A few words on materials used

There are products and materials that I like so much that I use them quite often.
But first let me start with something I don’t use and that’s particleboard. Massively used for mass production and you will probably find it in every home. The reason for me to not use it is very simple, it is sort of ok when you hardly pay anything for a piece of furniture (think Ikea) but it is not worth the level of attention I put into a piece. No matter how you look at it, it’s just flakes of wood mixed with glue and a whole lot of nothing in between. For me, the lowest grade material is Mdf, particle boards better build and better looking cousin. It is more expensive but so much better and because of it’s dense nature it has some unique qualities. Not the first thing to choose for constructions but ideal for surfaces like doors.

For constructions like drawers and cabinets I use a lot of high grade Birch plywood. Not cheap but incredibly strong and very nice-looking. Especially for kitchens or bathrooms, it’s a good thing it’s quite water resistant. There is always a chance of leakage (no matter how small) and when that happens you don’t want your cabinets to be made out of particleboard. That would surely mean cabinets would be damaged beyond repair and exchanging cabinets underneath a worktop is a lot of work. Birch plywood can take a lot more water before it needs replacing which is a comforting thought!

By the way, this is a big advantage when buying directly from the manufacturer; you get more for your moneys. No matter how classy that expensive Italian looks, it’s a lot particleboard under the surface. I can make you something better for the same money and the possibilities will be endless.

For finishing wood I often use Rubio Monocoat oils. Please check their website to learn more about the unique qualities of these products. One of the big reasons I like the oils so much is that it only takes one layer to get an excellent protective finish. That’s a major thing especially with big project as you can imagine. Visually it does just what oil should with wood, it ads a great amount of depth to the grain. Un top of that it forms a protective layer that can even withstand a fair amount of heat. Not yet available in Switzerland so I buy it from directly the manufacturer.

Most of the hardware used is by Blum of Austria, an authority in this area and for a good reason. Recently I took out an old kitchen, the cabinets fell apart just by them selves due to the heavy use they got. The hinges, made by Blum, still worked like a charme. Exactly that design is still in their catalogue, unchanged for many years because they are just that good. They also make great drawer slides and their products for silently closing doors and drawers are a becoming a standard feature in my furniture.

When I’m buying solid wood I go to Comptoir du Bois. They only sell FSC labelled woods and have a tremendous stock that’s of a high quality. I pick the pieces I want myself to ensure I get the right parts for the job.

These are materials I use on a regular basis, this does not mean I use them exclusively but simply that they can be applied broadly and have proven their quality. Should the job require or should you prefer something else than that obviously is no problem what so ever.