HOME: WHERE THE HEART IS A LOCAL FURNITURE DESIGNER WESTMERE RESIDENT GLENN HOGG LIVES AND BREATHES SAWDUST. A passion for the stuff was sparked when every Friday he’d travel from Bayfield School to Vermont Street where woodworking was once taught. Back then boys used to make things and girls used to cook things as part of the school curriculum. Glenn excelled at these classes gaining nine or ten marks out of ten for all his pieces, so cabinet making became his career of choice. As soon as he left school he gained an apprenticeship with Piri Neary who was a friend of his father. He couldn’t have trained under a better master. Neary was a perfectionist and the emphasis was on correct proportions, a discipline that came from all the antique restoration and reproduction pieces that were a large part of the firm’s work. Glenn spent six years with Neary, then a couple with boat builders before teaming up with a guy who was doing commercial reception desks. This was invaluable experience because it introduced him to veneers. Good quality solid wood furniture had become prohibitively expensive and was being replaced by ply or custom wood, which is easier and cheaper to work with. He says that in his trade, hands on skills are being replaced by computerised machines and learning to use them is a new challenge. Like it or not, it’s necessary to compete with overseas trends, “that’s just the way it is.” In 2001 Glenn set up his own business in Onehunga designing and manufacturing furniture that is sold in retail outlets nationwide. He has named it Basement, harking back to his childhood love of mucking around in his own family basement, restoring old push bikes, sailing dinghies and furniture. Glenn still draws inspiration from the golden age of cabinet makers such as Thomas Sheraton and the like. His most popular ranges include beautifully proportioned retro and contemporary designs constructed from oak veneer on marine bonded plywood. Basement’s most popular finish in the range is a white, high pressure laminate that is incredibly durable, and is an alternative to timber surfaces that need to be treated with care. He was the major designer for the Askew stores, has designed a coffee table for Karen Walker, and fitted custom made bookshelves for Hamish Keith’s vast collection. He has an international clientele as well, with pieces in homes, workplaces, boats, and retail showrooms in the Americas, Europe, Asia and beyond.
Outstanding customer service is the ethos of the business. “We just try to get it right; our customers are our best advertisers and we not only want them to come back, we want them to be excited about recommending us to all their friends.” A major part of his business is manufacturing bookshelves, storage units and entertainment stations. Old villas in Ponsonby, Grey Lynn and Remuera is where the work is, because they have large rooms but no built in storage. The right shelving can transform a room, particularly a book shelf and that is what he is increasingly called upon to install. His only hope is that the e-book phenomena won’t put an end to it. He used to make a lot of CD stands for Askew but they can’t sell them anymore. CD shops are suffering a downturn as well with most people downloading music to their iPhones instead of proudly displaying their collection for all to admire. One wonders where the digital world will take us to next! Gregg is an artisan who has moved with the times. He provides a quality alternative to cheap imported designer knockoffs that don’t stack up and have to be discarded a couple of years after purchase. His contact details are glenn@basement.co.nz or M: 021 983 584 and T: 09 622 0244. (DEIRDRE ROELANTS) PN
LOOKING TO RENOVATE OR BUILD UNDER YOUR HOUSE “WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT AND NEED IN A BUILDING COMPANY? AFTER completing a huge renovation in our villa which included a new upstairs bedroom and bathroom, new kitchen and living room, new outdoor living area plus a floor sand and paint throughout I feel I am qualified to answer that question.” says Ginnie of Grey Lynn. “I believe a good building company needs to take the time to know you and your family’s needs, work to your budget and lifestyle requirements, involve you in every step of the process, stick to the time-frames and, most importantly, ensure that you finish up with a house that is beyond your dreams and expectations. Quantum Construction managed to do all of this and more for us. Their local knowledge, passion for quality, building experience and expertise, attention to detail and their sensitive handling of us as a family, make Quantum an exceptional team.” Bruce and Sam are third and fourth generation Ponsonby and Grey Lynn residents with 47 years combined experience in every area of the industry, with a special tenderness for the local villas. They have an experienced residential team, and their three tonne digger and two trucks enable them to provide a complete service. Particularly if you want to build that extra bedroom, games room or office space under the house. If you have a new project, or need advice, give Anna Lucas at Quantum a call. As your initial point of contact, she will work with you to provide all of your administration and communication requirements, taking care of you every step of the way. PN QUANTUM CONSTRUCTION LTD, T: 09 963 8460 anna@quantumconstruction.co.nz www.quantumconstruction.co.nz
100 PONSONBY NEWS+ September 2012
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)