If you think a chair is only useful when it holds you, Steven Giannuzzi will politely disagree, then hand you a chair that makes sitting feel like a VERY special occasion.
Trained as a cabinetmaker, Steven started out building kitchens, windows and doors, but soon realised the work left him wanting more. So in 2019, he studied furniture making at Sturt in Mittagong and shifted to his true passion, crafting bespoke pieces that highlight the character of timber, with curves playing a starring role.
“Straight lines are boring,” he says. That love of curvature runs through his work, always chosen because a curve changes how a piece breathes and how you see the timber. It also introduces delightful challenges. “It’s trickier than straight lines,” he admits. “A subtle curve can do a lot more than a massive curve.”
What sets his work apart
Steven treats each commission as an idea to be explored, rather than a checklist to be ticked off. Clients usually bring inspiration like a shape, a house, an existing piece, and he begins with sketches, technical drawings and scale mock-ups. He prefers to avoid heavy external influence. Too many swipes through other makers’ feeds, and a design stops being yours. He keeps the process human. No CNC machines doing the soul-bearing work for him.
Hand-tool refinement is where his background as a cabinetmaker becomes a superpower. He loves learning how different timbers behave under tool and time. Some species are sweet to plane, others test your patience. Jarrah ranks high on his list of Australian favourites, though he’ll confess that picking a timber favourite is like choosing a favourite child… Impossible!
Projects that turn heads
Some of Stevens‘ standout commissions include an Art Deco–inspired extension dining table with intricate inlay and a credenza shaped like a leaf, crafted during a residency at Sturt [swoon]. Those pieces show his appetite for narrative and detail. He’ll chase form and joinery until the piece reads as a single, inevitable object.
Turnaround varies, because each commission is its own conversation, but a dedicated making phase is roughly three weeks if he’s working full-time on a project. That timeframe reflects his approach. Bespoke means taking the time necessary to respect the material and the design. And it’s worth every second.
The Highlands influence
Steven draws his creativity from the local landscape. Regular bushwalks help ideas settle and often break creative logjams. And time spent at Sturt, surrounded by potters, weavers and jewellers, sharpened his craft sensibility and offered a creative community to spar ideas against. He’s quick to praise how local makers support and lift one another up. A good conversation in a workshop can move a project forward faster than staring at a blank sketchbook.
Why choose bespoke?
Bespoke furniture communicates something a mass-produced piece simply can’t. Narrative, provenance and human touch. Steven’s clients usually approach him because they already value that difference. For him, bespoke also means leaving a margin for the timber to speak. He avoids relying on perfect, machine-made repetition. Imperfections are part of the story and often where the character lives.
If your home needs a piece that’s more conversation starter than filler, Steven Giannuzzi Fine Furniture offers considered, handcrafted work that prioritises form and timber. He welcomes clients who want something one-of-a-kind and are willing to trust the process that makes bespoke furniture worth the wait.
Thanks for the chat, Steven! We’re inspired, and we’ll never look at a straight line the same way again.
Commissioned pieces are created by appointment and conversation. Visit Steven Giannuzzi Fine Furniture’s website for contact details and to swoon over his portfolio.