The Hands Behind
Every Piece.
Craftspeople of uncommon skill. Makers of rare things.
Every piece of furniture that leaves our Nanyuki workshop carries the signature of a human hand, the knowledge of a living tradition, and the mark of a craftsperson who takes their work personally. These are our artisans.
James Waweru
EPOXY & WOOD MASTERAmina Okonkwo
HERITAGE CARVERSamuel Kipchoge
LOGS SPECIALISTThe Artisan Manifesto
In a world of mass production and disposable design, we have chosen a different path. Every piece that bears the Esteemed name was touched, shaped, and finished by a craftsperson who has spent years learning their trade — not from a manual, but from a master.
Our artisans are not factory workers. They are makers in the oldest and most honourable sense. They read the grain of timber the way a storyteller reads a crowd. They know when a piece is ready, not because a timer went off, but because they can feel it.
When you buy an Esteemed piece, you are not buying furniture. You are buying into a lineage of craft that stretches back through Kenya's finest woodworking traditions — and forward into a future where those traditions are valued, paid fairly, and passed on.
Our Artisans
Each artisan is a specialist. Each piece they make is signed with their name — on the Certificate of Origin, in the furniture records, and in the quality of every finish.
15 years perfecting the art of epoxy river tables. James reads the grain of every slab before making a single cut — the wood leads, he follows. His pours are known for their clarity, depth and perfect bubble-free finish.
A third-generation wood carver whose grandmother taught her the Luo motifs she now translates into contemporary furniture. Every carved surface tells a story from a specific community — verified, documented, and honoured.
Samuel has an almost spiritual relationship with whole logs — he sees the furniture hiding inside before making a cut. Known for benches and coffee tables that preserve the full character of the original tree including bark, knots, and natural splits.
Fatuma specialises in finding beauty in what others discard. She sources rejected timber — storm-felled, blackened, split — and transforms it into furniture that carries its history with pride. Every piece she makes comes with a written origin story.
A joinery specialist trained in both traditional Kikuyu woodworking and modern structural techniques. Peter's chairs and dining sets are known for their strength, precision, and the quiet confidence of a craftsperson who never rushes.
Grace weaves the textile and rattan elements that complement our furniture — seat panels, headboards, decorative panels and wall hangings. Her work bridges the gap between furniture and art with an ease that comes from twenty years of dedicated practice.
The Craft Process
From sourcing timber in the Laikipia highlands to the final coat of natural oil — every stage is done by hand, with intention.
Every slab, log or reclaimed piece begins with sourcing. We look for character — grain, knots, history. Timber is selected for what it already is, not what we want to make it become.
The artisan studies the piece — its dimensions, its wounds, its potential. The design emerges from the material. We do not force a shape onto timber. The timber suggests the shape.
Drying, stabilisation, structural reinforcement where needed. Cracks are cleaned, not filled. Splits are preserved. The timber's history stays visible — that is the whole point.
The longest stage. Hand-shaping, joinery, epoxy pouring for applicable pieces. Weeks of skilled handwork. No two pieces follow the same process because no two pieces carry the same challenge.
Natural oil finishes that protect while revealing the wood's true colour and depth. Zero harsh chemicals. The surface feels like the wood itself — alive, warm, honest.
Every piece leaves our workshop with a Certificate of Origin — the timber's source, the artisan's name, the collection it belongs to, and the date of completion. The full journey, in writing.
Find the Collection That Speaks to You
Four collections. Four distinct worlds. Each one made by hand in Nanyuki, Kenya.
Are You a Maker?
We are always looking for craftspeople who share our standard. Not perfectionists — makers. People who take their work personally and bring something irreplaceable to what they do.
If you work with wood, rattan, textile, clay, metal, or any material that can elevate a living space — we want to hear from you.
Application Received ✓
We review every application personally. You will hear from us within 5 working days.
Every Piece Tells a Story.
Commission Yours.
Work directly with one of our artisans to create a piece made entirely for your space. Custom dimensions, your choice of timber, your vision executed by a master.