David Bartlett has a unique insight into kitchen design and an intimate understanding of the kitchen as a space in the home. This perspective comes from getting to know every customer, understanding how their family lives, cooks, entertains and relaxes. To create the perfect space, David relies on Biesse Group as his technology partner.

Art of Kitchen

After his apprenticeship David was managing building sites for a company specialising in high-end architectural work. He was also building kitchens for himself. A friend recommended him for a contract to supply kitchens to a Sydney builder and David saw an opportunity to specialise in kitchen design and manufacture. And so, in 1988 Art of Kitchen was established. David said, “I went into kitchens for the work and found my passion for design and manufacturing. Even after all these years I still feel just as strongly about the process today.”

Art of Kitchens was still a young company when David and his partner Ingrid set up a small factory in Thornleigh, Northwest of Sydney. David thrived on the challenge of kitchen design and soon found himself employing a dozen cabinetmakers. With an expanding list of happy customers, the factory moved to a larger factory in the same suburb, slowly taking over all the complex to eventually occupy 1500sqm. During this time David purchased two CNC machines and a Beam saw from Biesse Group.

In 2002, when this space became too small for their operations, David moved the company into a purpose-built factory space in Mt Kuring-gai where they installed their first Biesse flatbed machine, and then in 2018 to a new, purpose-built site in the same street. Art of Kitchens now employ 34 people who provide the highest levels of quality in their products and service to their clients. This commitment has always been non-negotiable and it’s one of the business areas David feels deeply about.

A Brand We Know

To manufacture his design-focused kitchens, David recently returned to Biesse. The company had a long association with Biesse Group over the years, upgrading their Biesse CNC machines several times. However, some years ago David was lured away and purchased another brand. He said, “The CNC machine we bought was a solid machine but we were running it 60 hours a week and still not meeting our production targets. Just over a year ago we decided to come back to Biesse, a brand we’ve known for decades.”

David continues, “We thought we might need two machines to do the work of the one we were replacing. We purchased one Rover A FT, and quickly found it did all our CNC machining in only three days. The Rover runs rings around the machine we replaced, it eats up the board.” And a few months ago, David and his team installed a Biesse Stream  A edge bander. He says, “We’re committed to Biesse as a machine partner, we won’t be making the mistake of trying out another brand again. It’s a good feeling knowing we can depend on our Biesse Group equipment to produce what we need quickly and efficiently.”

Giving Back to Industry

Like Biesse Group, Art of Kitchen’s machinery partner, David and his team give back to industry. David spent many years on the Housing Industry Association (HIA) Kitchen & Bathroom Committee. In addition, Art of Kitchens has employed 40 apprentices over the years. A qualified carpenter and joiner himself, David is committed to maintaining basic industry skills whilst at the same time, embracing the skills to adopt new technologies incorporated in their Biesse equipment.

Many of David and his partner, Ingrid’s apprentices have gone on to stay with the company. Both the current Operations Manager and Check Measurer started as apprentices and now assist David in training and mentoring the next generation of cabinet makers. Ongoing training and professional development are the backbone of the Art of Kitchens philosophy. Every opportunity is explored to ensure the team skills are at the highest level.

Seamless Support

Art of Kitchens relies on their Biesse Group equipment to cost-effectively produce designer kitchens that cater for the individual needs of their clients. Of the Biesse Group service David recalls, “I remember even in the early days someone from the Biesse Team would come out, often in the evening to sort out any issues we might have had. Now, Biesse monitor our machines remotely and a technician could be here even before we know we need one. The service we get from Biesse has always been very good, we are very happy.”

For David and Ingrid, Art of Kitchens is more than just a business; it’s a passion. As an Australian manufacturer they have a commitment to excellence in design and manufacturing resulting in numerous industry awards. David said, “If I can ‘see’ it, I know that with my team and our Biesse technology, we can make it. Understanding how to design a space and how to build it, and having the Biesse technology to manufacture it means we always know our kitchens, vanities, offices, home theatres and outdoor alfresco kitchens will operate in exactly the way they are meant to”.