In 2025, two creatives—one from design, the other from carpentry, took the reins of an established timber joinery with six decades of history. Known for timeless timber craftmanship and with a long-standing reputation for quality, Sunset Joinery was a quiet institution—respected, consistent, and rooted in the local community. 

With a vision to blend tradition with innovation, the pair are breathing new life into the brand by integrating contemporary design values, sustainable sourcing practices and time-honoured handcraftsmanship to craft timeless pieces with a bold, modern identity.

From high-end timber doors and windows to bespoke furniture and architectural detailing, the company’s new direction is about storytelling through timber—and creating enduring spaces that feel as good as they look.

SUNSET has such a rich legacy—what inspired you both to take the helm of a 60-year-old joinery company, and what does that legacy mean to you?

“In January this year, we stepped into a new chapter of SUNSET, a 68-year-old joinery company built on generations of skill, care, and timeless timber craftsmanship. We’re not starting from scratch, we’re building on a rich legacy and evolving the brand from a respected but under branded workshop into a premium, design-driven timber studio that maintains its craftsmanship while diversifying its offering and delivering scalable potential.” 

Merging Steves design and branding background, with Tomi’s carpentry expertise, the duo brings a fresh visual language and future-focused perspective to the company, elevating both the physical product and how it’s experienced. Every detail, from the material palette to the digital presence, is being reconsidered through the lens of timelessness, sensuality, and story.

“Sunset Joinery is no longer just about doors and windows. We’re developing the product offering, elevating the aesthetic, and positioning the brand at the intersection of artisan tradition and contemporary design thinking. We’re crafting heirloom-quality furniture, curating material libraries, and collaborating with architects and designers who value beauty, sustainability, and soul. This is a revival of timber craftmanship, where old-world mastery meets contemporary design and where every piece we create is a tribute to both history and future”

How would you describe the kind of projects SUNSET is most passionate about working on—and what sets your timber joinery apart? 

At SUNSET, we’re most passionate about projects that invite us into a conversation between materials, story, and space. We love collaborating with architects, designers, and homeowners who value detail and longevity—people who understand that timber is not just structural, but deeply expressive. Whether it’s a custom front door that becomes the emotional entry point to a home, a set of oversized bi-folds that blur the line between indoor and out, or a handcrafted furniture piece made from reclaimed native hardwoods—our favourite projects are those where craftsmanship and meaning converge. We are drawn to projects that require thought, slowness, and intentionality—where every grain, joint, and silhouette matters.

What sets us apart isn’t just our skill with timber—it’s the way we approach it. SUNSET bridges old-school craftsmanship with contemporary design thinking. Our roots lie in traditional joinery methods, but our mindset is modern: we design with the future in mind, honouring sustainability, beauty, and emotional resonance in equal measure.

We treat timber like a living material—with respect, curiosity, and restraint. Each piece is made with architectural sensitivity, built to last, and designed to evolve with its space. We don’t mass produce. We don’t rush. We listen to the material, the brief, and the bigger picture.

SUNSET isn’t just a joinery company. It’s a design studio, a workshop, and a philosophy—where timber tells stories that endure.

What role does sustainability or material sourcing play in your work, especially when dealing with premium timber products?

Sustainability isn’t a separate initiative at SUNSET—it’s in our DNA, embedded into how we design, source, and build. Working with premium timber products means we’re in constant relationship with nature, and that comes with responsibility. Every decision we make—from the species we select to the finishes we apply—is guided by long-term thinking and respect for the material.

We prioritise locally and responsibly sourced timbers, especially Australian hardwoods that are FSC-certified or reclaimed. We value timber not just for its beauty, but for its life cycle. Unlike synthetic or short-term materials, timber tells a story—of growth, carbon capture, craftsmanship, and eventual renewal. When treated with care, it becomes a product that outlives trend and reduces the need for replacement.

Our approach is about longevity over volume. We design with durability in mind, using materials that age well and improve with time. In many ways, sustainability for us is also about emotional connection—creating pieces that people want to keep, restore, and pass on, rather than discard.

In a world of fast production, SUNSET stands for slow, thoughtful, material-led making. That’s our contribution—to both our craft and the planet.

Tomi, your background in carpentry spans residential to industrial projects—how does that hands-on experience influence the standards you now set for every SUNSET product?

“Having worked across everything from high-end residential builds to large-scale industrial projects, I’ve seen what separates good from great. That hands-on experience taught me one thing above all: the finish is only as strong as the process behind it.

At SUNSET, that mindset shapes everything. I approach each product—whether it’s a front door, window suite, or custom piece of furniture—with a builder’s eye for detail and longevity. It’s not just about how something looks—it’s how it functions, how it feels to touch, how it weathers over time.

My background means I understand the pressures on site, the tolerances that matter, and how critical precision is when working with timber. That level of care is now our baseline. Every piece we make is built with structural integrity and finish quality that I’d trust in my own home.

More than that, I bring a deep respect for the trade itself—its history, its pace, and the skill it takes to do it right. That’s the standard we hold at SUNSET: no shortcuts, no compromises. Just solid, honest craftsmanship—refined.”

Steve, coming from a design and branding background, how are you reimagining SUNSET’s visual identity—both in the products and how the brand is perceived?

“Coming from a design and branding background, I see every element of SUNSET as part of a larger story—one that blends heritage with a refined, contemporary aesthetic. Reimagining SUNSET’s visual identity isn’t just about a new logo or colour palette (though those matter); it’s about aligning our products, spaces, and brand presence with the values we now stand for: timelessness, intention, craftsmanship, and emotional resonance.

In the products, this shows up in how we approach proportion, material selection, and form. Our joinery work isn’t just functional—it’s architectural. We’re refining lines, simplifying details, and designing pieces that feel grounded yet elevated. Every door, window, and piece of furniture is treated as an experience: tactile, warm, and intentional in its visual language.

From a brand perception point of view, we’re creating a more coherent and elevated presence—both visually and energetically. This includes everything from our photography and storytelling to the tone of our client communications. The goal is to feel less like a traditional trade and more like a design studio grounded in craftsmanship. We want our clients—whether they’re architects, homeowners, or collaborators—to feel a quiet confidence and deep trust in our work.

Ultimately, SUNSET is being redefined not just by what we make, but how it feels to engage with us. The brand now lives at the intersection of design, narrative, and material.

Looking ahead, what’s your vision for the next generation of SUNSET—what do you hope to create, and how do you see the brand evolving

Looking ahead, our vision for the next generation of SUNSET is to create a studio where craftsmanship, design, and story exist in equal measure. We’re building more than a joinery business—we’re curating a brand that honours material, place, and process with integrity.

We want SUNSET to become a trusted name not just for custom timber joinery, to help create inspiring spaces and heirloom-quality pieces that hold emotional weight. This includes expanding into furniture, offering a more immersive client experience, and creating limited collections that showcase native timbers in new ways.

We see the brand evolving into a design-led workshop that architects and designers seek out for our aesthetic clarity and craftsmanship standards. We want to champion slow design—where every project is intentional, rooted in sustainability, and speaks to something deeper than trend.

In essence, the future of SUNSET is quieter, slower, and more intentional—but also bolder in its creative vision. We’re not chasing scale; we’re cultivating depth. A business that feels artisanal, future-focused, and deeply human. in 1956, Sunset Joinery is proud to have played a role in shaping Victorias landscape, servicing the construction industry with an exceptional level of timber craftmanship for over 6 decades.

Entering a new chapter, Sunset will continue to build on this rich legacy and bring you the next generation of the Sunset brand.

Inspired by the natural beauty of wood and passionate about attention to detail and craftmanship, Sunset is committed to evolving in a direction that honours tradition, innovation, execution.