Founded in 2006, Cantilever Interiors is, as Forbes put it, “a design led, product focused company”, with a strong focus on the longevity, quality and sustainability of its products. From its home in Brunswick East, Cantilever Interiors designs, manufactures and installs kitchen and interior joinery in residential projects Australia wide. Over the years, Cantilever Interiors has indeed garnered a reputation for excellent service and outstanding products but, perhaps most of all, for standing out from the crowd. Read on as we unpack just what sets this company apart.

KL: Can you please explain Cantilevers’ approach, and what services you offer?
KF: [We have] five distinct Kitchen Systems that meet a variety of aesthetic, material and budget preferences, and are the unique design offer of our company. Bound by a strict service provision that elevates accountability and communication, we have built a strong reputation for the design and delivery of quality joinery with a distinct, influential aesthetic. Most of our clients are renovating or refurbishing their home or working on a new build. Common reasons for seeking our services include an affinity with our design aesthetic, and a desire to work with a specialist kitchen company. Every project begins with the kitchen design, but we also design and build joinery for whole home projects, iterating joinery responses for any area of the home. Design, documentation, manufacture, and installation are included in our standard service packages, we also offer interiors and build services, depending on the scope of the project.

Cantilever has a very unique manufacturing process; would you mind taking us through this process?
We have a unique design offer, that is product-led. The development of our product group has grown from our experience in the practical application of design. We call our standard service a ‘closed loop system’. We value this approach, as it retains and deepens the knowledge of our team, connecting each of the steps in a chain that feeds back into our product development, which ultimately improves the product for our clients and our design knowledge. The process also offers a high level of accountability for our clients, and detailed support for project trades, which is something that we, and they, value. Creating beautifully designed and executed projects is what we want to do.

How customisable are your kitchen systems? And can they be adapted to suit any layout?  
Each Kitchen System has a unique design language, that is influenced by its materiality. This design language can be appropriated into any space, layout, or appliance group.

Where did the inspiration for your latest kitchen system, EDIT, come from?
We say EDIT is a meeting place, for memories. The language of EDIT is drawn from the meeting of curve, and line. Born of a design process reminiscent of a tide, a process tracing possibility and reduction, and repetition, to create refinement. It is inspired by the concept of meeting place, expressed through detail, and form.
A photographic series has informed the texture, colour and form of EDIT, capturing refined materiality in a finely balanced palette array. Inspired by the unique character of our Australian landscape, EDIT harnesses natural stone, steel and ceramic bench material, veneer and solid timber touchpoints, water-based finishes and glass. EDIT is a kitchen inspired by place, material and craftmanship.

How did the partnership with Cosh Living come about, and how did this teamwork influence the final result of EDIT?
When Cosh were designing their new showroom in Richmond, they were inspired by the concept of meeting place, and wanted to create a showroom that felt like a home. As a part of this concept, they invited a selection of complimentary design brands to share their products in the showroom settings, illustrating the design possibilities. You simply can’t have a home without a Kitchen, and we were invited to participate, alongside Rakumba Lighting.

The story of connecting our inside and outside lives is one that Cosh Living have explored through the introduction of their inaugural inhouse brand Kett Furniture, and the launch of their Inside / Outside furniture range. Executing a distinctly Australian design offering, the design studio collaborates with craftspeople from Australia, Italy and Indonesia to produce furniture with a timeless quality and technique. Headed up by Justin Hutchinson as design director, we took the opportunity to work together on the development of EDIT, tailored to feel at home amongst Cosh’s brand family. Working with Kett has given us at Cantilever a renewed sense that we are experiencing a shift in awareness toward Australia’s design industry strength, capacity and influence. We hope it is a testament to a growing sense of our collective confidence to impact; to acknowledge our unique and valued heritage; place in the world; and influence on its future.

What sets EDIT apart from your other kitchen systems?
Each of our products is defined by their material combination and inherent detailing. Our first Kitchen System – K1 was released in 2010. With each iteration of a new system we imbue the development of our design language, and craft.

EDIT is our latest release, and combines a material suite of Australian and international natural stone, steel and ceramic benchtops, with a series of stained Veneer cabinets. Solid Timber handles and detailing refine the design language of the product, pushing into new visual and sensory territory for our brand. We revisited and further refined the design and production of our sink and handle options, re-iterating benchtop designs, shelf and hardware inclusions. Introducing a Solid Timber table adjunct designed by KETT offers a practical and appealing resolution for dining comfort. A series of defined niche modules to cater for varied application accentuate the thoughtful design application inherent to the material and detail resolution of Cantilever products.

Images courtesy of Cantilever Interiors
Photography by Martina Gemmola