Many people wonder how I developed my love for furniture. The typical answers would be from a corporate job or design school, but my answer is from my nan. She took me to antique auctions nearly every weekend while I was growing up. It was way more exciting than football or video games. By the age of 14, I was bidding in auctions, and I learned all about what made furniture valuable and what made them overlooked.
That experience influenced all my future work.
My family’s interest in antiques extended beyond my nan. My aunt and uncle collected and restored pieces too. It surrounded me with history and craftsmanship, and furniture with character. I didn’t know it at the time, but those experiences taught me to appreciate the originality and the stories behind the objects.
My Travels and Your Designs
In the 1990s, I spent a good amount of time traveling in Asia and a portion of the Middle east. These travels greatly enhanced my style and my perspective. I began to appreciate aged, weathered, and handmade furniture and items, as well as rustic timbers. I prefer materials that show their history over the modern and pristine. I have never cared for perfect.
Most of the materials in our collections have an origin story that possibly dates back to the early days.
How it all started
I began Smithers in 2014. My business had one purpose.
I wanted to make furniture that wasn’t easily available.
I began the business by selling salvaged reclaimed furniture and vintage finds. These were all finds and furniture made by skilled artisans. Gradually, we started manufacturing and designing our own collections.
As a business, we have expanded our operations to make furniture for various spaces including homes, restaurants, hotels and bars all around the globe. Our philosophy aims to make every project that we undertake, as unique as possible.
TV appearances and more
Shortly after founding Smithers, I joined the show, BBC’s Money for Nothing, where I worked with Sarah Moore and demonstrated creative upcycling and design with materials that were salvaged from the junkyard. It was Smithers’ first introduction to a wide audience on a national scale and validated my long held belief that with enough creativity, any material, no matter how old, can be converted into an extraordinary design.
Since then, we have catered to an extensive array of projects.
Here are a few of my all time favorites:
We furnished a restaurant in Covent Garden.
We made furniture for the bar at Sotheby’s.
We worked on a special commission for Tiffany & Co. We cut a London taxi in half, made furniture using it and transported the whole piece to the store on Oxford Street.
Creating unique furniture for hotels, shops, restaurants and private clients.
There are challenges in every commercial project, but that is what makes them so fun.
Building an International Client Base
One of the most exciting chapters in my journey came in 2017 when Smithers partnered with Fancy.com, the design-led marketplace founded by entrepreneur Joe Einhorn.
At the time, Fancy was one of the world’s most influential online platforms for unique design and luxury products. Through that partnership, Smithers reached customers I could only have dreamed of a few years earlier.
Our furniture found its way into the homes of NBA players, NFL athletes, actors, musicians and television personalities from around the world. While I naturally respect the privacy of many of those clients, it was an incredible feeling knowing that pieces designed by our small British company were being enjoyed by people whose work I had watched on television for years.
Although Fancy later changed ownership and eventually closed, the experience transformed Smithers. More importantly, many of the relationships built during that period have continued, with a number of those clients returning to commission bespoke furniture and interior pieces.
Another memorable moment came when I was invited by Fancy to speak at an event held at Apple’s flagship Covent Garden store. Sharing the stage with artist JME and singer Princess Kiara was well outside my comfort zone, as it was my first experience of public speaking. Looking back, it became another milestone that helped build both my confidence and the Smithers brand.
Experiences like these reminded me that great design has no borders. Whether we’re creating a bespoke cabinet for a family home, furnishing a London restaurant or shipping a custom-made statement piece overseas, the goal has always remained exactly the same: create furniture that people remember.
Furniture with a History
The most memorable projects are not always the most massive ones.
One project that has stuck in my mind involved a man’s suitcase that was left behind after he carried it with him when he escaped from a Nazi concentration camp.
Instead of letting the suitcase continue to collect dust, we turned it into a unique cocktail cabinet.
Furniture is not always about wood and metal.
It is also about keeping the memories that come with it.
We have made many unique projects, like turning aircraft into furniture and transforming vintage trunks into cocktail bars, as well as making custom dining tables out of reclaimed wood.
One of the reasons we love furniture is that we can give old items a new purpose.
Surprising Recognition
The last thing I expected when I founded Smithers in 2014 was that journalists would one day contact me for my design expertise.
It’s something I’m incredibly proud of. I’ve spent years refining my craft, learning through experience and, like every business owner, making my fair share of mistakes along the way. Every challenge has helped shape the business and strengthened the knowledge I now share with both clients and the media.
For me, being quoted by leading publications isn’t just recognition—it’s a reminder that years of hands-on experience, craftsmanship and genuine passion for great design continue to earn the trust of journalists, homeowners and commercial clients alike.
Creating Commercial Interior Design That Tell a Story
While Smithers is best known for bespoke furniture, one of the most rewarding parts of my career has been designing complete commercial interiors.
Over the years, we’ve helped transform restaurants, bars and hospitality venues by creating environments that are every bit as memorable as the food and service they offer. Our work has included furnishing restaurants in Covent Garden, delivering a complete interior package for Buvette restaurant in Covent Garden, and creating furniture for the upstairs bar at Sotheby’s.
Rather than simply supplying furniture, we work to create an atmosphere. Every project considers the character of the building, the customer’s experience and the overall identity of the brand. From reclaimed materials and bespoke joinery to statement furniture and industrial-inspired finishes, the goal is always to create spaces with personality.
Every commercial project is different, and that’s exactly what I enjoy most. Turning a client’s vision into an environment that people remember is one of the most satisfying aspects of what we do.
Restoration has been a part of my life for years.
Before designing custom interiors full time, I restored timber sash windows in the UK. I gained valuable experience from this work, which I started in the early 2000s. This work taught me the value of patience and craftsmanship, and to always respect the materials you work with.
Restoring sash windows and designing furniture require very different skill sets, but the same principles apply:
Restoration is always the best option.
Work with care and precision.
Shortcuts are never an option.
Smithers has come a long way from what it was in 2014.
The business I started out of my love for antiques and reclaimed furniture has become an international business of custom interiors and furniture. We are fortunate to have a thriving business which has allowed us to put our passion to work, but there is one constant.
I am still drawn to old materials.
I am still interested in one of a kind projects.
I still get that excited and nostalgic feeling of a of a 14 year old at an auction next to his nan, looking for one of a kind finds.
