{"id":1013,"date":"2015-05-06T18:10:27","date_gmt":"2015-05-06T08:10:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.handkrafted.com/blog\/?p=1013"},"modified":"2015-05-21T21:16:34","modified_gmt":"2015-05-21T11:16:34","slug":"kathys-custom-wardrobe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.handkrafted.com/blog\/kathys-custom-wardrobe\/","title":{"rendered":"Kathy’s Gentleman’s Wardrobe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fed up with a lack of storage for her husband\u2019s motorbike jackets and strewn about shoes, Kathy Madell put her trust in the hands of meticulous maker<\/em> Zev Bianchi<\/em> to customise a modern version of an old school gentleman\u2019s wardrobe. \u00a0<\/em>Steph Schaffer had a chat with the pair to unpack the story behind this truly unique undertaking.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Zev Bianchi of Bcompact<\/a> first grew infatuated with furniture design when he fled Sydney as a young man to carve a new path in New York City. Out of necessity more than choice, he began designing space-conscious, multifunctional furniture to reap the most of the tight confines of his overpriced apartment.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was living basically in a rat\u2019s nest of 10 or 15 metres in the East Village for seven years,\u201d he recalled. \u201cI learned to make do in that space by making furniture that would do different things and it sort of blossomed from there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, in his Darlinghurst workshop, Zev\u2019s creative process still draws upon this narrative. He strives to create superior living environments in the least amount of space. Form and function factor most strongly to start and aesthetic follows thereafter.<\/p>\n

It is this specialisation in compact, space-saving, and environmentally sustainable furniture \u2013 as well as his impeccable craftsmanship \u2013 that caught Kathy Madell\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n

Frustrated by a lack of storage space for her husband\u2019s bulky motorbike jackets and scattered shoes, Kathy embarked on a mission to find a modern interpretation of an antique gentleman\u2019s style custom wardrobe. Rather than a built-in, she wanted a sleek and elegant piece to juxtapose the 1920s architectural features in her entry foyer. The big challenge? \u201cWe needed to limit the depth of the wardrobe to around 400mm so that it wouldn’t intrude into the space too much,\u201d Kathy said.<\/p>\n

She scoured the internet for both a practical and aesthetically pleasing piece, but nothing she stumbled upon struck her fancy until she found Handkrafted<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a look at the website and thought there were interesting people and pieces<\/a>. I liked the concept of having someone put you in touch with people who specialise in different things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Zev'sZev also expressed reverence for the site. He admitted that the likelihood of Kathy or any other potential customer randomly discovering his work without Handkrafted would be slim to nil. \u201cPersonally, I love Handkrafted,\u201d he said. \u201cAs a designer, I don\u2019t have time to do my own marketing. I have a website, which goes left for dead, so when I want someone to see something, I go, \u2018Hey, there\u2019s this!\u2019\u201d in reference to his maker profile.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you use this platform, you find people actually willing to spend money, collaborate on something, and get an outcome. I\u2019ve found it to be the most ideal situation as a designer. [Handkrafted Founder] Fred scratches my back and I scratch his.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Three makers were initially curated\u00a0by the Handkrafted \u00a0team to engage with Kathy\u2019s brief. No surprise, Zev jumped on Kathy\u2019s write-up\u00a0upon receiving it. A multipurpose, space-saving furniture design undertaking? Challenge accepted. \u201cKathy\u2019s project came up and I thought, \u2018That\u2019d be an interesting thing to do.\u2019 So, I clicked yes,\u201d Zev remarked.<\/p>\n

He\u00a0sent an introductory email equipped with photos of previous work and a quick concept drawing done on SolidWorks \u2013 the \u2018be-all and end-all of his design world\u2019 \u2013 a software that allows designers to manipulate each aspect of virtual 3D models in ways that mimic reality.<\/p>\n

Kathy took notice of Zev as a standout in aesthetic, workmanship, and overall value. \u201cHis drawing was quite funky. It was really unusual and piqued my interest,” Kathy recalled. “He got immediately what I was trying to achieve, and came up with a brilliant answer straightaway.”<\/p>\n

\u201cZev\u2019s clever design found a perfect solution. He was really pleasant to deal with and his craftsmanship is truly outstanding. The entire thing was absolutely seamless from my perspective.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Zev kept Kathy in the loop by sending updates, and photos of finishes he could achieve and the types of bamboos that were available. Bamboo <\/a>\u2013 Zev\u2019s material of choice due to its environmental benefits and malleability \u2013 appealed to Kathy. \u201cI quite liked the idea that he was using a sustainable material,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\"Kathy's<\/p>\n

Upon delivery, when an unanticipated situation arose, Kathy and Zev proved once more they had perfected the art of collaboration. During the production process, Kathy had forgotten to mention to Zev that she lived on the fourth floor of a very old apartment building: no windows, five flights of spiral stairs, two metre lift, and two metre wardrobe. You do the math.<\/p>\n

Lo and behold, the custom wardrobe came within a millimetre of the lift.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had great fun getting the wardrobe in,\u201d Kathy reminisced, laughing through her anecdote. \u201cZev was very patient and we worked together really well. We ended up going up and down in the lift a few times until it lined up exactly \u2013 and that just shows Zev\u2019s dedication. He could have said, \u2018Sorry love, all yours,\u2019 but he didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

With its delicate teak shade, fluid curves, and ingenious design, the one of a kind piece now stands as a focal point in Kathy\u2019s entry foyer. Some superb features include: concealed hinges embedded in the timber, fore and aft running poles, a deep seated drawer at the base to house shoes, and innovative side-opening doors for ease of access.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not going to be another piece like this in anyone else\u2019s home,\u201d Kathy commented. \u201cAnd apart from being functional, I will be able to hand the wardrobe down to my kids, who actually want to keep it.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cI love that buying bespoke allows you to have your own inflection and put your own twist on everything you want in your home,\u201d Zev agreed. \u201cAnd it\u2019s good for makers like me who practice a dying art.\u201d<\/p>\n

With support\u00a0from makers like Zev and customers like Kathy, Handkrafted strives to preserve the art of bespoke craftsmanship. Let’s transform\u00a0what many consider a dying art into a coveted prowess…together.<\/p>\n

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Remember how we mentioned Zev’s go-to design software SolidWorks? Check out this cool clip of Kathy’s custom wardrobe in its final design stages.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.handkrafted.com/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/Zev-SolidWorks-Wardrobe.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n
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About Handkrafted:<\/em><\/p>\n

Handkrafted <\/a>has brought together Australia\u2019s most comprehensive community\u00a0of independent bespoke furniture makers. With hundreds of craftspeople and artisans that can cater to all styles, budgets and geographies,\u00a0we\u2019ll\u00a0match you to\u00a0the right maker for your custom furniture project.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Commissioning a piece of furniture through Handkrafted is a unique and fulfilling experience. Support local makers and\u00a0kickstart<\/a>\u00a0your own project today.<\/em><\/p>\n

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