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Bespoke Cabinets
Jul
I asked Chat GTP to define “Fine Furniture” and it wrote this: Fine furniture is characterized by high-quality materials, exceptional craftsmanship, and thoughtful design, aiming for durability and timeless appeal. It often involves meticulous attention to detail, proper joinery, and a finish that enhances the wood’s natural beauty, potentially becoming a cherished heirloom. To this I would add that the hand of the maker should be present.
Commissioning a bespoke cabinet is an experience, not simply the purchase of an object. The client is paying for a drawing to be transformed into a piece of art furniture. We don’t work within a design vacuum: Dunstone Design cabinets have a language to them that is instantly recognisable, even though each cabinet is unique.
Our cabinets usually play with layers, shadows and textures. We make our own handles, and these handles are our signature. Our Eyeline handle is organic and soft. Our Arch handle is architectural and celebration of timber.
If you consider the elements of the two cabinets above, you can see both the similarities and the differences. The Lakeview 3 Chest of Drawers (left) in jarrah and rock maple uses eyeline handles in a simple, almost classic configuration. The selection of jarrah is bright and welcoming. We pay attention to the feel and balance of the drawers. The “surprise” is the tactile pleasure of using the drawers daily.
Heatwave 2 (right) is also jarrah, and employs Eyeline handles, but it has a different energy about it. The darker jarrah gives the piece a denser look. The shapes in the top and the legs have an Asian feel, but they do not reference a specific style, location or era. The vertical fluting on the door panels play with light and shadow, elevating the piece beyond a simple cabinet. Finally, the rock maple interior gives the piece a layer of surprise.
The Lakeview 3 chest of drawers will be used daily. Heatwave 2 might only be opened once a week. The level and type of human interaction varies, so the tactile experience of each design is different. Lakeview 3 is destined for the bedroom, while Heatwave 2 will sit in a living room. Heatwave 2 is a visually stimulating work of art as well as a functioning cupboard. Lakeview 3’s primary “job” is to be a delight to use.
You can imagine a visitor running their fingers over the fluting of Heatwave 2 and looking at the piece from all angles and in different light. It’s a public piece.
Lakeview 3 is a personal piece, used by the owner and rarely seen by outsiders. It’s a private experience. It’s there to delight, not to impress.
Lakeview 3 and Heatwave 2 both started as simple pencil drawings. Evan listened to the client’s brief. Timber samples were show. The space the pieces would go in were discussed. The function of the pieces were explored. Preferences were noted. Dimensions were considered. The clients pondered the final drawings.
During the making, the clients each received little updates. Just enough information to show the progress, but not enough detail to spoil the surprise. There’s a strange transition point in the making process when the collection of parts is suddenly a piece. The clients can see that work is progressing, but the reality of the finished piece is greater than the sum of the parts.
To see more examples of our cabinets, click here, or submit a brief to Evan (evan@dunstonedesign.com.au).
