Rising New Zealand-based designer and furniture maker Dieter Ingles has quite the story to share. Starting out with Alloy Yachts, one of Auckland’s top superyacht builders, Mr Ingles, founder of dietzwood, is now carving a name for himself in high-end furniture crafted from American oak, ash, even cherry.
“I got into this industry straight out of school. I did an apprenticeship for a revered super yacht building company in New Zealand (Alloy Yachts) – it was really good, and I learned a hell of a lot from people who had high expectations.”
This apprenticeship was no ordinary training ground, with Mr Ingles immersing himself in the world of super-luxury: “We got to experience every facet of super yacht building, in terms of cabinetry and fit out and anything working with timber,” who, after five years plying his trade at Alloy Yachts, took to the seas himself, working as crew on superyachts.
This experience, he said, broadened his horizons, exposing him to even larger vessels and different aspects of the industry: “I worked on a 110-meter boat, and then the owner had another built, which was 156 meters.” However, upon returning to New Zealand, Ingles was at a crossroads. The skills he had honed in the yacht industry were highly specialised, and translating them to land-based work proved challenging.
While dabbling in kitchen and wardrobe manufacturing, he ultimately found the work unfulfilling: “I wasn’t enjoying work,” he admits. Compared to working on yachts or even in the workshop at my bench surrounded by machines handling high-quality timber, the enthusiasm started to wane.”
This longing for hands-on work with the best materials led Ingles to furniture making. Inspired by the craftsmen he saw on social media, he envisioned a future where he could combine his technical skills with his growing interest in design. “I couldn’t find a job I wanted to do anywhere,” he said, “so I essentially resigned myself to the fact of going, well, I’m going to have to create this for myself.”
This realisation led to the birth of Dietzwood, Ingles’ very own furniture design and manufacturing business. Operating out of a converted stable on his family property, he began designing pieces that reflected his unique background and aesthetic sensibilities. Central to Ingles’ work is his love for timber, particularly species he had used when fitting superyachts.
“I prefer using American oak and ash for my furniture, but I’m also interested in experimenting with other timbers like cherry.”
This preference stems from his appreciation for the natural beauty and character of the wood and the ability of such species to lend themselves to a high-end finish. His recent experiment with American cherry for a bar cart highlights his exploratory approach to materials.
“Cherry has this pink hue that darkens over time, which I thought would give another dimension to this piece as it ages,” Ingles said, contrasting it with the blonde aesthetic of American white oak, also featured in his current portfolio.
According to Ingles, balancing custom work with his desire to create his designs is an ongoing process. “The work I’m doing now is still always the work that I set out to do,” he admits. “However, everything is part of a learning experience”.
Ingles remains committed to his vision of establishing himself as a designer and a maker. He aspires to create furniture that is not only functional but also beautiful and, most importantly, beautifully made. Looking to the future, he is driven by high expectations for himself and his work.
“I want to establish myself as a name, as a person, as a designer, not just a maker,” he said. This ambition, coupled with his rich background, indisputable eye for quality and deep appreciation for materials, positions Dieter Ingles as a rising star in the world of fine furniture design.
- To learn more about American Hardwoods and how they can be used in projects, click here to visit the American Hardwood Export Council’s American Hardwood website.
