Behind The Design

From kitchen joinery to high-end design, this is what it takes to turn craft into a sustainable business.

In this episode of Behind the Design Podcast, I sit down with furniture maker Tim Noone, founder of Tim Noone Furniture, to talk about his journey from kitchen joinery to creating high-end custom furniture.

He shares the challenges of crafting beautiful pieces while keeping a business sustainable, and how he eventually realized the limits of purely bespoke work. That realization led him to develop a collection that sits between fully custom pieces and high-end retail.

We also dive into Tim’s design philosophy and why he believes furniture should enhance a space rather than dominate it. He opens up about collaborating with interior designers, practicing restraint in design, and redefining what success really looks like after years in the industry.

For Tim, it is less about scale and more about balancing creative satisfaction, family life, and long-term sustainability.

Topics covered in this conversation:
His journey from kitchen joinery to high-end bespoke furniture
The challenges of running a creative business that lasts
How he overcame the growth limits of fully custom furniture
Why furniture should support architecture and interiors
Redefining success for creativity, family, and sustainability

If you love design, craftsmanship, or want a peek behind the scenes of a creative business, this conversation is full of insight and inspiration.

Follow Tim Noone Business Instagram
:https://www.instagram.com/tim_noone_furnituredesign/
:https://www.instagram.com/thecollectionbytimnoone/
Business Website: https://timnoone.com/

Chapters
01:16 - Meet Furniture Maker Tim Noone
03:05 - From Kitchen Joinery to Bespoke Furniture
06:12 - Why Furniture Should Serve the Space
09:48 - The Sketching and Idea Development Process
13:20 - Working with Interior Designers on Custom Pieces
16:54 - The Realities of Running a Bespoke Furniture Business
21:07 - Why Scaling Custom Furniture Is So Difficult
25:32 - Moving from Bespoke Work to a Furniture Collection
29:18 - Designing Pieces That Quietly Elevate a Room
32:47 - Craft, Business, and Building a Sustainable Career
34:58 - Craftsmanship and Refinement

Keywords
Joinery process
Custom furniture design
Residential cabinetry
Sustainable furniture
Interior design collaboration
Craftsmanship tips
Kitchen design ideas
Australian joinery
Designer-client collaboration
Furniture materials and finishes

Building a design studio is often celebrated as creative freedom, yet many founders discover that without boundaries, success can start to feel unsustainable.

In this episode, I sat down with Kate Lawrence, founder of Kate Lawrence Interiors and bedding brand Sleep Ins, to unpack the real story behind building and reshaping a creative business.

Kate speaks candidly about:
• Saying yes to everything, and what it cost her
• The reality of wearing every hat in the business
• Navigating complex relationships with architects and trades
• The emotional weight that comes with residential client work
• The final straw the led her to setting clear boundaries with work
• Why and how she started an ecommerce brand

If you are in your early years of practice, feeling stretched between creativity and capacity, or quietly questioning what success looks like for you now, this conversation will resonate.

Follow Kate Lawrence Interiors:
Business Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katelawrenceinteriors/Business Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katelawrenceinteriorsBusiness Website: https://www.katelawrenceinteriors.com.au/Business Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/katelawrenceproperty/
Follow Sleep Ins:
Website: https://www.sleepins.com.au/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573166985356
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sleepinsbedding
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleep__ins
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@sleep__ins

Chapters
02:35 - Starting an Interior Design Business and Saying Yes to Everything
04:20 - Wearing Every Hat and Hitting Burnout
06:05 - Client Relationships, Architects and Trade Dynamics
09:20 - Managing Design Changes Without Ego
10:30 - How Long It Takes to Be Profitable in Design
13:55 - Client Boundaries and Being “Too Available”
17:55 - The Emotional Weight of Residential Projects
19:40 - Pivoting to E-Commerce and Product-Based Business
25:55 - Redefining Success as Freedom, Not Just Income

Behind every beautiful piece of joinery is a series of decisions, conversations, and mistakes no one ever seesIn this episode, I sat down with Luke from Élan Joinery and SKUPA, to talk through what really goes into custom joinery and furniture, beyond the finished photos. From early planning and material selection to timelines, teamwork, and trust, Luke shares how thoughtful joinery is built around the way people actually live in their homes.We explore how Élan Joinery has evolved from its commercial roots into residential and furniture work, what it’s like running a family business, and why collaboration between designers, builders, joiners, and clients is essential to achieving great outcomes. The conversation also touches on sustainability, sampling, and the emotional side of caring deeply about your work.This episode offers a grounded look behind the scenes of high-end joinery, helping clients better understand the value of process, craftsmanship, and clear communication, not just the final result.What You’ll Learn• Why custom joinery takes time and what happens before anything is built• How material selection and sampling influence durability, function, and feel• What designers and joiners consider when planning storage, layout, and workflow• Why collaboration plays such a big role in successful projects• What clients often underestimate about timelines, process, and craftsmanship• How good joinery supports the way you live, not just how a space looksFollow Elan Joinery House:https://www.elanc.comhttps://www.instagram.com/elan.joinery/?hl=enFollow SKUPAhttps://skupa.com.au/https://www.instagram.com/skupafurnitureFollow Unfolded:Website: https://www.unfolded.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_Chapters 01:30 – The Origins of Elan Joinery02:26 – A Family Business Today03:07 – Expanding from Joinery into Furniture04:06 – Scaling Operations & Warehousing04:29 – Growing a Team & Business 06:00 – Micromanaging vs Autonomy07:25 – Why Luke Created A Showroom09:03 – Instagram Growth vs Real Business Growth09:37 – The Reality Behind Project Photos11:45 – Winning Work Through Instagram13:18 – Sustainability in Joinery & Furniture16:45 – Craftsmanship Across Departments17:48 – Why Owning Mistakes Builds Trust19:38 – What Clients Don’t See in Kitchens21:29 – How the Business Has Evolved24:52 – Delivering the Vision, Not Designing It25:31 – Collaboration With Designers & Builders28:56 – Managing Difficult Conversations31:02 – Why Custom Work Takes TimeKeywordsJoinery processCustom furniture designResidential cabinetrySustainable furnitureInterior design collaborationCraftsmanship tipsKitchen design ideasAustralian joineryDesigner-client collaborationFurniture materials and finishes

Trends come and go, but brands built on craft, instinct, and resilience tend to stick around.

In this episode of Behind the Design, host Camilla Ingall sits down with Charles Hinckfuss, founder and creative force behind MCM House.

Charlie shares the unpolished reality behind building one of Australia’s most recognisable furniture brands, from early days focused purely on survival, to growing a national retail presence grounded in craft, instinct, and energy.

This conversation goes beyond aesthetics to explore what actually sustains a creative business over decades: trusting your eye, understanding materials deeply, resisting trends, and building a team culture that feels supported and excited by the work.

You’ll hear how Charlie’s early hands-on making shaped MCM House’s DNA, why texture and material honesty matter more than polish, and how resilience, humour, and momentum play a bigger role in success than any rigid plan. This episode is a reminder that great design isn’t about chasing what’s new, it’s about creating work that still feels right years later.

What You learn in this episode:
* Timeless design outlives trends; Charlie explains why MCM House avoids trend-driven aesthetics in favour of materials and forms that age well over time.
* Energy drives execution; From retail spaces to team culture, energy and mood directly shape outcomes — creatively and commercially.
* Craft builds credibility; Early hands-on making gave Charlie a deep understanding of furniture that still informs MCM House today.
* Growth without identity loss is possible; Scaling doesn’t have to dilute creativity when the brand is anchored in clear values and instinct.

Follow MCM House:https://www.mcmhouse.com

Follow Unfolded:
Website: https://www.unfolded.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_

00:00 – Introduction
02:13 – From Vintage Retail to Furniture Making: The Chuck & Bob Years
04:09 – Why Experience Matters More Than Products in Retail Design
07:25 – Taking Creative Risks and Backing Yourself
09:16 – Touching Every Part of the Business as a Founder
11:41 – Choosing Materials: Fabric, Timber, Texture & Honesty
13:00 – Trends vs Timeless Design
14:17 – Growing a Brand in Sydney’s Competitive Retail Market
17:01 – What Does MCM Actually Stand For?
17:59 – Retail Expansion vs International Growth
19:03 – Opening Stores Across Australia
20:13 – Building a Team and Letting Go of Control
21:51 – Energy, Mood & Leadership in Creative Teams
24:05 – The Reality of Working Seven Days a Week
25:02 – Expanding Into Commercial & Hospitality Design
27:12 – Using Movies and Culture as Creative Direction
30:00 – The Hardest Parts of Growing a Product-Based Brand
34:23 – One Piece of Advice for Anyone Starting a Design Brand
38:56 – Design Trends That Need to Go
40:21 – Final Reflections & Episode Takeaways

interior design podcast
MCM House
Australian furniture design
timeless interior design
design brand building
furniture design process
interior design trends vs timeless
creative business resilience
retail design experience
materials and texture in design
how to build a furniture brand in Australia
designing furniture without following trends
interior design brand storytelling
scaling a creative business without losing identity

Design doesn’t need to shout to make an impact.

In this episode of Behind the Design, Camilla Ingall sits down with Daniel Boddam, founder of Daniel Boddam Studio, to unpack his philosophy of quiet living; a design approach rooted in restraint, calm, and deep respect for the Australian landscape.

Daniel shares his journey from architecture into furniture design, why he deliberately plays the long game, and how designing with nature (not trends) creates homes and objects that feel timeless, grounded, and human.

This conversation goes beyond aesthetics. It explores how spaces should feel, how materials age, and why true luxury today is found in simplicity, not excess.

In this episode, we explore:
What quiet luxury really means (and why it’s misunderstood)
Designing architecture and furniture that belongs to the Australian landscape
The role of texture, sound, touch, and material honesty in great design
Why restraint and patience lead to better creative outcomes
Balancing architecture, furniture, business growth, and personal boundaries
Designing homes that age well; emotionally and materially

If you’re an architect, interior designer, builder, or design-aware homeowner, this episode will reframe how you think about calm, timeless design.

Follow Daniel Boddam:
Daniel Boddam Studio: https://danielboddam.com

Follow Unfolded:Website: https://www.unfolded.com.au/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unfolded_

Behind the Design is hosted by Camilla Ingall, founder of Unfolded, an interior design and styling studio based in Sydney and the Central Coast.

00:00:00 - Introduction
00:00:32 - Welcome to Behind the Design
00:01:16 - Interview with Daniel Bottom
00:01:42 - Daniel's journey into design
00:03:16 - Transition from architecture to furniture design
00:06:00 - Challenges and changes in design journey
00:07:54 - Managing a design studio
00:11:06 - Balancing architecture and furniture design
00:12:32 - Quiet living philosophy
00:15:17 - Unfolded: Interior Design and Styling Studio
00:15:34 - Material Preferences and Sensory Design
00:17:43 - Reflecting on Past Experiences and Influences
00:19:15 - Client Briefs and Diversification
00:21:38 - Designing for the Australian Landscape
00:23:31 - Sculptural Simplicity in Design
00:24:32 - Balancing Function and Aesthetics
00:29:48 - Future Plans for the Studio
00:30:35 - Opening a Furniture Showroom and Expanding Overseas
00:31:26 - Reflections on the Pace of Work and Growth
00:32:46 - Managing Work-Life Balance
00:33:05 - Sustainability in Work and Avoiding Burnout
00:35:09 - Strangest Client Requests
00:36:34 - Closing Remarks