Top-ranked British Furniture Artisans, Endorsed by Leading Designers and Architects
In the world of garden design, British artisans and retailers are renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship, stylish designs, and commitment to quality. Here are some of the top recommendations from garden design experts:
Retailers
Dobbies
Known for its strong garden furniture offering, Dobbies provides a variety of options, including rattan sets, outdoor heating, pizza ovens, and sofa choices suitable for delivery or click and collect.
Dunelm
Loved for its simple, affordable pieces spanning traditional and contemporary styles, Dunelm offers everything from swirling love seats to wooden dining sets. The retailer also features colorful, statement pieces influenced by designer Sophie Robinson, such as multicolored egg chairs.
Garden Trading
Specialising in outdoor essentials for over 20 years, Garden Trading offers design-led and practical items like teak dining chairs, benches, and daybeds in a mid-range budget, focusing on quality and style.
Graham and Green
Known for its maximalist, quirky designs, Graham and Green ranges from modern rattan seating to rustic and decorative pieces, helping create standout garden spaces.
Cox & Cox
Delivering classic British style, Cox & Cox offers charming woven furniture, traditional wicker-style sofas on aluminum frames, and a cozy country cottage aesthetic. Its outdoor collections include sofas, chairs, bistro sets, and recliners designed for both garden and conservatory use.
John Lewis
John Lewis offers a wide price range from budget to designer garden furniture, including their own well-reviewed pieces like the Marcy garden chair and modular outdoor sofas inspired by popular indoor styles.
Makers
Gaze Burvill
Admired for their superb craftsmanship, classic silhouettes, and brilliant customer service, Gaze Burvill makes some of the best benches available.
Munder-Skiles
Munder-Skiles creates outdoor furniture with beautiful detail, long-lasting quality, and comfort. Their pieces are highly recommended for their balance of quality materials and stylish designs.
Home & Garden Ironwork
Home & Garden Ironwork is another exceptional outdoor furniture-maker, known for their romantic and European flair, particularly in their vintage-style wrought iron furniture.
Bruce Hodgson
Founder of Artichoke, Bruce Hodgson is praised for his work with natural timbers and understanding of wood complexities.
John Nethercott
A furniture-maker who works pre-1700 styles, John Nethercott is gifted in furniture making and finishing.
Rupert Bevan
Rupert Bevan's level of finish and detail is phenomenal, with his pieces often imparting a sense of antiquity.
Max Rollitt
Max Rollitt is known for his exceptional work, as evidenced by the beautiful table he made for the new orangery at Bruern Abbey in Oxfordshire.
Alfred Newall and Joss Stoddart
Both Alfred Newall and Joss Stoddart are highly recommended makers, with their work showcasing a high level of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Jerome Shorter
Jerome Shorter is renowned for his excellent upholstery skills, beautiful restorations, and line of new, traditionally upholstered furniture.
Aisthésis (Paris)
Aisthésis in Paris creates unique, contemporary furniture and cabinetry using materials such as parchment, mica, mother-of-pearl, horn, bone, and shagreen.
John Makepeace
John Makepeace produces exquisite bespoke furniture, with his pieces often admired for their shape and patina.
Christopher Kurtz
Christopher Kurtz's Skipping Stone table is another standout piece, with its shape and patina captivating many.
Guy Tobin
Guy Tobin's taste in antiques is superb, and he is currently releasing some of his own furniture pieces.
Rupert Cunningham (Ben Pentreath Studio)
From Ben Pentreath Studio, Rupert Cunningham recommends Jake Phipps for those with avant-garde taste. He now accepts commissions for more traditional pieces as well.
Candia Lutyens
Candia Lutyens's furniture pieces have a distinctively Lutyens flavour, making them a great choice for those seeking a unique and timeless style.
Saint John Architectural Interiors
Saint John Architectural Interiors creates the highest-quality architectural joinery, with their work reflecting current trends and British garden design expertise.
Giles Kime
Giles Kime, who writes for Homes & Gardens, The Telegraph, and Decanter Magazine, frequently features experts naming outstanding artisans, dealers, and writers in various fields.
[1] Design Milk [2] The Spaces [3] Homes & Gardens [4] The Guardian [5] The Telegraph
In the realm of fashion-and-beauty, one might draw inspiration from Sophie Robinson's colorful, statement pieces at Dunelm, echoing the vibrancy seen in garden design. After a day spent gardening, enjoying a meal prepared with fresh ingredients from the food-and-drink section of John Lewis would be a pleasant experience, especially when seated on the classic British style furniture from Cox & Cox or the unique, contemporary furniture from Aisthésis in Paris. Finally, unwinding in a garden adorned with home-and-garden essentials from retailers like Dobbies, Garden Trading, or Graham and Green would epitomize a lifestyle that embraces both comfort and style.
