1995
1990
1990

Christo spent a year travelling round India on his Enfield motorbike and discovered the culture, people and treasures of this remarkable country.

1990 2002
1995
1995
1995

He started selling the treasures he’d brought back from frequent visits to India in a small antiques market in Church Stretton.

1995 2003
2002
2002
2002

Christo started to develop a range of sandstone, all hand carved by highly skilled craftsmen in Rajasthan, using classic English designs from the 18th Century.

2002 2004
2003
2003

Wonderful partnerships were formed between the company and the main Indian suppliers. All our products are made mainly by hand in small family run workshops across Rajasthan, who Christo visits several times a year and knows personally.

2003 2005
2004
2004
2004

The first exhibition at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with a stand designed by Julian Faulkner. We received the first of many Merit Awards for Outstanding Presentation of the Stand. This was the first public showing of the Kadai, where it formed the base for an impressive water feature.

2004 2006
2005
2005

Having seen traditional Kadais used as cooking bowls in India with the fire underneath, we started experimenting with one at home and came up with the idea of putting the fire inside the bowl instead. 

2005 2008
2006
2006
2006

We returned to RHS Chelsea and decide to launch the Original Kadai as a fire bowl. Later in the summer we added grills to a Kadai and realised it also made a fantastic barbecue. 

2006 2009
2008
2008

By the time we went to RHS Hampton Court Flower Show in July, we had perfected the design for the Recycled Kadai, hand-made from oil drums by our family run workshops in India.

2008 2010
2009
2009
2009

We continued to develop the Kadai range: providing both a high stand for barbecuing and a low stand for using as a fire bowl.

2009 2011
2010
2010

The Kadai Firebowl was introduced at two trade shows along with a growing range of other associated outdoor living products, all from India. Gradually, our stockist network started to form across the UK.

2010 2012
2011
2011
2011

For a few years we had been designing a range of accessories to complement the Kadai. The Charcoal Maker was entered into the first Chelsea Flower Show product of the Year Award as a new innovative product and won!

2011 2014
2012
2012
We entered our second Product of the Year at RHS Chelsea Flower Show - the Kadai Trunk.
2012 2016
2014
2014
2014
2014

By now the Kadai team, originally four, was rapidly growing with over ten people. The third entry for Product of the Year went to Chelsea Flower Show, the Kadai Planter.

2014 2017
2016
2016
The Kadai team was growing again, with almost twenty staff. The fantastic Sofa Kadai was entered into Product of the Year at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
2016 2018
2017
2017
2017
2017
Exciting times, as the newest Firebowl was designed and put on the market. The Wilstone was created one sheet of thick steel providing a contemporary looking firebowl.
2017 2019
2018
2018
2018
2018
The Tula was created for customers to enjoy one of our bowls purely as a firepit. 
2018 2020
2019
2019
2019

There was small tweaks and finnesing to make Kadai the go-to brand for Firebowls; the warranty was increased to five years and the Kadai stands were developed and improved. Also, there was over 200 stockists in the UK and across Europe.

2019
2020
2020
2020

 After years of trading under Wilstone House & Gardens, the two companies split and now work together to bring the best possible products to both customer databases. Including the hand-crafted and sustainable Wilstone Garden Range, that was launched on both websites.

The Kadai brand has continued to grow, with an expanding product range for the Kadai Firebowl and garden. The Kadai continues to bring pleasure to small gatherings and outdoor spaces all over the world. 

From Humble Beginnings...

Christo started Wilstone in the mid 1990's as an outlet for the beautiful Indian artefacts that he found. Now made up of a team of over 20 enthusiastic employees, the company is continuing to go from strength to strength, with new designs being created every year.

Timeline 1990 to Present Day

Please be aware that as with all great ideas there will be those who try to copy and imitate but they will be never be true to the original concept and ethics of its creators. The quality cannot be guaranteed and unless it says Kadai, it's just an imitation.

'Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful'
William Morris