Bespoke Furniture London: Built Properly Styled Boldly

Kensington’s been good to me, and I’ve made it my base for https://www.tee-classics.ch 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—we’ve had all sorts built in. And if there’s one thing I won’t compromise on now, it’s furniture. Not the mass-market stuff. I’m talking custom-built furniture, built by people who understand detail—and that’s where Smithers of Stamford absolutely shine.

A friend in Chelsea mentioned Smithers during a dinner party, and I’ll be honest—I was sceptical. But one look at their madcap cocktail cabinets and I was hooked. It wasn’t over-designed—just solid, confident design with a bit of swagger. The first piece we bought was a brutalist sideboard for the dining room, and it just snowballed from there. Each piece looks like it belongs in a film set and a townhouse, somehow.

I’ve since had them build a bespoke drinks unit in the snug, and every time, they’ve delivered. What you’re really paying for with Smithers is this: it fits like a tailored suit. It doesn’t swallow the space or disappear into it. And unlike some luxury brands who think branding does the work, Smithers actually give a damn. I like that they aren’t afraid to push the design, 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 an old Bentley interior? Done. I’ve sent friends to them in Mayfair and Holland Park and every single one