La large imposing building at the entrance to the village. It is undoubtedly one of the oldest in the village. The long history of the house is evidenced by a medallion placed on the facade, on which the altitude is written (altitude plate). Its new owner also found a photo of the house from 1918, which once housed a school. Here, at the entrance to the heart of the city of Cocumont, near Marmande, Thomas Panzani decided to continue his project…
La large imposing building at the entrance to the village. It is undoubtedly one of the oldest in the village. The long history of the house is evidenced by a medallion placed on the facade, on which the altitude is written (altitude plate). Its new owner also found a photo of the house from 1918, which once housed a school. There, at the entrance to the heart of the city of Cocumont, near Marmande, Thomas Panzani decided to continue his professional and family project by purchasing an old building and its workshop steeped in history.
This trained carpenter designs custom-made furniture for decorating the interior of houses or apartments. Furniture, glass roofs, screens, doors, stairs, tables, bookshelves… The master has great knowledge, both in the variety of his pieces and in different materials. “Depending on the budget, I can work with MDF (medium density fiberboard, editor’s note), poplar plywood, triple (three thin layers of wood, editor’s note), solid wood with oak, beech or ash, but also metal , plexiglass or epoxy resin. ”, enumerates Thomas Panzani.
From design to production
Since embarking on an adventure by founding his company Roméo Design (formerly Captain Wood 33), the 37-year-old remains passionate about his new activity. “What I prefer is the creation of glass roofs and screens, because these are elements that really add personality to the interior and give identity to the room. I also love making prints. There is a really artistic side,” he confides.
The demand is there. His clients, most of whom are located in Bordeaux or around the Arcachon basin, have undoubtedly been seduced by his design talent, learned on the job, which allows him to create unique pieces or identical to the model. “First, I look at the model that the client or architect sends me with a photo, or I try to imagine what they want. Then I draw a sketch on paper which, if he wants, I enter into the modeling software. And with my CNC machine (numerical control machine or “milling machine”, editor’s note), I produce the part,” he explains.
But his work is not limited to production or assembly. Upstream, talking and consulting with customers is a key step, because “you have to see what can be done based on demand, budget or feasibility.” You have to be able to juggle between the artistic side and the technical side. His wife, a writer and interior designer, gives him valuable advice on the decorative aspect. “Some projects are more complex than others. “Sometimes you have to try a few times before you get the finished product,” he admits. Every request is a new challenge that he is happy to take on.
First passion
If the craftsman takes full advantage of his new activity and his new life in the countryside, it is because he finally feels like he is doing what he always wanted to do. “I spent my childhood in the workshop of a carpenter friend of my family. And then life meant that I was involved in textile sales and interior design. I got tired of it and returned to my first passion – he says. With the purchase of a house and his workshop in Cocumont, which he must completely restore, his life project has come to an end. Since then, he no longer sees time passing and no longer counts the hours in his workshop.
After working in the textile industry in the Paris region, he decided to settle in Cenon (Gironde) to start his business. However, he quickly found himself cramped in his small workshop, which did not allow him to carry out several projects simultaneously. When he arrived in Cocumont last August, with a much larger workspace, he immediately piqued the curiosity of residents, revealing neighborhood life and mutual aid. He made small wooden gingerbread houses for the school where his 4-year-old son Romeo goes. “The neighbor even asked me to give her carpentry lessons for an hour a week,” he laughs.
Thomas Panzani is full of ideas and new projects. In the future, he would like to launch his own range of products, “with engravings”, to add his personal touch. He also wants to add stained glass to his wooden canopy creations. “That’s my next goal. I am constantly interested in new things.