For the trade
Every material used in a Make Bespoke Studio commission is specified for the project, not pulled from stock. Timber species, metal alloys, stone types, glass treatments, fabrics and leathers are selected in dialogue with the design team and approved by sample before production begins.
Our manufacturing network gives us direct access to material sources across Europe, the Middle East and beyond: FSC-certified timber from managed European forests, marble and travertine from our quarry in Bergamo, Murano glass from the Venetian Lagoon, metals from certified mills. What follows is a reference for specifiers. Physical samples are available on request for any material or finish listed here.
We work with over 60 timber species across our workshops. Solid hardwoods for structural frames, legs and rails. Veneers for decorative surfaces, marquetry and inlay. Engineered substrates (MDF, birch plywood, moisture-resistant board) for stable carcasses and panel construction.
European oak, American walnut, European ash, maple, cherry, beech, sycamore, tulipwood, iroko, sapele, utile. Exotic species sourced to order: ebony, rosewood (CITES-compliant), wenge, zebrano, padauk. All solid timber is kiln-dried and conditioned before use.
Over 60 veneer species held in stock or sourced to order. Crown cut, quarter cut, rift cut and rotary cut. Book-matched, slip-matched, radial-matched and random-matched layouts. Veneers are selected for grain, figure and colour consistency across the commission. Our mid-Wales marquetry workshop holds FSC and PEFC chain of custody certification for all veneer work.
FSC and PEFC chain of custody available across multiple facilities. Full species identification and origin documentation provided on request. CITES documentation prepared for controlled species.
Request timber samples →Our Sussex metalwork facility works across six metals: steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass, bronze and copper. CNC plasma cutting, water-jet cutting, CNC milling and hand-finishing. Architectural metalwork (staircases, balustrades, screens, grilles) and decorative furniture metalwork (handles, hardware, inlay strips, frames) are produced to the same standards.
Polished, brushed, satin, antiqued, patinated, blackened, oxidised, powder-coated, lacquered, plated (nickel, chrome, gold). Over 30 standard metal finishes with bespoke patination and colour development available. Samples developed in dialogue with the design team before production.
Our Oman facility produces damascene (precious metal inlay into steel) and mehr kari (metal inlay into wood and stone). Our Istanbul factory handles production metalwork, furniture hardware and metal components at scale. Our West Midlands factory produces bespoke lighting in machined and hand-finished metals with over 24 standard metal finishes for lighting fixtures.
Our Bergamo facility has direct access to a dedicated stone quarry for marble and travertine sourcing. Calacatta, Statuario, Carrara, Emperador, Nero Marquina and travertine are available from Italian and European quarries. Exotic and rare stones are sourced globally to order.
Stone is selected by slab, approved by sample, and cut and finished to the project specification. Honed, polished, brushed, tumbled, leathered and flamed finishes. Book-matched slabs for feature walls and vanity tops. Edge profiles cut to drawing.
Request stone samples →Two specialist glass workshops serve different disciplines. Our Murano facility produces hand-blown glass chandeliers, vessels and sculptural objects using historic Venetian techniques: filigrana, sommerso, incalmo, applied colour and internal layering. Over 50 glass colours. EN 60598-1 certified for all lighting.
Our Devon workshop produces hand-silvered antique mirror, verre eglomise, etched glass, sandblasted glass, painted glass and laminated decorative panels. The team's background in conservation for national heritage collections means both period authenticity and contemporary design are produced to the same technical standard.
Our Manchester workshop is dedicated to verre eglomise: gold and silver leaf applied to the reverse face of glass, combined with hand-painted, engraved or etched detail. 24-carat gold leaf, white gold and silver leaf. Mirrored panels, cabinet linings, table tops and decorative wall installations.
Fabrics and leathers are specified by the design team and sourced from named suppliers. We work with the full range: silks, linens, cottons, wools, velvets, performance fabrics, outdoor textiles, horsehair, bouclé and speciality weaves. Leather grades from full-grain aniline through semi-aniline to pigmented and pull-up hides.
Our upholstery workshops (High Wycombe, Leicester, Bergamo, West Sussex, Istanbul) handle bench-built frames, hand-sprung seats and hand-stitched detailing. Foam densities, spring specifications and fabric application methods are agreed at the design stage. Fire-retardant treatments applied to the appropriate standards (BS 5852, BS 7176, Cal 117, IMO) depending on the project specification and jurisdiction.
Our East London workshop produces straw marquetry in hand-dyed rye straw. Over 30 dye colours mixed in-house. Feature walls, screens, headboards and cabinet faces. Produced by a formally trained ebeniste educated at one of Europe's leading schools of decorative arts.
Lacquer systems include polyester, polyurethane, acrylic and water-based formulations. Matt, satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss finishes. Multi-coat build-ups for deep lacquer work: up to 12 layers on a finished piece, sanded back between coats. Colour matching to RAL, NCS, Pantone or bespoke references.
Oil and wax finishes for natural timber: hard wax oil, Danish oil, tung oil, beeswax, carnauba. Hand-applied patinas, antiquing, distressing and specialist ageing treatments. Gilding in 24-carat gold leaf, white gold, silver leaf and Dutch metal, by water or oil technique.
Our West Sussex workshop specialises in gilding and hand-applied decorative finishes, with over a century of continuous practice in these techniques.
Request finish samples →Three workshops across the network specialise in inlay and marquetry. Our mid-Wales workshop produces contemporary veneer marquetry and mother of pearl inlay, with FSC and PEFC certification and a practice that extends to luxury automotive interiors. Our Oman facility produces traditional marquetry, khatam (Persian micro-mosaic inlay), mehr kari, damascene and gilding. Our East London workshop produces straw marquetry.
These are slow, hand-produced crafts. A single marquetry panel can take 80 hours per square metre. A khatam panel contains over 2,000 individual pieces. Specifications, patterns and colour palettes are developed in dialogue with the studio and approved by sample before production begins.