How did your shared experiences create the foundation for Maker&Son?
We decided from the outset to be ourselves and create a business that reflected who we are, what we love doing and doing so with the people that we loved.
Why do you think families are at the heart of so many successful businesses?
At the heart of all the successful businesses that I know is a clear sense of purpose, a reason to exist, trust of each other and a set of shared values that define what the business and team are all about. Families that share values, a sense of purpose and trust therefore have embedded within them some of the core traits to make a business successful. It takes a lot more than this though for a family to be able to work successfully together!
What do you do differently?
We are changing the way luxury furniture is designed, manufactured and sold while providing exceptional levels of service throughout the entire process. We decided to bring this change and lead by example. We design and make everything we sell and we market directly to our customers. Maker&Son is only available through Maker&Son. We make our furniture locally to where we sell and where possible, from locally-sourced natural materials.
More and more people are interested in buying things that are made locally — from natural sustainably sourced materials that will last a lifetime or more. The challenge most people face is that products with these qualities are often expensive and scarce. Luxury furniture, when sold through retail stores often adds significantly to the retail price. The compromise retailers invariably make is to reduce the quality of the product to bring it to an 'affordable price'. It seemed to us that there had to be a way to sell luxury furniture and home products without retail stores and then pass on the benefit of the reduced costs to the customer with a significantly better quality product at the same time.
How do you create furniture with the capacity to last for generations?
By design; namely, we make our furniture by hand in a traditional way, with high quality materials. Every detail is very carefully considered with longevity at the heart of the creation of each piece
Why are natural materials at the heart of what you do?
Almost all upholstered furniture across the world, whether at a high or low price, contains lots of manmade materials. Some of them are particularly unpleasant such as polyether foam which is used extensively and is highly toxic. For us, the future has to be about making products that are sustainably sourced and sustainably made. Natural materials are therefore the only way forward.
Find out more at makerandson.com
-
A country house built on the site of an ancient Sussex castle, where the 900-year walls are still standingThis 17th century home built around the site of a 12th century castle is on the market for the first time in over a century. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
-
Who let the dogs out? We did, in the Country Life Quiz of the Day, July 7, 2026It's all about the terrier in today's Quiz of the Day.
-
Star of the show: How George Saumarez Smith's design for Country Life wowed visitors at the Chelsea Flower ShowThe Garden Lover’s Library, created by George Saumarez Smith for Country Life, dazzled visitors at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
-
Inspired by the past: How Munder Skiles blended old and new for Country Life's stand at the Chelsea Flower ShowOn Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, two striking designs by Munder Skiles demonstrated the exciting possibilities of combining inspiration from the past, artisanal skills, high-quality materials and cutting-edge engineering to create furniture suited to inside and out.
-
Reader event: The art of the country house garden at DaylesfordWhat are the ingredients of the perfect country garden in the 21st century? At this Country Life event, five leading experts will share their wisdom on achieving pleasing good looks, creating comfortable spaces for relaxation, manageable maintenance and how to make a garden your own.
-
Art underfoot: How Artorius Faber brought to life the stone floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower ShowGeorge Saumarez Smith’s design for the floor of Country Life's stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been brought to life by Artorius Faber.
-
The best of British: How home-grown stone will be one of the stars on the Country Life stand at the Chelsea Flower ShowCountry Life's stand at RHS Chelsea will celebrate the beauty of Artorius Faber’s home-grown stone.
-
The art of the hand: George Saumarez Smith's design for Country Life at ChelseaGeorge Saumarez Smith will demonstrate the power of pen and pencil when Country Life unveils his hand-drawn design for its stand at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
-
Reader event report: An eye to the future at DaylesfordThe magnificent Heritage Barn at Daylesford in the Cotswolds was the setting for an event at which five specialists with a deep understanding of country properties shared their expertise.
-
Reader Event: An eye to the future at Daylesford Heritage HouseWhat changes to a house do most to enhance its aesthetics, function, comfort, sustainability and longevity? On March 24, leading experts in architecture, interior design, craft and restoration will share the secrets to maximising possibilities and protecting value at Daylesford’s magnificent Heritage House in Gloucestershire.
