Furniture fittings: the ultimate connector of past and present

From old wood to modern interior design

'Without fittings, furniture is nothing more than a pile of planks.' This apt statement by Sibylle Thierer, former CEO and descendant of the Häfele family, highlights the importance of furniture fittings in interior design projects. These often invisible but essential components have a key position in bringing furniture designs to life. So too at Robuust Maatwerk, where they transform centuries-old wood with contemporary furniture hardware into the most beautiful custom interiors.

The "pile of planks" that Robuust Maatwerk uses as the basis for their interior design projects has a special story. It all started 10 years ago when Rob Ghijsen, owner of Robuust Maatwerk, made a table out of barnwood. "The wood we work with is often ancient and comes from barns in Canada and America," Rob says. "Wood that over the years formed its own character through weather and wind is imported by us and processed into beautiful and unique interior projects in the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. To connect all interior elements and make them functional, we incorporate Häfele furniture fittings in almost all projects."

Furniture hardware adds contemporary element to interiors made of centuries-old wood

Over the years, ordering furniture fittings from Häfele became almost an automatism for Robust customization. This is not only because of the fine relationship with contact person Raymond Smits, but also because of the versatile range of products. To save time and therefore money, they use the online drawer configurator, which allows drawers to be delivered fully customized. Black hinges, flap hinges, regular hinges and drawer guides are also widely used. Loox's LED lighting adds a modern element to the interior pieces made of barnwood and literally creates a captivating contrast.

Owner Rob Ghijsen explains: "We work with wood that is sometimes 150 to 200 years old. When processing it into an interior, we add modern furniture fittings to make it into a whole. Our wall cabinets with shelves, for example, are often fitted with an LED profile from Häfele's Loox collection. This gives a huge contrast and brings the furniture to life. The furniture hardware thus acquires a dual function, so to speak, by connecting the contemporary with the history of the wood. Our customers are charmed by that."

Partner in furniture fittings

Robust Maatwerk orders from Häfele for a wide variety of projects. From custom (bathroom) furniture to wall cabinets and hospitality or store interiors. Sometimes special projects come up, such as furnishing a tobacco store for Dylan Hofland. Because of Rob's personal connection with father and former top football player Kevin Hofland, the assignment was entrusted to them. Rob says, "The interior this time is of bog oak instead of barnwood. Again, the hardware from Häfele (hinges, handles and lighting) ensures that from the 'stack of shelves' a beautiful interior is created."

From bathroom cabinet with apothecary drawers to a hidden piano drawer

Robust Bespoke regularly deals with creative solutions to client-specific issues. Whether it's integrating a pharmacy cabinet into a bathroom to make the most of the space or concealing a piano in a flap cabinet, they gladly take up the challenge and think along with the customer in special solutions. With Häfele as a partner in furniture hardware, their possibilities are virtually endless and their century-old shelves come to life in a variety of interiors.