Capability Statement

At Refined Living, master craftsmanship defines the furniture, joinery and commercial projects we design and build. Our custom residential and commercial pieces are sculpted and engineered to be both breathtaking and to solve unique design problems posed by complex architecture. Refined Living is 100% Australian owned and manufactured. We take pride in crafting bespoke furniture of the highest-grade available in the market, letting it live for generations by way of its timeless design and durable materials.

Clients and Projects

The Refined Living team have worked with award-winning designers Darren James and Jase Sullivan across multiple projects. These visionary artists inherently trust our team to deliver work of the highest grade, turning their designs into living, breathing pieces of furniture that tell intentional stories with their designs.

Darren James

Darren James is a Brisbane-based design and construction company delivering bespoke architectural homes and interiors, for whom the Refined Living team has delivered 10 projects with exacting care and precision. Led by the husband and wife duo of Darren James and Elissa Greer, the company offers full-service design and construction solutions, specialising in creating luxury architectural homes that transform residential spaces into award-winning feats of design.

Jase Sullivan

Architect Jase Sullivan is internationally recognised with accolades across numerous publications. The team at Refined Living has crafted his dining chairs and occasional chairs. Awards include World Architecture Festival Awards 2018: Shortlisted Best Residential homes in the world; World Architecture Festival Awards 2019: Shortlisted Best Residential homes in the world and Australian Interior Design Awards 2015: Residential Decoration: Commendation.

Capability statement

Business overview

At Refined Living, master craftsmanship defines the furniture, joinery and commercial projects we design and build. The master craftsman who leads our team was handed down coveted knowledge from generations before him. This delicate, precision-based artform is the trade of Refined Living.

Our custom residential and commercial pieces are sculpted and engineered to be both breathtaking and to solve unique design problems posed by complex architecture. We hero timber in our pieces and work with marble, glass, stone and metal to accent and refine our designs.

Refined Living is 100% Australian owned and manufactured. We take pride in crafting bespoke furniture of the highest-grade available in the market, letting it live for generations by way of its timeless design and durable materials.

Core competencies

Innovation

Where others see limits, we see opportunities to create groundbreaking work with enhanced functionality. We take each client’s detailed specifications and unearth creative ways to make beautiful, functional furniture. Imagination is the only limit.

Problem-solving

We work directly with architects and interior designers to solve problems posed by unusual spaces. We apply our artistry to fill negative space or turn design flaws into noteworthy features, and much more.

Design

Precision craftsmanship is in our DNA. Artistry is embedded in our design process, as our in-house industrial designers take the seedlings of ideas and craft them into visionary pieces of art.

Service delivery

We ensure every client receives a detailed delivery timeline that covers consultation, design, approval, manufacture, delivery and installation. By booking a production slot ahead of time, clients can meticulously plan their build, renovation or project with peace of mind.

Key personnel

Refined Living is comprised of 12 key personnel who work across Production, Operations, Sales & BD, Design and Craft.

Build
Will Hinrichsen
Master Craftsman

As the master craftsman of Refined living, Will is responsible for building our most complex and intricate work. His creative force allows him to imagine possibilities for furniture of which most cannot even dream. He holds a Certificate III in Cabinetmaking and a Master Craftsman Certificate
with Corian Solid Surfaces, having started in the industry when he was just 15 years old. With 17 years experience, his passion for his craft has become his obsession – one that he passes on to the next generation of Refined Living craftsmen.

Ben Tigell

Craftsman & Site Foreman

Ben is the 2IC to Will and responsible not only for crafting immaculate furniture but for the operations and manufacturing of the business. He holds a Certificate III in Cabinetmaking and has accumulated 15 years experience in woodworking
and 4 years experience in restoring antiques. From childhood, Ben’s instinct for woodworking was present, as he set about designing and making pieces of furniture at the tender age of 10. His passion for woodwork has never faltered.

Ethan Clarris
Furniture Maker & Polisher

Ethan holds a Certificate III in Cabinetmaking and has accumulated 6 years experience building fine furniture. He is his harshest critic, always striving
for perfection in his work.

Rowan Longman
Apprentice Furniture Maker

Rowan holds a Certificate III in Commercial
Cookery and became a mature aged apprentice Cabinet Maker, after turning his admiration for craftsmanship into a career change. He has over 2 years experience making furniture, and is a rising star.

Design
Kyle Simmons
Industrial Designer
Kyle holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design with Honours from University of Queensland and a Diploma of Building Design and Drafting from TAFE Queensland. An internship during university quickly turned into his passion, working as an industrial designer ever since.
Doug Lumley
Industrial Designer

Doug holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design and Business Management from Queensland University of Technology. He has a passion for the end-to-end design process – from discovering clients specifications, to delivering the final product.

Harrison Green

Industrial Designer

Harrison holds a Bachelor of Industrial Design and Bachelor of Business Marketing from Queensland University of Technology. He is deeply connected to creating essential spaces for families to use on a daily basis.
Office
Gareth Jakeman
Director
Kyle Schlachter
Production & Operations
Chevorn Mason
Sales & Accounts Manager
Hannah Hinrichsen
Administration & Design Operations
Andrew Cotterill
Marketing & New Product Development

Products & services

Furniture
Our furniture is hand-crafted to serve both form and function. Each piece is a completely customisable, durable work of art. To create a cohesive aesthetic, we can thread a client’s unique preferences through all furniture and joinery in their space. Once the client selects the timber, design, finish and upholstery, we proceed to craft furniture that can be passed down through generations. We design and build all furniture styles including but not limited to chairs, stools, tables, coffee tables, hall and side tables, sideboards, entertainment units, drinks cabinets, desks, mirrors, soft furnishings (like sofas and armchairs).
Joinery
Refined joinery is what marks the difference between a pleasant space and an astonishing one. Kitchens, bathroom vanities, libraries, studies, wine cellars, walk-in robes and commercial spaces like bars, restaurants and offices require master-craftsmanship to be elevated above the average. Every detail from materials and finishes to ambiance and design flow are considered to bring a Refined Living space to life.
Commercial

We design and craft for spaces of any scale, for high-calibre clientele. We understand that spaces like bars, restaurants and offices require furniture and joinery that enhances brand reputation. Our pieces stay etched in the memory of those who use them, leaving a lasting impression.

Design & materials

Whilst timber is always the hero of Refined Living furniture and joinery, we work with glass, stone, marble and metal to create refined, design-led accents and details. Our use of mixed-materials ensures every vision can be executed with precision. We can source any variation of timber specified by the client. From Walnut, American Oak to Spotted Gum, Blackwood and every variation in between – all forms of timber are our speciality.

  • Upholstery: We source the best quality upholstery available from renowned fabric houses in Australia, determined by the project requirements. Our leather hides are sourced from NSW Leather, a third-generation, family-owned Australian company that not only matches our quality but our values as well. In addition to leather, Refined Living can source and work with any fabric you require.
  • Timber: We source native Australian and American species. We typically craft Tasmanian Oak, Blackwood, Rosewood, American Oak, and Walnut however we can always source any species requested.
  • Hardware: We use the best quality hardware available for precision, reliability and longevity.
  • Metal: We accent and enhance pieces with brass inlays which are fitted in-house by our skilled furniture craftsman, who finesse each work of art with a deep sense of care.

Clients & projects

The Refined Living team have worked with award-winning designers Darren James and Jase Sullivan across multiple projects. These visionary artists inherently trust our team to deliver work of the highest grade, turning their designs into living, breathing pieces of furniture that tell intentional stories with their designs.
Darren James

Darren James is a Brisbane-based design and
construction company delivering bespoke architectural
homes and interiors, for whom the Refined Living team
has delivered 10 projects with exacting care and
precision. Led by the husband and wife duo of Darren James and
Elissa Greer, the company offers full-service design and
construction solutions, specialising in creating luxury
architectural homes that transform residential spaces
into award-winning feats of design.

Jase Sullivan

Architect Jase Sullivan is internationally recognised with accolades across numerous publications. The team at Refined Living has crafted his dining chairs and occasional chairs. His awards include World Architecture Festival Awards 2018: Shortlisted Best Residential homes in the world; World Architecture Festival Awards 2019: Shortlisted Best Residential homes in the world and Australian Interior Design Awards 2015: Residential Decoration:
Commendation.