From Workshop to Living Room
In 2009, Richard Toree left a successful career in industrial design to return to his roots. His grandfather had run a furniture workshop in rural Wales until the 1970s. His father had kept the tools but moved into construction. Richard had grown up watching those tools gather dust, wondering what they could still create.
The financial crash had just wiped out the premium end of the furniture market. Everyone said it was the wrong time to start a bespoke furniture business. But Richard saw something else: people were tired of disposable everything. They wanted things that lasted. Things that meant something.
He started alone, in a converted barn near Cirencester. That first year, he completed twelve pieces. Each one still in use today.
Growing the Craft
By 2012, word had spread. Clients were recommending us to friends who recommended us to family. We needed more hands — but finding craftspeople who met our standards wasn't easy.
We developed an apprenticeship programme. Partnered with colleges across the South West. Brought in a master joiner from Japan for a month-long workshop on traditional techniques most British woodworkers had never seen.
Today, our team of fifteen includes four graduates of our apprenticeship. The average tenure is seven years. Nobody leaves because they've grown bored of doing something meaningful.
Where We're Going
We've stayed deliberately small. Growth for growth's sake means compromises we're not willing to make. Each piece still receives the same attention whether it's our first or our two thousandth.
Our focus now is on sustainability — not as a marketing buzzword, but as a fundamental practice. We've reduced waste by 60% since 2018. Our timber comes exclusively from managed British forests. The finishes we use are food-safe and solvent-free.
The furniture we build today will outlive us. That's a legacy worth creating.
