Hermanus Sibbel Born 1865 Died 1922

Hermanus, established FIRMA H. SIBBEL EN ZONEN AANNEMERS (as pictured) meaning FIRM H. SIBBEL AND SONS CONTRACTORS located at Ringdijk 10, Amsterdam.

Hermanus was a Builder & Carpenter Contractor, building houses, maintenance work and hand crafted joinery & furniture in the building at Ringdijk 10, Amsterdam. He was later joined by his sons Meijer (Tinus) & Herman in the family business.

Meijer (Tinus) Sibbel

Born 1890 Died 1957

Sibbel and Sons Contractors was taken over by his son, Meijer (Tinus) Sibbel in 1910 at Ringdijk 10. Known as Tinus to his family and friends, his title translated in English was Broker Contractor. The company description reads “Execution of all prevailing construction and maintenance works administration of improving property.”

The Sibbel family worked and lived at Ringdijk 10, Amsterdam. The Sibbels were known as a close, creative and industrious family. 

The home at Ringdjik 10, housed three generations of Sibbels over the decades. The street was a haven for artisans and craftsman to trade and assist each other in growing their businesses.

Herman Sibbel, his wife Corry, four sons and daughter settled in North Eltham, Victoria. Herman Sibbel (Designer) and brother Martin Sibbel (Furniture craftsman), established Sibbel Builders in 1955. Sibbel Builders designed and built houses in the Eltham, Doncaster and Templestowe areas. The brothers also opened a factory in Eltham, where they built the kitchens, wardrobes, window frames and custom built furniture for the houses they designed and built.

Herman was an incredible designer with a keen eye for attention to detail, his Mid Century Modern houses have left a legacy throughout Melbourne. 

Herman Sibbel was a talented architect, his Mid Century Modern houses have left a legacy throughout Melbourne and won many HIA awards.

Meyer Sibbel, father of Wilhelmina and Fleur, started working with his father, Herman Sibbel at Sibbel Builders. Meyer worked alongside his sister Inger Bovell, Draftsman, who drew and documented all the architectural plans. Meyer took over the family business, becoming Director in 1968.

Meyer and Carole Sibbel built a house in Warrandyte on five bush acres and had four daughters, Katrina, Wilhelmina, Fleur & Meika.

As a fifteen year old Wilhelmina started designing beds and wardrobes for her sister's bedrooms and had them manufactured in Sibbel Builders factory. 

Wilhelmina designed a range of five pieces and showed it to a furniture store in Hawthorn. The owner bought the complete range, all manufactured by Sibbel Builders in Research, Victoria.  

 Zen was introduced and aligned with the Zen movement & minimalist living of the early 2000’s. To achieve the clean line between the legs and table top, a steel frame was built for strength and the solid American Oak timber covered the steel. The dining benches fostered communal dining and the Zen lifestyle. Zen was a hugely successful collection for the next 15 years.

Sibbel Furniture was re-branded Zuster in 2000. Zuster is Dutch for sister. In design terms, Zuster symbolises a legacy of quality Australian design and craftsmanship that embraces five generations of Dutch family heritage. Today, sisters Wilhelmina McCarroll and Fleur Sibbel draw on Zuster’s hand-crafting expertise to forge a signature approach that is distinctive in its beauty and refinement. 

In a bold move in 2002, Zuster opened their first showroom in Balmain Street, Cremorne, giving Interior Designers and end users the opportunity to experience the brand. The showroom interior was designed by Hecker Guthrie

The Raw collection, launched in 2003, embraced the minimal lifestyle trend of the new millennium. For the first time Zuster celebrated American Oak in it’s natural state and the designs were constructed to not have handles to maintain the minimal appeal. The chrome & stainless steel bases were replaced with an American Oak plinth. 

Internal, drawers were lined in American Oak and drawer runners were concealed, so no hardware was visible.  The collection enjoyed brilliant sales over the next ten years.

Designed by Wilhelmina McCarroll and manufactured in Zuster's Thomastown factory. 

Stella was designed by Wilhelmina on the plane returning from the first business trip to IMM Cologne trade fair. In January 2007, Wilhelmina designed the base by first drawing a star, then the timber to flow upwards to form the base. Stella was a part of a national advertising campaign in Belle, Vogue Living & Inside Out Stella is still a key item and is instantly recognisable as Zuster.

In an exciting collaboration, Zuster teamed up with Australia's leading name in bathroom, Reece, who have expanded their offering with a bespoke furniture collection for the bathroom. Bringing the Zuster signature style into the bathing space, the ISSY by Zuster collection represents Zuster’s first foray into the bathroom and offers users a fresh and inspired approach to beauty, style and luxury in the bathroom with luxury hotel-inspired furniture collections set to transform the future of the bathroom. 

In a year long collaboration, entrepreneur and developer Louis Li came together with architects, Carr Design Group, and the bespoke furniture design team at Zuster to individually craft furniture items for the hotel’s 46 guestrooms and numerous common areas, indoors and out. Bringing the Zuster experience into the world of luxury hotels, Design Director Wilhelmina McCarroll has led the design vision for each individual Zuster piece within Jackalope. Every piece has been carefully considered and finely crafted, right down to the last detail. An exercise in expressive refinement. The result is a sense of authentic beauty and innate luxury. Made for Jackalope.

Zuster teamed with the Little Group and COX Architecture to fully furnish the extensive Melbourne Jet Base. Situated at Melbourne International Airport Tullamarine, the facility boasts 24 hr access to full length runways, two expansive hangars with ancillary ground support spaces, in house customs and immigration screening, generous pilot support areas, function spaces and high-end guest facilities more akin to the World’s finest luxury hotel lobbies.

After 12 years in Richmond, Zuster relocated its Melbourne flagship showroom to a stunning space at 33 Church Street, Hawthorn.

While our Richmond showroom has served us well over the past decade, directors Fleur Sibbel and Wilhelmina McCarroll are excited to launch this exciting new showroom destination – a space devoted to providing our customers with an authentic ‘Zuster living’ experience.

The ISSY by Zuster collection was first launched in 2015, finding instant popularity among customers who adored its exquisite detailing and intimate, intuitive features. It is wholly designed and handcrafted in Australia and can be made to reflect customers’ bespoke requirements. 

With this new expansion of the collection, you can add a semi inset basin to the ISSY Butterfly, named for its signature ‘butterfly’ handle; or the luxurious Issy Halo Range inspired by the fashion pleats that grace catwalks. Take your ISSY vanity one step further and select a material finish that suits your personal bathroom vision. Options include American Oak in natural, hazelnut and charcoal hues, or a striking deep black.

View collection

The latest striking contemporary residence collaboration for the The Royal Melbourne Hospital Home Lottery 2020. House by Mazzei, Architecture & Interiors by Webster Architecture & Interiors, landscape design Nathan Burkett Design, artwork Studio Gallery and fully furnished & styled by Zuster. 

Visit our collaboration page