Kensington’s been good to me, and I’ve made it my base for the last twenty years, and in that time, I’ve refitted every room at least twice. 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 proper made-to-measure design, built by people who understand detail—and that’s where Smithers of Stamford come into it. A friend in Chelsea mentioned Smithers during a dinner party, and I’ll be honest—I didn’t expect much.

But one look at their reclaimed industrial pieces and I was hooked. It wasn’t try-hard—just solid, confident design with a bit of bite. We started small—a console table for the hallway, and it just snowballed buy from Bespoke Furniture London there. Everything they make feels weighty, honest, and bold. I’ve since had them fit out the library, and every time, they’ve delivered. What most people don’t realise is this: it fits like a tailored suit. It doesn’t swallow the space or disappear into it.

And unlike some luxury brands who phone it in, Smithers actually give a damn. I like that they use reclaimed materials, 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