About Us – Bernd Gruber

Adolf Gruber founded our carpentry workshop in Stuhlfelden in 1958. In 1992, his son Bernd, one of Austria's youngest master craftsmen, took over his father's well-run carpentry workshop.

With curiosity and a great deal of intuition, he continued his father's legacy. He took on craftsmanship and knowledge, but also questioned one or two things. Bernd Gruber realized that high-quality craftsmanship could be found in his environment, but that it did not function in direct connection with holistic thinking. Based on his own need to create, he continuously developed his father's business with his keen sense of design and quality, turning it into an internationally active company.

The company is now in its third generation of management following Bernd Gruber. Under the new leadership of Philipp Gruber (son), Philipp Hoflehner (partner), and Michael Gruber (brother), the internationally active family business has continued to develop and establish itself in the field of exclusive interior design.

Committed to traditional craftsmanship as well as the latest developments in contemporary interior design, the Bernd Gruber brand has always been known for its excellent understanding of its customers' wishes and its high level of planning expertise. From the selection of architects and the coordination of individual trades to construction supervision and implementation, Bernd Gruber's unconditional commitment to value and quality is evident in all his work, with its interplay of local references and international designs.

History

1958

This year, Adolf Gruber founded a carpentry business in Stuhlfelden.

1992

Bernd Gruber takes over his father's traditional carpentry workshop in Stuhlfelden, which has been in existence for over 30 years, and restructures it according to his own ideas. More about Ruth and Bernd Gruber

1994

Ruth Gruber joins the company. In addition to managing the finances, she curates the art and decorative arts collection with a keen eye for beautiful things.

1997

The International Furniture Fair in Milan inspires a step into a new future. Fascinated by what he sees, Bernd Gruber lays the foundation stone for today's studio in Aurach near Kitzbühel in the same year.

2010

Creative Director Philipp Hoflehner joins the company and, together with a top-class team, has been shaping the concept and style of Bernd Gruber's brand and projects ever since.

2016

The production facility in Stuhlfelden is being expanded by 2,000^m² and modernized. The new high-tech manufacturing facility is a consistent implementation of the combination of architecture, craftsmanship, and design.

2019

Bernd Gruber launches his own room fragrance with the aim of bringing the magic of beloved places to life at any time. Bernd Gruber No°-01 is the essence of these unforgettable spaces. The fragrance is imbued with warmth, coziness, and that special feeling of coming home.

2020

Bernd Gruber opens a new office in Munich. The combination of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary interior design now also has a permanent home in the Bavarian capital: in^a200^{m2 old building}in the most beautiful villa district in Bogenhausen, a growing team of experts plans and manages new, challenging projects—a first step toward further expansion and internationalization.

2022

Next comes the Vienna location. Bernd Gruber's new studio in the capital is being built on Argentinierstraße. Since then, outstanding designers and planners have been realizing international projects from Vienna.

In May, Michael Gruber joins the company and prepares for the generational handover with his brother.

2023

Bernd and Ruth Gruber will be retiring in the fall. The new management team consists of Michael and Philipp Gruber, as well as Philipp Hoflehner.

2025

Bernd Gruber welcomes Christophe Delcourt to Vienna and launches the exclusive partnership in Austria for Delcourt Collection & Collection Particulière with the internationally renowned star designer.

We create value

Our projects are born out of an attitude characterized by empathy, personal closeness, holistic thinking, and high functional standards. We listen, observe, and question. This results in spaces that are not only aesthetically appealing, but also stand the test of everyday life—with clarity, consistency, and soul.

Throughout the entire value chain – from planning and craftsmanship to furnishing and project support – we accompany our clients with reliability, care, and a keen eye for detail. We do not see creativity as an end in itself, but as a tool for finding the right, individual solution to complex requirements.

This creates spaces that are more than just design: they are an expression of personality, create atmosphere, and generate lasting value – emotionally, creatively, and in the best sense of the word, sustainably.
For us, value creation always means appreciation: for detail, for context, and for what a space can mean – but above all for the people for whom we design.

Michael Gruber

Management / Finance, IT, Human Resources

Michael Gruber has been a member of the management board since 2023 and has overall responsibility for finance, IT, and human resources. Growing up in his parents' carpentry business, his professional career initially led him into information technology, where he successfully built up his own company. With his keen sense for numbers, technology, and business, he brings valuable expertise to the family business. He manages the structural development of the company and consistently drives it forward through digital solutions and efficient processes.

Philipp Gruber

Management / Project Management and Production

As a member of the management team, Philipp has been in charge of production and project management since 2023. From his dad, Bernd Gruber, Philipp learned about and grew to love the whole range of carpentry skills at an early age. His clear attitude, down-to-earth nature, and keen sense of precision shape both the internal culture and the implementation of challenging interior design projects. He is a defining part of the company's identity and drives its development with vision, a sense of responsibility, and with future generations in mind. In doing so, he pursues a holistic approach that combines design, craftsmanship, and function.

Philipp Hoflehner

Management / Design and Brand

As managing director, Philipp Hoflehner shapes the company's creative signature. After holding senior interior design positions in Zurich and New York, he joined Bernd Gruber as creative director in 2010. With a keen sense for discerning clients and a sure eye for clear, timeless design, he is leading the company into the future with a high level of creative expertise. His focus is on developing the brand—in the tension between its artisanal origins and its international future. With a team of individual specialists, he relies on empathy, uncompromising quality, and excellent attention to detail.