Historically inspired design: These kitchen safe pieces would have originally been a cool dry and safe space to store food in the days before refrigeration. They were often raised off the ground and featured stacked shelves to separate food stuffs safely. This useful small piece of functional furniture was designed to maximise storage space in farmhouses and cottages where space was more limited than the grand estate houses.
Made to tread lightly: Designed with care and purpose, this piece embodies our commitment to thoughtful craftsmanship, minimising the use of additional components beyond the timber itself. There are no extraneous handles on the cabinet; instead, the doors are opened through subtly notched corners at the top, creating a simple yet functional design. Over time, we hope these notches will naturally wear down, becoming touchpoints shaped by generations of use. Each door is secured with elegant oval wooden dowels at the top and bottom, eliminating the need for magnetic catches. By employing simple traditional woodworking techniques, we celebrate the art of craftsmanship while avoiding wasteful, low-quality alternatives.
Last hinge standing: The Industrial Revolution transformed the West Midlands into a hub for brass manufacturing. The region, particularly Birmingham, became known as the "Workshop of the World" due to its dominance in metalworking and manufacturing. Sadly, fast forward to late 20th century and nearly all of the traditional brass foundries in the West Midlands had closed due to the rise of global manufacturing, and competition from countries with lower labour costs. The hinges used on our Chase cabinet doors are handmade by the very last existing brass hinge manufacturer in the West Midlands. The only way we are going to turn this story around is to do everything we can to support business like Simonswerk in Tipton or we will lose these skills forever.
Back to first principles: To allow the timber in this piece to expand and contract naturally without risk of splitting, we ensure that the grain is aligned consistently on each plane front and back, top
and bottom. This uniform orientation allows the wood to move in harmony, accommodating natural changes in the timber over time while maintaining the integrity of the piece.
A matter of balance: The Chase Cabinet is the piece in our collection that inspired the Gather cork levelling solution. Cabinets with narrow feet can be difficult to level, especially in older homes with uneven floors, such as those with flagstones. The corks fitted in each leg serve multiple purposes: they protect the cabinet legs from damage, prevent marks and scratches on the floor, and provide a quick, simple solution for uneven surfaces. While many manufacturers rely on hard plastic feet to this end, we knew there had to be a better way. Henry’s cork and penny solution is one of our proudest innovations—a straightforward, sustainable approach that will stand the test of time. To level your cabinet, simply stack the required number of pennies under the leg, unscrew the cork, place the pennies, and replace the cork. And if, over time, the cork wears down, you can easily replace it with one from any nearby bottle of wine!
