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<\/a>Ever since, he\u2019s been keeping throwaway car, truck, motorcycle, yacht, airplane and NASCAR race car parts in a warehouse \u2013 the raw material for high-end furniture items. Santos and his 10-strong staff make tables, chairs, armchairs, sofas, lighting fixtures, chandeliers and d\u00e9cor items.<\/p>\n
According to him, the target demographics include the upper-middle class, artists, musicians, politicians, footballers, and car, motorcycle, plane and yachting fans.<\/p>\n
A coffee table built from a tree trunk slice and a yacht rudder goes for BRL 12,000. A pyramid made from electronic circuits that lights up at night costs BRL 15,000. An automated home theater built from the hood of a 1970s Ford Landau will run you BRL 70,000.<\/p>\n
Santos is producing a reality show about the project \u2013 Do Lixo ao Luxo<\/em> (or From Trash to Luxury) \u2013, which he\u2019s trying to pitch to the likes of History Channel<\/em>, Discovery<\/em> and Netflix<\/em>. The show portrays the whole process of refurbishing the materials and stresses the sustainability of making furniture with salvaged vehicle parts. \u201cI shot for the moon with this project. I want to reach the highest peak. If I make it to the stars, I\u2019m fine with it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Santos became an Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce<\/strong><\/a> member to tap into the international market. He\u2019s planning on spending some time in Dubai to explore its luxury car cemeteries. \u201cThere\u2019s this car cemetery in Dubai with thousands of cars like Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches and Maseratis formerly owned by businesspeople who went bankrupt and left the country. Some of the cars go on auction, but most just rust away out in the weather. I want to slice a Ferrari in half and turn it into art, make furniture and d\u00e9cor items for the sheikhs,\u201d said Santos.<\/p>\n He said he\u2019s aware that this is an ambitious project. \u201cBut it\u2019s what I want and I\u2019m going for it,\u201d he stressed. Santos plans on opening an art gallery in Dubai. As for S\u00e3o Paulo, where he lives and has his office, he wants to work with unused parts from Mercedes-Benz \u2013 another Arab Chamber member. \u201cI want to bring my collection to Dubai and create more pieces out there. I\u2019d like to film my reality show there as well. I believe one to two months will be enough,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Santos also plans on opening an art gallery in Miami, USA. Total Design Art has sold some 40 items to customers in S\u00e3o Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais; another 70 pieces are ready to go, and production is still ongoing.<\/p>\n As for his export plans, he\u2019s got his eyes set on the Arab countries. As for his Chamber membership, Santos said he hopes it will open doors into the Arab world more easily. \u201cMay the [Arab Brazilian] Chamber give me the support to showcase and do my work out there,\u201d he said. ANBA inquired Santos whether he dreams of selling to someone specific. \u201cYes. I\u2019d like to sell to a sheikh. Any sheikh will do; I have no restrictions,\u201d he joked.<\/p>\n Quick facts <\/strong><\/p>\n Total Design Art Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/a>
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