There’s something special about seeing an idea move from a sketch on paper to something you can hold in your hands.
For our new Desk Collection, we wanted to take that journey a little further, understanding every material, process and small detail that goes into making each piece. That meant finding the right partner: a family-run British manufacturer in Manchester who have spent the last 45 years producing exquisite products.
They have worked on everything, from luxury products and furniture to completely bespoke and elaborate pieces for prestigious Scottish whisky companies. Today, their factory offers us a unique opportunity with traditional woodworking craft sits alongside modern design and manufacturing technology.
During our visit, we spent time with the team fine tuning how our collection comes to life.
Starting with Sustainable Ash Hardwood.
The process begins with the material. For the first edition of our desk pieces, we selected a sustainable Ash hardwood for its beautiful pale colouring, natural grain, strength and tactile quality. We wanted a wood that felt timeless and would complement the precision of the metal components used throughout the collection.
Once the timber has been selected, the individual pieces are shaped using CNC cutting machines. This allows us to achieve the precision and consistency needed for each element, while still retaining the character of the natural wood.
But the machines are only part of the process. After machining, each piece needs to be refined and sanded using a combination of machine and hand finishing. This is where the details really start to come together! smoothing the surfaces, refining the edges and making sure every piece feels right in the hand.
Finishing the Wood
Getting the finish right was particularly important to us. Each piece goes through a two-step finishing process using stain, oil and wax, helping to bring out the natural character of the Ash while providing a durable and tactile surface.
For the oil finish, we use Osmo wood oils, which have a plant-based formulation designed to be safe for humans, animals and plants once fully dry.
Osmo's finishes are made using purified, rapidly renewable natural resources and are 100% vegan, with no animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax. They also comply with UK and EU regulations for low-VOC or solvent-free formulations, limiting harmful evaporating carbon compounds.
For us, choosing a finish isn't simply about how something looks. It's about how it feels, how it ages and how it fits into everyday life.
Crown Rest & Tool Tray: Adding Weight and Precision
For the Crown Rest and Tool Tray, we add an additional layer of precision and weight.
Inserted into the base of each piece is a solid stainless steel coin weight. These are precision machined in Yorkshire, UK before being laser marked and finished by hand, with a radial brushed surface, in our Manchester workshop.
This isn't just a visual detail. The additional weight helps the pieces feel solid and secure on your desk, so when you place your pen or other tools down, they stay exactly where you expect them to.
It's one of those details you might not notice immediately, but you definitely notice when it's not there!
The Pen Stand
The Pen Stand brings together the same combination of wood, stainless steel and precision manufacturing.
The external body is precision machined from stainless steel, then laser marked and finished with a hand-brushed surface.
Inside, the wooden core is carefully inserted into the stand and secured in place using a dedicated core stand element and a Torx screw. This central element is designed to be modular, enabling us to explore option to offer interchangeable cores in the future for different pen profiles. Part of our commitment to enuring the products we make are designed with longevity in mind.
The result is a piece that combines the warmth and character of natural wood with the precision and permanence of machined stainless steel.
From Our Workshop to Your Desk
Visiting the factory gave us a completely different appreciation for what goes into each piece.
From selecting the wood, to CNC machining, hand sanding, finishing and assembling the stainless steel components, there are many individual steps and many opportunities to get the details right.
For us, that's what makes the final object special.
It's not just the finished product. It's the people, materials, skills and decisions behind it.
BE CREATIVE • STAY CURIOUS.
Chris & Marta
