Wilkins and Kent Furniture and Design was established by Jeremy Wilkins and Stephen Kent in 1994. Originally setting up their workshop in an unassuming Fitzroy side street the pair lovingly created quirky, brightly coloured bookcases, charming cupboards and chests made from bits and pieces reclaimed from skips or foraged from the tip. A style developed that was reminiscent of early Australian or depression furniture crafted from need and ingenuity. They honed their skill, with Molly the dog standing sentinel and usually one or two small children scrambling in the wood shavings. They catered to a very local clientele, trading directly from the side door around which the first makeshift ‘shop front’ evolved. From here the business has grown to incorporate a large Brunswick Street frontage. The “two men” swinging above the door remain a recognisable part of the landscape. Gone however are the days when Jeremy and Stephen would lock up shop and amble around the corner to the Black Cat for lunch. Nowadays, although the boys have staff, they still make all custom furniture themselves and we are all far too busy to down tools for too long. Well… you must however understand that the morning and afternoon tea tradition stands firm at Wilkins and Kent. If you happen to be passing the workshop door around the hours of 10 or 4 you may just catch a few ‘pearls’ emanating about anything from why Molly retrieves sandpaper from the bin, or the cultural implications of reality TV to (very vocally) the outcome of the cricket!
