The high-end Aotearoa furniture market is a relatively small one. “There are some beautiful things, but if a customer buys a dining table, chances are someone else already has it,” says Philbe Design founder Phil Horner. “So we’re designing and making bespoke furniture that is of comparable quality to those of international design houses — but completely unique.”

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The notion of high-end bespoke furniture, handcrafted to fit your style, space and specifications is an appealing one. Whether you’re after a lazy-Susan-topped dining table, a grooved maple whiskey cabinet or an oak library ladder with curved brass accents (worth a look on the Philbe Instagram), the Tāmaki Makaurau furniture studio’s back catalogue demonstrates its ‘anything is possible’ approach. From concept to creation, Philbe’s full-service process is relaxed, collaborative and local, meaning there are no six-month lead times.

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The first step to creating a customised piece is a conversation with the in-house design department. “We start by listening to what our clients are looking for,” says Horner. “Furniture is a very beautiful, very addictive thing, and while many people come in with great ideas, they may need a bit of practical guidance.” Deciphering their clients’ needs, style, budget, and how and where the piece will fit in their home, the designers then produce a rough estimate so everyone’s on the same page. “Then, the fun bit begins.”

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After locking in the concept, there’s some back and forth with drawings and sampling materials. “You can get really detailed with your design at this point,” explains Horner. “If you want a cabinet perfectly scaled to hold your poodle’s collar collection, then it’s not a problem.” One past project saw a walnut drawer insert precisely moulded around a bottle of gin and six tumblers – there’s no doubt that specificity is Philbe’s speciality. In the final design phase, the client will receive a detailed 3D render of their piece, giving them a clear picture of the finished product.

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Once that’s signed off, the drawings are released to the in-house production team and the design is fabricated using Philbe’s trademark methods, merging traditional woodworking with contemporary design. “Then, before the final stain or finishing, the team put the piece together for a viewing at the workshop,” explains Horner. This penultimate step allows clients to make final tweaks, but few do. “Our design department’s high-level drawings, 3D models and renders mean you know exactly what you’re getting long before that point, but we know that people can still change their minds, and we give them the freedom to do that.” This flexibility is the beauty of going bespoke. “At the end of the day, that’s what I’m trying to create here,” shrugs Horner. “Unmatched service and unique furniture.”

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Philbe Design

philbedesign.co.nz