The Cabinet By Hendzel+Hunt

Some furniture whispers. Some furniture shouts. The Cabinet By Hendzel+Hunt does that rare third thing:
it tells a storyquietly, confidently, and with just enough attitude to make your other storage pieces feel
underdressed.

Originally created as a collaboration with Folklore Design and made from reclaimed materials, this cabinet sits at
the sweet spot where sustainable design meets “wait… where did you find that?” style. It’s also been listed as
discontinued, whichlet’s be honestonly makes it more tempting. ^[1]

What Is “The Cabinet” (and why does it have fans)?

In plain terms, it’s a handmade storage cabinet designed and made in collaboration with the Hendzel + Hunt studio
in South London, produced as an exclusive for Folklore Design, and built from reclaimed birch plywood and oak
floorboards. It was made to order, with a stated delivery window of roughly 4–6 weeks at the time. ^[1]

The quick “spec sheet” vibe

• Designer: Hendzel + Hunt ^[1]
• Retail context: Exclusive collaboration with Folklore Design (featured by Remodelista) ^[1]
• Materials: Reclaimed birch ply + reclaimed oak floorboards ^[1]
• Production style: Handmade, made-to-order ^[1]
• Notable status: Listed as discontinued in the product listing ^[1]
• Price context: Featured at £2,950 in the Folklore shop story coverage ^[2]

So why do people keep bringing it up? Because it’s not just “a cabinet.” It’s a cabinet that looks like it learned
good manners from modernism and learned personality from a salvage yard.

Meet Hendzel + Hunt: Craft-driven, salvage-friendly, detail-obsessed

Hendzel + Hunt’s name comes up in conversations about bespoke furniture and reclaimed materials for a reason: their
work has long leaned into re-use, texture, and making “found” materials feel intentional. That’s the magic trick
behind a piece like The Cabinetit doesn’t hide its origins; it upgrades them.

Folklore’s own interview-style store feature also highlights that the shop has produced collaboration pieces with
Hendzel+Hunt (including cabinetry collaborations) as part of its ethos of curated design and maker partnerships.
^[3]

Materials Matter: Reclaimed Birch Ply + Oak Floorboards

The Cabinet’s materials list reads like a greatest-hits album for durable, good-looking furniture: reclaimed birch
plywood for stability and structure, and reclaimed oak floorboards for character and warmth. ^[1]

Why birch plywood is a smart “cabinet core” choice

High-quality hardwood plywood is prized because its cross-layered construction helps it resist the dramatic
seasonal movement you get with wide solid-wood panels. Translation: it’s less likely to warp, cup, or throw your
doors out of alignment when humidity swings. ^[4]

Fine-woodworking guidance often points out that veneered plywood is especially useful for cabinet and built-in
construction because it doesn’t suffer wood movement the same way solid panels do, while still delivering a
furniture-grade finish when edged and detailed well. ^[5]

Why reclaimed oak floorboards feel “expensive” even when they’re… not new

Reclaimed oak brings something new lumber can’t: a lived-in grain storytiny dents, softened edges, subtle color
shiftsall the visual texture that makes a cabinet look collected instead of purchased. If you’ve ever admired an
old wood floor and thought, “I want that warmth… but vertical,” you’re basically describing the appeal here.

The design language: modern lines, human fingerprints

A lot of “sustainable furniture” leans heavily into the rustic angle. The Cabinet by Hendzel+Hunt doesn’t have to.
It can read clean and modern because plywood allows crisp geometry, while reclaimed oak adds contrast and depth.
That combination is what makes the piece flexible: it can live in a minimalist room without looking out of place,
and it can also hold its own in a layered, maximal space.

A cabinet that behaves like a sculpture (without being annoying about it)

Great cabinets do two jobs at once: hide the mess and elevate the room. This one is built for both. It’s storage
with stage presencelike a well-dressed bouncer for your clutter.

Where The Cabinet works best in real homes

Let’s talk practical placement. A statement cabinet is only as good as the problems it solves. Here are the rooms
where this style of cabinet tends to earn its keep:

1) Entryway command center

Drop-zone chaos is real. A cabinet like this can swallow scarves, hats, dog leashes, and the mysterious gloves
that reproduce when you’re not looking. Style the top with a tray for keys and a lamp so you’re not hunting for
your life choices in the dark.

2) Dining room sideboard alternative

If you want the function of a buffet but prefer something more sculptural, this cabinet vibe works beautifully for
plates, linens, and “nice” glasses. Pro tip: keep the bottom for heavier items, and reserve higher shelves for
lighter pieces to make daily use less of a deadlift workout.

3) Living room media + board game storage

Media consoles are fine. Cabinets are better when you want to hide visual noise. If you’re trying to keep screens
from dominating your room, a cabinet that can store devices, controllers, and board games behind doors is a
sanity-saver.

4) Bedroom wardrobe helper

Not every bedroom has generous closets. A cabinet with real depth can hold folded clothes, linens, or even serve as
a “wear-it-again-but-don’t-put-it-away” station. (You know exactly what I mean.)

Styling tips: make it look intentional, not “I bought a cabinet and now it’s staring at me”

The Cabinet by Hendzel+Hunt has enough character that it doesn’t need much on top. Use styling to support it, not
compete with it:

• Go simple on top: one lamp + one stack of books + one object with texture.
• Repeat the wood tone somewhere else: a frame, a bowl, or a chair detail makes it feel “built in.”
• Let the patina breathe: reclaimed oak looks best when you can actually see it.
• Use contrast thoughtfully: ceramics, linen, and matte metal play nicely with reclaimed wood.

Care and maintenance: protect the patina, don’t overdo it

Reclaimed wood is durable, but it appreciates a gentle routinelike a cat that pretends not to like you while
actively sitting on your laptop.

Everyday care

• Dust regularly: A soft, dry cloth is usually enough day to day. ^[6]
• Spot clean carefully: Use a slightly damp clothavoid soaking the wood. ^[6]
• Avoid harsh cleaners: Abrasives and strong chemicals can damage finishes and patina. ^[6]

Occasional deeper cleaning (without causing a tiny furniture tragedy)

A mild soap-and-water solution applied with a damp (not wet) microfiber cloth is a common recommendation for wood
furniture cleaning; wipe with the grain and dry promptly. ^[7]

For wood cabinets specifically, many cleaning guides suggest routine upkeep (think monthly door wipe-downs) and
emphasize avoiding abrasive tools that can scratch the finish. ^[8]

Sustainability isn’t just a vibe: why reclaimed materials matter

The “reclaimed” part of this cabinet isn’t only aesthetic. Reuse can reduce demand for virgin material harvesting
and keep usable material in circulation. The EPA routinely frames reuse as a way to conserve resources and reduce
waste. ^[9]

And in wood specifically, life-cycle research from the U.S. Forest Service has found substantially lower impacts
for reclaimed framing lumber and reclaimed wood flooring compared with virgin alternatives (including lower
global-warming potential in the study’s comparisons). ^[10]

Put simply: if you’re buying a cabinet anyway, one that already “reused” material from a former life is a pretty
strong design + conscience combo.

Buying a discontinued piece: what to do (and what to avoid)

Because the product listing notes that The Cabinet has been discontinued, your path is typically:
resale, showroom leftovers, or a commission inspired by it.
^[1]

If you find one secondhand

• Inspect doors and alignment: smooth swing, even reveals, no racking.
• Look for water damage: swelling, dark rings, or a “spongy” feel around edges.
• Ask about finish: oil, wax, varnishcare depends on what’s on the wood.
• Confirm material story: reclaimed wood often has nail holes or patchesthose are fine; soft rot is not.

If you’re commissioning something similar

Borrow the principles, not the exact blueprint: reclaimed hardwood accents, a stable plywood structure, and a
design that respects the material’s history. Also: plan for lead time. Handmade, made-to-order furniture takes
timeThe Cabinet’s original listing referenced a 4–6 week delivery window. ^[1]

FAQ: quick answers for curious buyers

Is The Cabinet by Hendzel+Hunt “modern” or “rustic”?

Both. The form can read modern; the reclaimed oak reads warm and lived-in. That tension is the point.

Will reclaimed wood make it harder to match other furniture?

It can actually make matching easierbecause reclaimed wood is naturally varied, it plays well with other woods.
Instead of matching perfectly, aim to coordinate: repeat warmth, contrast finishes, and keep the rest calm.

What’s the biggest maintenance mistake?

Over-wetting the wood or using harsh cleaners. Multiple home-care references emphasize gentle cleaning and avoiding
abrasive or strong chemical products on wood surfaces. ^[6][7]

Real-world experience: living with The Cabinet By Hendzel+Hunt (the part people don’t tell you)

Here’s what the day-to-day “experience layer” looks like with a cabinet in this styleespecially one that combines
reclaimed oak character with the crisp geometry of birch ply.

First: it changes how you tidy. A normal cabinet is a place to put things. A statement cabinet becomes a place you
want to put things, because the reward is instant visual calm. You close the doors, and your room feels
edited. It’s like hitting “mute” on clutter. That alone is why people love a tall, sculptural storage piece: it
gives you permission to keep the good stuff out and the messy stuff invisible.

Second: reclaimed wood makes daily life feel less precious. That sounds backward, but it’s true. When a surface is
already rich with grain variation and subtle marks, you’re less likely to panic about every tiny scuff. The cabinet
doesn’t feel fragile; it feels seasoned. Owners of reclaimed-wood pieces often find that small nicks blend into the
overall patina instead of looking like a disaster headline.

Third: the cabinet becomes a “conversation landmark.” People remember it. In a home where everything is mass-made,
a reclaimed-material cabinet has presencepartly because it’s beautiful, and partly because it looks like it has a
backstory. Guests will ask if it’s vintage. Then you get to say, “Actually, it’s handmade from reclaimed oak
floorboards,” and you sound like the kind of person who casually knows what a floorboard is. (Congratulations:
you’re now interesting at dinner parties.)

Fourth: it forces better organizationgently, not rudely. Cabinet interiors naturally create zones: one shelf for
linens, one for serving pieces, one for games, one for “random cords that definitely belong to something.” Over
time, you stop piling. You start sorting. And because cleaning guidance for wood cabinets often emphasizes regular,
light maintenance (rather than aggressive scrubbing), you’re more likely to do quick wipe-downs and keep it looking
sharp. ^[8]

Fifth: styling becomes easier, not harder. People worry a statement cabinet will “demand” styling. But a piece with
strong material contrastreclaimed oak warmth against a clean cabinet formdoesn’t need a lot. A lamp for height, a
small tray for function, and one textured object is enough. The cabinet does the heavy lifting.

Finally: you’ll notice the cabinet most in the moments you don’t think about design at allwhen you’re late, when
the house is messy, when you’re trying to make a room feel calm quickly. You open it, everything disappears, you
close it, and your space resets. That’s the lived value of a cabinet like this. Not just “storage,” but relief.

Final thoughts

The Cabinet By Hendzel+Hunt isn’t famous because it’s loud. It’s famous because it’s smart: reclaimed materials
used in a way that feels modern, handmade craft that still functions like real-life storage, and a silhouette that
can anchor a room without overpowering it. If you can track one down secondhand, it’s a keeper. If you can’t, it’s
still a great blueprint for what to look for in sustainable, design-forward cabinetry: stable construction, honest
materials, and a little bit of soul.