rehoming vintage furniture, we have decided to venture into a new space and market. We are excited to announce that we’ve started our journey into manufacturing.

Inspired by our love of mid-century furniture, we aim to bring these iconic styles into the modern era, all in a proudly South African way. Our first offering is the launch of our Cesca-inspired dining chairs, and we’re hard at work behind the scenes creating more unique pieces that we can't wait to share with you.

  

Our story began in a small apartment in Stellenbosch, where we did furniture repairs in our living room. As the noise from sanding grew, we knew we needed a proper workspace. We found Lyneth, a kind lady who rented us half of her garage, which became the starting point of what would eventually grow into The Thrifty Duo.

   

Over the years, we restored and sold beautiful pieces of furniture. We even opened a shop with a workshop for furniture restoration at the back, where Keenan’s hands-on approach brought new life to each piece, and Carmi worked behind the scenes on product photography, listings, social media, and sales.

    

In early 2024, after outgrowing our original space, we relocated to a warehouse to focus on refining our processes and expanding our offerings. Now, we’ve moved completely online and are excited to take this next step with you. 

We are incredibly grateful for the support we’ve received and invite you to follow along as we embark on this new chapter. 

  

Check out our Instagram page for updates, and we look forward to continuing to bring our passion for furniture to your homes!