WHO WE ARE
and why we do what we do
StudioShillito is a husband and wife team who live in a self-built houseboat in Central London.
I am Rebecca and I devote myself to the studio in-between raising two children, whilst Simon (my husband) helps where needed when not designing at an AJ100 architectural practice in the city.
​
The studio houses the CNC machine (designed and built by us) as well as the general workshop, all in a converted shipping container in London’s last central dry dock.
​
BESPOKE SERVICE
​
We do not hold stock, everything we make is bespoke. So, when you complete your order, we begin to make your furniture to your specification.
​
What you get is a bespoke piece every time. We can tweak the design for you, change the colour or size, just contact us for more information.
​
Let us know what problem you want your furniture to overcome. A particularly difficult to furnish corner? Want a solution to hide away a stubborn pile of stuff? Want a particular colour? A surface pattern? A 3D carved relief of your pet giraffe?
​
Just tell us what you want. We’ll work out how to do it. After all, they do say that once you’ve built a boat, you can build anything.
​
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY
​
We believe that form follows function until it gets boring.
​
As long-term inhabitants of small spaces, we know how to make adaptable solutions and how to make sure form follows function. After this, we start having a bit more fun.
Simon calls it ‘post-Scandi techno joy’ furniture. What this means is that our work moves beyond the minimalist birch look of ‘Scandi Style’ into pops of colour, expressed jointing and joyous detailing, all coming together in technologically conscious compositions.
​
I think we make beautiful and playful pieces that enliven the grey of modern interiors.
And we do it in an as honest and sustainable way as possible
​
​
SUSTAINABILITY
Quality
Our designs are built to last. We do not skimp on materials to cut our overheads, instead, we are eco-warriors.
​
We build our products to last for generations because it is the disposable nature of consumerism that is top of our no list.
​
Similarly - unless you request something special - our default materials also last a lifetime. The plywood we use internally is rated for exterior use. It will survive for many years in your garden and forever in your living room. Our fixings are high-grade stainless steel, they will never leave rust marks or fail to hold. We will never use chipboard or other similarly inferior materials because to do so would be a false economy for you and the planet. What we do use is, of course, sustainably sourced.
​
Small carbon feet to suit scaled-down digital fabrication.
We acknowledge that our socio-economic structure no longer allows for weeks slaving over a single joint, those times are gone. So, we merge old and new.
​
Digital design and fabrication combined with traditional expertise allow us to get the best from modern manufacturing and retain the ‘handmade’ through traditional finishing skills - in our photos you’ll see a lovely collection of woodworking planes hanging beside our CNC machine.
​
Our business model is a sustainable one that makes only what is required when it’s required. At this scale, we can also intelligently manage waste streams to upcycle our own rubbish.
​
On top of all the points above, our materials and products do not circumnavigate the globe.
Less is less and little things go a long way to keep our footprint lean.
​
CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
​
The visible expressed joints in our unique aesthetic, are not as far as it goes.
In line with our philosophy as a forward-looking studio, we have chosen to move beyond the old-fashioned notions surrounding traditional fine cabinet making.
​
We actively shy away from adhesives in our designs. Where we can, we mechanically fix. For you this means you get a product that can be disassembled for repair or transport (tell us if somehow you broke a bit, we’ll make you a replacement). You get a home environment free from volatile organic compounds (most adhesives give off toxic fumes even when fully cured).
​
The environment gets reduced chemical production and pollution. And your furniture gets fixings that can be infinitely reused or recycled.
​
Ultimately, you get our signature style.
​
Also, unlike many others, we generally do not use laminates for the pop of colour (unless you want a patterned vinyl). Our colouring is all done the old-fashioned way with liquid-applied paint. Why? It means we can supply any RAL that matches perfectly on any face. It also means that should you change your colour scheme, or somehow chip a corner, you can repaint, just ask and we’ll give you tips on achieving the fresh from us look.