ABOUT
OUR STORY
PROVIDING AN UNPARALLELED DEGREE OF COMFORT SINCE 1969
1969
ORIGIN
The year Sue & James Cook, former antique dealers established The Odd Chair Company primarily as an antique restoration business.
They began their business scouring the country for unique antique furniture, some pristine and some in need of restoration and refurbishment. James and Sue had a keen eye for spotting the potential in antique chairs and sofas and were able to transform them into stunning, one-of-a-kind pieces.
As their antique business grew, they began to receive requests for custom-made chairs. Customers would come to them with their specific requirements, whether it was a specific style, size or colour scheme. This sparked an idea in James and Sue, and they decided to start creating bespoke chairs from scratch, where they could design each chair exactly to their customers' specifications, creating pieces that were truly unique.
1990
EVOLUTION
The year Victoria Cook, daughter of James and Sue, joined the business. With a true passion for design, furniture, interiors, and a keen eye for detail, the business quickly gained a reputation as a real expert in their field. The Odd Chair Company became known for its exceptional craftsmanship and the ability to create chairs that were both beautiful and comfortable and built to last a lifetime. Their chairs were not only stylish but renowned for their high level of comfort - a testament to the high-quality materials and skilled workmanship that went into each piece.
2002
The year James M Cook, son of James and Sue, took over the business alongside sister Victoria with a goal to become the finest traditional handmade furniture company in the UK.
The business grew based on the high level of service offered to clients and the strength of the traditional upholstery and cabinet skills obtained by the artisan craftsmen and women, drawing on over 100 years of combined experience. It was at this point that the collection of fine handmade upholstery grew from a small portfolio of unique pieces to a much wider range of beautifully hand-crafted- furniture designs. The collection included traditionally handmade sofas, chairs, bespoke tables, mirrors, chaise lounges, ottomans, and much more.
2006
EXPANSION
As James and Victoria expanded their business, they began to see the opportunity to showcase their work to a wider audience. In August 2006, they opened their first showroom in London, a city that was known for its love of design and luxury furniture. They believed their business of handmade furniture had much to offer the discerning London buyer and decided to take the leap.
The Odd Chair Company quickly became renowned for its high level of service, offering great craftsmanship quality using only the finest of materials and employing highly skilled artisans. Their craftsmen and women hold a wealth of traditional upholstery and cabinet skills, drawing on over 100 years of combined knowledge to produce pieces with superb tailored finishes and unrivalled comfort.
In 2017 The Odd Chair Company opened its 45 Pimlico Road showroom to showcase its new expanding range of classic and contemporary designs to a wider client base in a brand new space.
2022
THE MOVE
A very momentous and exciting year for The Odd Chair Company. Having outgrown their current head office location in Lancashire, they made the executive decision to move the offices and workshops and start a new chapter in a much larger space. Not only did they have the Lancashire move, but also, James and Victoria had been busy organizing and installing their new Pimlico Road showroom as part of the Newson’s Yard Development by Grosvenor. It was a rather hectic and chaotic year for them; however, they are thrilled with the new space, now able to showcase their range of fine handmade furniture in a beautiful new space.
Today, The Odd Chair Company is a thriving business that continues to create stunning, bespoke chairs for clients around the world. The family’s passion for design and their commitment to quality is still at the heart of the company. They have expanded their product range to include bespoke sofas, footstools, armchairs, dining chairs, ottomans, chaise lounges, and stools, amongst lots of other furniture, but their focus remains on creating pieces that are truly unique, exceptionally comfortable and built to last a lifetime.