About Lapwing
Lapwing makes furniture from British timber at the Sylva Wood Centre in Oxfordshire. Thom O'Nions founded the studio after studying furniture design and make at Rycotewood Furniture Centre; before that, he worked in the art world, studying at Goldsmiths, curating museum exhibitions, and collaborating with contemporary artists. Both inform the work.
Before Lapwing, Thom ran Foris Studio with Josey Garbutt and Krav Metcalfe, the three having met at Rycotewood. The furniture designer John Makepeace OBE commissioned Foris after seeing their work at the 2023 Young Furniture Makers Awards in London; the resulting piece, Obelisk 3, was exhibited by Sarah Myerscough Gallery at TEFAF Maastricht in 2024. A second collection, Embrace, was shown at Galerie 56 in New York later that year, the first standalone show Sarah Myerscough has staged in the United States. See both in recent projects.
Lapwing is a member of the Heritage Crafts Association and listed in the Crafts Council Directory.
Design Philosophy
The work draws from mid-century British modernism, from makers like Ernest Race, Robin Day, and Ercol, who made furniture that was functional first, honest in its construction, and built to last.
We work with oak, ash, elm, walnut, and sycamore sourced from managed British woodland, the timber travelling from mill to workshop in a single journey, measured in miles.
What We Make
We make furniture and homewares to commission: dining tables, console tables, media units, shelving, benches, and fitted storage, each designed around the space it will live in. We also make for selected designers and institutions; see our recent projects.
How It Works
Each commission begins with a conversation about the space and the brief, working through timber options: grain, colour, how different species age. Once the design is settled, we select and source the timber, bring it to the Oxfordshire workshop, and let it acclimatise before starting work.
The work uses traditional joinery throughout: hand-cut joints, hand-planing, careful grain selection, with contemporary methods where they serve the piece. The aim is furniture that works well, improves with age, and is honest about what it is made from.
Working to Commission
Budget is part of the conversation from the start. We discuss costs early and can put together options at different levels once we understand the brief — the same piece can be specified several ways, and it is worth knowing which direction you are heading before the design work begins.
Lead time is typically eight to twelve weeks. We take on private commissions, institutional projects, and work for designers.
“I had never ordered a bespoke piece of furniture before working with Thom, but he made the whole process extremely worthwhile and rewarding. He came to visit us on site and we discussed the project. He then produced draft designs, which we adjusted with his guidance to meet our exact requirements. His quick communication and flexibility were very much appreciated throughout.
Thanks to Thom, Linacre College Library now has a beautiful, timeless and unique wooden display cabinet, built to protect its collection items for many years. It fits seamlessly within the library space and will be enjoyed for many decades. We have been very lucky to work with Thom, who brought our vision to life through his skill and expertise. The College couldn’t be more delighted.”
Laura Unwin, Linacre College, University of Oxford
Commission bespoke furniture from our Oxfordshire workshop.
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