Pooja Pawaskar’s hand-whittled creations highlight the wonders of imperfection.

While some makers strive for flawlessness in their designs, Pooja Pawaskar chooses to embrace the blemishes in her works. The Ottawa, Ontario–based carpenter behind Whirl & Whittle crafts sumptuous wooden creations that celebrate the inherent beauty in each object’s idiosyncrasies. “I like to think of things as unique rather than imperfect,” she says. “Uniqueness is inspiring.”

Growing up in a multigenerational home in Mumbai, India, Pawaskar was introduced to furniture design at a young age by her grandfather, a formally trained carpenter. “I would always come home to him building something new: bed frames, tables, even handcarved doors,” she recalls. “I’ve been captivated by woodwork ever since.”