In this episode of Yours for the Making Robin Johnson speaks with furniture designer Sam Kille about his route from military service into bespoke furniture making. Sam explains how carpentry and joinery in the Royal Engineers shaped his discipline precision and approach to craft. He talks openly about running a furniture business with a partner, stepping away during Covid, and returning with a clearer sense of direction.
The conversation covers Scandinavian and Japanese influences, heirloom quality furniture, and the realities of selling bespoke work in the UK. Sam also discusses pricing honestly, choosing the right clients, diversifying income through kitchen work, and why furniture should last generations. This episode offers a grounded view of what it takes to build a sustainable furniture practice without shortcuts.
Key Topics Covered
- Moving from the military into furniture making
- Carpentry and joinery as a foundation skill
- Discipline precision and craft standards
- Scandinavian and Japanese furniture influences
- Building heirloom quality furniture
- Running and closing a furniture partnership
- Diversifying income through kitchens and joinery
- Selling bespoke furniture in the UK market
- Pricing work realistically
- Choosing clients carefully
- Long term value of quality furniture
- Apprenticeships traditional skills and teaching
- Work life balance and four day working
- Identity ownership and returning to furniture making
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Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.
Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.
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Key Moments:
00:00 Introduction to Sam Kille and his background
01:10 Military training and carpentry trade
02:38 Starting a furniture business with a partner
03:39 Closing the business and stepping away
04:29 Design influences and visual language
05:30 Sam’s design process and sketching
06:10 Diversifying skills to survive financially
08:40 Selling bespoke furniture and pricing reality
09:02 Heirloom quality and long term value
10:26 Family legacy and inherited furniture
10:55 Discipline from military life
13:08 Working with clients and trust
15:51 Saying no and choosing the right work
18:18 Timber choices and material preference
25:07 Pricing honesty and time value
27:00 Apprenticeships and traditional joinery skills
31:40 Continuous professional development
39:44 Four day working week
43:00 Identity and business ownership
45:38 Advice to younger makers
47:45 Where to find Sam’s work
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