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We are a nation of hoarders. Whether it's clothes, CD's or nik-naks from our travels, they all need storage. Often we cram our homes with mass produced 'storage solutions' when we could opt for beautiful bespoke designed furniture instead. We featured Bianchi Fine Furniture in our pages almost two years ago. Vale Life recently caught up with owner Giancarlo Bianchi to find out why he's so passionate about his work.
HEART AND CRAFT
How's business?
It's definitely moved on a pace! We still thrive on designing and hand crafting free standing hardwood furniture for both private and corporate clients. However, in response to an increasing demand from our clients for bespoke fitted furniture and high-end interior joinery, we have significantly expanded our workload.
Where is your work best suited?
Our work is particularly suited to period properties where awkward and irregular spaces require accurate design and workmanship. It's rewarding getting involved in a client's house renovation or new-build project from the early stages. We recently installed a white fitted bedroom wardrobe and a walk-in wardrobe which were part of an extensive renovation project of a period building and are in the process of making and fitting a substantial kitchen. We also dealt with the full internal renovation of a period property, where we designed, built and fitted oak staircases, internal and external doors, free-standing (small display cabinets, bed-side cabinets, four-poster bed) and fitted (wardrobe, radiator cabinets) furniture.
How many of you are there?
We've always taken pride in having a small but highly skilled and capable workforce of four to five people.
The most significant addition to the workforce is our head craftsman and workshop manager Kerry Beer who has over 35 years experience in designing, making and fitting furniture from private homes to restaurants and hotels here in the UK and around the world. His wealth of knowledge has been crucial in the expansion of the services we can now provide.
What type of customer do you attract?
I'm always pleased to see returning customers as well as new ones! In the commercial world we still continue our strong relationships with clients such as the Penderyn distillery which we supply with an increasing volume of products. Private clients we served in the past have recently come back with more work, especially fitted furniture.
We also attract new private clients who, for instance, are renovating or extending their home and that heard of us by word of mouth. So, the common thread that runs through our customer base is that they all appreciate the design, quality, attention to detail and exceptional customer service that we offer at Bianchi Fine Furniture.
Please describe some of your recent projects
I recently designed and crafted a substantial lounge coffee table made from solid American black walnut with two glass surfaces. This was a really satisfying project as it involved many hours of hand planing the profile of the four sinuous legs. Other recent projects included the white painted fitted wardrobe I mentioned above, which included some elaborate fitting because of the uneven walls and unusual angles involved, and the making of an eleven foot long, wall to wall lounge unit in American white oak.
Typically what is the process from order to completion?
This really depends on the type of project. For example, I am about to confirm an order for a television cabinet in American white oak with a client in Porthcawl. Assuming we can finalise the design, that type of commission would take two to three weeks to be delivered.
However, when we do get involved with the full renovation of a property, as I mentioned before, we tend to progress at the same pace as the project does, depending on how much work is involved.
What is your dream commission?
The most important thing is that the client's brief is always respected and the end product is at least as good as the client expected it to be. So, with that in mind, I treat all commissions with the same seriousness and utmost respect. If I were to choose a specific project, I must admit to having a weakness for those where I'm given a fairly loose brief. With these the design process is more natural and enjoyable. The coffee table I mentioned earlier is a good example of this.
What are your plans for 2011?
To move Bianchi Fine Furniture to new premises between Porthcawl and Cardiff where we would be better placed to serve our core customer base which increasingly comes from this area.
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SISTER MAGAZINES
 
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