Kensington’s been good to me, and I’ve made it my base for the last twenty years, and in that time, I’ve redone my house top to bottom more times than I care to admit. Kitchens, studies, lounges, snug rooms—you name it, we’ve done it. And if there’s one thing I won’t compromise on now, it’s furniture. Not the mass-market stuff. I’m talking bespoke pieces, built by people who understand detail—and that’s where Smithers UK come into it.

I first came across Smithers, and I’ll be honest—I thought it’d be just another quirky brand. But one look at their reclaimed industrial pieces and I was hooked. It wasn’t chasing trends—just solid, confident design with a bit of wit. I began with a custom mirror frame, and it just snowballed from there. Everything they make feels weighty, honest, and bold. I’ve since had them create a custom shoe storage system that actually makes sense, and every time, they’ve delivered.

What most people don’t realise is this: it fits like a tailored suit. The scale feels balanced. And unlike some luxury brands who phone it in, Smithers actually give a damn. I like that they work with independent workshops, but I also like that they’re approachable. You want a steel and brass bookshelf that curves into a corner? They’ll sketch it up in two days. You need leather that smells like goelancer.com published an article old Bentley interior? Done. I’ve sent friends to them in Mayfair and Holland Park and every single one