68 | JOINERY Rhys Powell Joinery T T Sue Russell Kitchen project wows award judges The American White Oak kitchen took out the New Zealand Master Joiners best regional entry award. Rhys and Lynne Powell each bring important skill sets into their award-winning New Plymouth joinery business, Rhys Powell Joinery. Rhys took over an existing joinery company he had been working in back in 1998 and with years of precision joinery experience under his belt the business has carved an enviable reputation. “Lynne brings kitchen design skills into the mix and we have four people on the workshop floor. I have an experienced Foreman to oversee the production and my role these days is to do all the organising behind the scenes, find new work and, along with Lynne, liaise closely with clients,” says Rhys. And a highlight this year has been in receiving the New Zealand Master Joiners best regional entry award at the recent national conference for a stunning kitchen project. “We thoroughly enjoyed this project and the results speak for themselves. The use of American White Oak really sets the project off.” Rhys says the client above all wanted a practical, unfussy and ‘in keeping with its surrounds’ kitchen. It needed to be flexible enough in design to work well for an array of activities, from breakfasts and cooking, to welcoming visitors to sit around its large island hub. “We made really good use of the large pantry which had extra workspace and inner drawers, a Le Mans corner unit and open shelving to accommodate appliances and store food all hidden behind three sliding doors.” Vertical storage for platters makes exceptionally sensible use of space, while wine bottles, oils and baking trays are contained in purpose-built drawers. The colour pallet engaged reflects the tones of ‘mother nature’ and overall the impression is one of peace and quiet, complemented with cork flooring and manufactured stone tops. “Because it was a new kitchen in an existing home it was important that the overall look would blend in well with the home and its age. Our clients weren’t looking for anything ultra-modern.” Two apprentices, in their mid 20’s, form part of the team and each one is about 18 months into their joinery qualifications. Rhys says he’s pleased to be in a position to provide learning opportunities in a trade he’s proud of. Joinery training is delivered through BCITO and Rhys says the structure works well, with a mix of work-based learning and apprentices submitting work for assessment online and attending block courses. Rhys feels its important to really promote the benefits that come from undertaking Joinery training. “I think its really important that joinery is celebrated as its own trade. With all the bulk assembled cabinetry that is now readily available, the inherent quality fine joinery brings into the final look and feel of a project, should never be underestimated.” The past few years have brought their fair share of challenges through and post-COVID, with materials supply shortages. Thankfully, that situation is slowly rectifying itself providing more certainty for clients in terms of costs and time-frames. “We’ve had to adapt our quoting to reflect some uncertainty in material prices and now hold our quotes for one month,” Rhys explains. Rhys says he and the team think of themselves as bespoke joiners and as such, he is happy with the size of the business. “It’s much easier to remain small and personal to keep control of things like quality. That’s incredibly important to me.” As a former President of the New Zealand Master Joiners Association, Rhys says with so many options now available, the organisation is rightly concerned with the ongoing promotion of Joinery as a specialist trade, within the building industry. “Keeping the joinery trade recognised and alive and having the general public understand what is involved in being a Master Joiner and the qualities and values a qualified Joiner inherently adds to a project. “It’s difficult to explain in words but quality joinery made by a qualified craftperson can definitely be seen and felt.” 06 758 2257 www.lamiform.co.nz sales@lamiform.co.nz Quality New Zealand Benchtops ▶ Corian ▶ Engineered Stone ▶ Natural Stone ▶ Ceramic ▶ Laminate 20 Dawson Street, New Plymouth www.itmnewplymouth.co.nz Ph: 06 758 8939 Cladding • Timber Panels • Insulation • Bricks & Paving Cement/Masonry • Paint • Building Hardware • Bathrooms Fastenings • Adhesives • Wall Linings • Frames & Trusses
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=