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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 tried it all. And if there’s one thing I won’t compromise on now, it’s furniture. Not the mass-market stuff. I’m talking custom-built furniture, built by people who understand detail—and that’s where Smithers of Stamford come into it.  
  
My wife actually discovered Smithers, and I’ll be honest—I was sceptical. But one look at their aviator range and I was hooked. It wasn’t chasing trends—just solid, confident design with a bit of swagger. The first piece we bought was a brutalist sideboard for the dining room, and it just snowballed buy from Bespoke Furniture London there. Each piece looks like it belongs in a film set and a townhouse, somehow. I’ve since had them create a custom shoe storage system that actually makes sense, and every time, they’ve delivered.  
  
What you’re really paying for with Smithers is this: it’s not furniture—it’s architectural. The scale feels balanced. And unlike some luxury brands who phone it in, Smithers get stuck in. I like that they use reclaimed materials, but I also like that they’re not stiff. 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