Where it all began
Our story began in 2011, when Tom decided to turn years of experience and a passion for cabinet making into something of his own.
Having spent six years crafting bespoke furniture for a prestigious cabinet-making company, his first independent project was somewhat unconventional – the complete fit-out of a 57ft narrowboat. Two and a half years in the making, it was a project that demanded creativity, precision and an ability to make every inch of space work beautifully.
It gave Tom the confidence to take the leap into self-employment, and three more narrowboat projects followed. Before long, however, his attention began to turn from life on the water to people’s homes.
The workshop gradually evolved, with part of it becoming a small showroom displaying bespoke kitchens, utility rooms and handcrafted furniture. Kitchens became an increasingly important part of Monkeywood, but the lessons learnt from those early narrowboat projects have stayed with us. When every inch of space matters, thoughtful design is essential – and that same approach still influences the way we design today. We look at how a space will really be used, making the most of every available inch to create cabinetry that is as practical as it is beautiful.
Why Monkeywood?
When Tom started the business, he knew he didn’t want to simply use his own name or initials. He wanted something distinctive, memorable and with an identity of its own.
While exploring different ideas and species of trees, he came across the Monkey Puzzle. One of the hardiest conifers and often described as a ‘living fossil’, it is unmistakable, enduring and certainly stands out from the crowd.
Those qualities felt rather fitting for the kind of business Tom wanted to build and from there, Monkeywood was born.
From Monkeywood to Monkeybean – and back again
As Monkeywood continued to grow, another idea was brewing. Tom joined forces with his close friend Anna to open Monkeybean, a coffee shop in the unit opposite the Monkeywood workshop.
What started as a business partnership became rather more along the way. Tom and Anna went on to marry and welcomed their two daughters, Connie and Tilly, making Monkeywood very much a family story as well as a business one.
After almost five years, the decision was made to wind down Monkeybean. With Monkeywood continuing to grow, the opportunity arose to relocate the workshop and transform the former coffee shop into the Monkeywood showroom you see today, bringing the showroom and workshop together side by side.
While Monkeybean may have closed its doors, Anna remained an integral part of the business. Alongside raising Connie and Tilly, she now takes the reins on the financial side of Monkeywood, working closely with Tom behind the scenes as the business continues to grow.
It feels rather fitting that a space once created for people to meet over coffee is still somewhere we welcome clients, sit down together and talk through ideas for their homes. And while Monkeybean may have gone, one thing hasn’t changed, there’s still always coffee waiting when you visit.
Monkeywood today
A lot has changed since that first narrowboat, but the principles Monkeywood was built upon remain very much the same.
Today, Monkeywood is an independent, design-led kitchen and interiors company, with our showroom and workshop sitting side by side in North Oxfordshire. Here, our designers, cabinet makers and dedicated installation team work closely together, taking each project from the first conversation and initial drawings through to manufacture and final installation.
While we are perhaps best known for our kitchens, our work extends throughout the home. From boot rooms, pantries and utility rooms to studies, bars, libraries, bedrooms and dressing rooms, every piece is designed specifically for the people and the home it belongs to.
Being truly bespoke means we aren’t working within a catalogue of standard sizes or fixed configurations. We make our cabinetry ourselves, allowing us the freedom to consider the whole space, how it flows, how it will be used and how every detail can make everyday life that little bit better.
Our showroom gives you the opportunity to experience our work first-hand, while the workshop next door offers a glimpse into how it is made. We believe there is something special about being able to meet the people behind your project and, as it progresses, see the designs you first discussed with us taking shape in the workshop.
For us, Monkeywood has always been about more than making beautiful cabinetry. It is about craftsmanship, thoughtful design and building the kind of trust and long-lasting relationships that come from guiding our clients through the entire journey.
