Meet the maker… Phil

How did you come to your career as a maker?

Really, my line of work has come through my family. It’s in my DNA! My grandad had a furniture business and my mother also went into the trade. I set up on my own with this history in mind.

What draws you to the materials you work with?

Usually, we’re working towards client briefs so I don’t tend to choose the materials I work with. I just love making and creating things, so the draw is really towards this act of bringing something into existence over and above the actual materials.

Why is handcraft important?

Handcrafted design items, homeware and furniture are always better quality than mass-produced work. When you scale up to an intensive industrial level, you lose something special about the products. It’s important to me that we maintain these hand skills in the workshop. I’m involved at every stage of the process, mostly because we’re a small team of only eight people, but also because I love to be a part of the creation of these pieces.

Describe your studio/workshop.

A mess! No - it’s a highly functional space, with dedicated spaces for specific tasks. There is a sewing room, a spray bench, an upholstery room and a woodwork room. It’s right next door to my house in a barn-style building.

Do you listen to music while you work?

We absolutely do. We listen to lots of different radio stations, from Radio 1 to Absolute Radio 90s. We have a real variety of ages in the workshop, which means we’re all introduced to new music every day, depending on who’s set the station that morning.

Where do you seek inspiration or motivation?

I just love to work - you’ll often find me back in the workshop after dinner. It’s a commitment to craft and creating and of course, to my staff.

Where do you see your pieces in the contemporary home?

Lots of the work we do is for restaurants and clubs, as well as the private work we do for Kelling Designs. In terms of the residential projects we have worked on, there is such a diversity in style and architecture, so that keeps the work really exciting. From manor houses to penthouses, each new brief comes with an exciting new challenge.

Any favourite client commissions or projects?

We have done lots of private work for each member of the band, The Prodigy. We also created the throne for Madonna’s Super Bowl half-time show in 2012.

How do you wind down at the end of the working day?

The honest answer is that I don’t. I’m always working! You can often find me going through paperwork on my phone when I’m not in the workshop. The work seems to follow me. But that’s not such a bad thing - I love every moment of my job and I find it quite therapeutic.

What’s next for you and where can customers find your work?

We have lots of private work in the pipeline, but also some great commercial projects. We’re doing the seating for Inca Restaurant in Mayfair, as well as the on-site club. It’ll be lots of booth seating with high button backs. Also in Mayfair, we will be creating lots of seating for Taboo and the Haig Club. We don’t advertise but seem to drive lots of work via word of mouth recommendations, which is flattering and special.