Meet The Team

Kaizen is made up of an enthusiastic and personable team of experts, led by partners Antonius Wubben and Bill Schilling. Both have extensive experience in furniture design, management and manufacturing. But every one of us has the expertise to visualise, develop and build furniture for our clients, and the dynamism and drive to ensure the very best results.

Antonius Wubben (Managing Director)

Hailing from the Netherlands, Antonius studied Furniture and Business Studies in Rotterdam, and Furniture Design at the prestigious Royal College of Arts in The Hague. He then honed his craft working as a furniture maker in the Netherlands for three years.

In 1990, he decided to make the leap to the UK and worked for Peter Milne Furniture. It was here he met Bill Schilling (Workshop Manager at the time), and in 1995 they set up Kaizen Furniture.

At Kaizen, both partners are involved in every project – Antonius looks after all non-woodwork elements of the project, does some design work and manages logistics and finance.

What does “Kaizen” mean to you?
The ambition to produce furniture that stands out from the rest by its design, how it has been produced and installed. Fulfilling this goal.

What are you most proud of?
Our dedicated team that Bill and I have gathered around us over the years, from our own drawing office to the crafts men in the workshop and the installation team.

What are your favourite projects?
A kitchen created for Testbourne House (Hampshire). It was made in oak and neatly wrapped in glass and corian. A good example to show how different materials can come together.

How is your home decorated?
Contemporary with a strong traditional feel

In case you have any spare time left, how do you enjoy spending it?
With my family. Cycling competitions.

Bill Schilling (Managing Director)

Bill After his studies at London College of Furniture, Bill kicked off his career at Heals Furniture, where he completed a cabinet-making apprenticeship and started making prototype cabinets for the company.

In 1988 he went to Peter Milne to work as a Cabinet Maker, and was then promoted to a Team Leader and Production Manager. In 1995 he left to set up Kaizen with Antonius.

What does “Kaizen” mean to you?
Always striving to be the best through continuous Improvement.

What are you most proud of?
When a new client looks at their completed project and tells me how thrilled they are that they decided to use Kaizen.

What are your favourite projects?
Projects where the design pushes the boundaries of what is possible and tests our ingenuity.

What inspires you most?
Anyone who has succeeded in becoming the best at what they do, whatever field that may be in.

How is your home decorated?
Contemporary and minimalist

In case you have any spare time left, how do you enjoy spending it?
High adrenalin sports: rock climbing, mountaineering, mountain biking and skydiving.

Lee Compton (Site Manager)

Lee Lee studied Furniture Studies and Design at the London College of Furniture during the early eighties. After graduating he gained valuable site experience by working as a Carpenter, and then made the leap to Furniture Maker, creating panelled rooms and book cases using handmade and traditional methods. In 1993 he set up his own business, making a large variety of furniture – from modern to traditional, domestic to commercial. He joined Kaizen in 2006, and works as a Project Manager, which involves surveying sites for design and controlling site development.

Rob Webster (Workshop Manager)

Rob On leaving school, Rob joined Martin Griersons Workshop, whilst completing a three year apprenticeship at the London Guildhall University in Furniture Craft. After this he moved to Osiris Furniture (now OPM Furniture) where he worked for another three and a half years. He went it alone, setting up his own business, which he ran for 7 years. But after striking up a great working relationship with Antonius and Bill on other projects, he decided to join Kaizen two years ago.