The Evolution of Cavit+Co

Passionate about creating enduring aesthetics rather than chasing fleeting trends, Debbie Cavit, as the founder of luxurious furniture store, Cavit+Co, has helped clients select the perfect pieces of furniture and accessories for their homes, for over 30 years.

Despite closing the flagship store in 2019, Cavit+Co continues to live on, albeit in a more intimate setting. These days, Debbie meets clients by appointment-only, at her home in Parnell, to discuss their interior aspirations. Verve chats to Debbie about this new chapter in the Cavit+Co story

Thirty years in business is an incredible feat, what would you say is the reason behind Cavit+Co’s success?

For 30 years, our mantra has been ‘creating timeless homes’ by finding the right furniture to meet a client’s requirements, aligning it with the space’s architecture and working within their budget. We continue to live by this mantra despite no longer having a physical showroom.

You have an impeccable eye for design, how would you describe the Cavit+Co style?

Sophisticated, elegant, and considered, with a fair dose of practicality. We have always represented a timeless style, rather than chasing what is currently in vogue. If a tree takes a century to grow, then something made from it should last just as long. I firmly believe that when furnishings are chosen specifically for an individual that suit their architecture, family and lifestyle, then the home doesn’t date. It becomes a classic and essential part of the family living there.

Cavit+Co has always offered a diverse collection of the very best furniture and accessory brands from around the globe. Is this still the case?

Yes, we have access to an extensive range of brands – what you see on our website is just the tip of the iceberg. We take pride in our longstanding relationships with prominent international design houses. Our exclusive brands include Alfonso Marina, HBF, JNL, Hamilton Conte, Baker, McGuire, Verellen, Bolier, Baxter, Lalique, Objekto, Promemoria, St Louis, Frette, and many others. I still carry Frette, Muse and Lalique for clients to purchase ex-stock, and have samples of other collections on view for clients to see quality and scale, we then bring in to order to individually customise our clients’ interiors.

You now greet clients by appointment-only at your home office – what outcome can one expect from this?

Whether a client seeks a single standout piece for their home or holiday house, or desires to revamp an entire home, I can offer solutions. We are also finding a number of our clients moving from their larger family homes and are wanting smaller, ergonomically designed pieces of the same quality, which we can provide with our existing suppliers, or have custom made for their needs.

Your passion for your craft is unwavering, how do you remain at the forefront of design trends?

I still attend international trade fairs and I still spend literally hours each day pouring over trends and information from overseas suppliers and publications.

Have you found more of a work-life balance now that you no longer have the store? If so, how do you spend your free time?

I’m still very much in the learning stages of how to spend my new time. I have been totally engrossed in the business for over 35 years, and it seems strange not to get up, and start working well before the sun comes up and then head to the office. I have just returned from a wonderful week in New Caledonia, which was thoroughly enjoyable and for the first time in many, many years, I travelled without my computer by my side – a great first step. I hope for more travel, getting back to playing golf, and starting to experience other things life has to offer, while still helping my valued clients create beautiful homes.

Now a hidden treasure, Cavit+Co is to be found at Debbie’s home in Parnell, by appointment only. To book a consultation with Debbie, email hello@cavitco.com or phone 09 358 3771.