- Tat London
- 13 hours ago
- 5 min read
Tete a Tat With Matthew Cox
Cox. A simple name, yet one that is fast becoming shorthand for quality, creativity and craftsmanship. I have admired Matthew Cox’s work for years. One hesitates to use the phrase quiet luxury, since it has been stretched to cover all manner of things that are anything but. Still, if the term has any meaning left, it lies comfortably with him.
His furniture and lighting feel considered in every sense. They are beautiful to look at, of course, but they also sit lightly on the world around them. At a time when fast furniture is piling up almost as quickly as fast fashion, there is a quiet relief in seeing pieces made here in the UK by a designer who understands the importance of longevity. In part I believe that this depth of understanding is anchored by his upbringing.
Matthew was surrounded by intriguing objects from the start. His father, Robin, a well-known dealer in medieval carvings, and his mother, Pearl Bugg, a celebrated artist. A heady mixture for any budding aesthete. One would struggle to miss the bloom of creativity under that roof.
I’m a firm believer in an early introduction to antiques or objects of curiosity. It seeds a lifelong passion. Exposure to art, beauty, or even a bit of oddness when you’re young gives you a sturdier footing later on. Matthew and his brother Chris, co-founder of Cox London, are two of the clearest examples.
I shall not be conducting any further research.
Matthew began his working life as a cabinetmaker before moving into restoration, learning from the inside out how good furniture behaves: how it wears, how it survives, how it rewards care and punishes shortcuts. That grounding shapes everything he does. You can see the restorer’s understanding in the joinery, the restraint, the refusal to indulge in cleverness for its own sake. After years working behind the scenes for other designers and workshops, he established his own studio – thank goodness for that. To look at the Matthew Cox site is a meditation on beauty. I mean that with little hyperbole. I look at furniture, websites and catalogues day after day and so much of it is hollow in both design and making. So when you sit and stare at The Convent Cupboard or The Konami Cupboard, there is something genuinely heartening about it.
This quality runs throughout the company. Not only are they B-Corp certified, but they have a 100-year plan, committing their furniture to the long test of time through care, thoughtful making and restoration. I revert to my opening statement: quiet luxury. I know we all baulk at the word, but as those of you who read Tat will know, we want to celebrate the people who represent the true meaning of luxury, where the beginning of a piece is every bit as rewarding as the end. Matthew and his partner Camilla (Managing Director of Matthew Cox) have done just that. Matthew Cox is majestic feather in the cap of UK design.
As ever, I am hugely grateful to Matthew for sharing his answers below. Some real diamonds in there.
Favourite restaurant?
For a one-off experience, it would be Noma in Copenhagen. The level of love and thought behind every detail is inspiring and an example of what we can create if we pour our hearts into something. For a guaranteed rambunctious atmosphere with wonderful food and wine, any of the Noble Rot restaurants. It puts a big grin on my face when I know I’m going.
Do you believe in ghosts?
No, but I’m scared I might meet one! My uncle lived above my grandmother’s antiques shop in a 17-century house in Stamford and he said matter-of-factly that he saw a revolutionary soldier standing at the foot of his bed every night, and would wish him good night before closing his eyes. Many years later, when I had a stint in the flat, I lay there thinking, 'It’s OK, this could be incredible and he’s not here to harm me,' but he didn’t materialise for me.
Are you a fan of surprises?
Yes, but I make it hard for anyone to surprise me. I still find it impossible to resist squeezing and shaking presents – or people, if I think they know something. I’m very annoying.
Favourite poem?
This is XYZ by my partner, Camilla. Like all of Camilla’s poetry, it’s very clever and very funny, but this one is ultimately about us being together forever, so I never tire of hearing it. She has another called Monsieur Fromage, which seesaws between English and French and describes how we bonded over a delicious Neal’s Yard cheese board.
A film you can watch again and again without getting bored?
I’ve watched so few films multiple times, but Withnail and I and The Big Lebowski get funnier every time. And I’ll never tire of the joy that is Back to the Future.
Any good advice? Who gave it to you?
From my antique dealer father Robin: ‘Buy what you love and you’ll always be OK’. As a young antique dealer, I arrived in London to set up shop with another dealer, who pronounced on arrival that she’d spent every penny she had on an enormous and wonderful garden urn. I remember thinking, ‘You’re completely nuts!’, but she sold it quickly for a small profit – because it was wonderful and somebody else just had to have it. I’ve run my business on this basis, but on the few occasions I’ve even slightly wandered from this policy, it’s come back to bite me.
If money were no object, what painting (or piece of furniture ) would you like to own?
I only have paintings at home made by family and friends, because I find almost everything else limiting in some way. So I’d choose something transcendent, like a Cy Twombly, or primitive like Bill Traylor’s Man with Black Dog.
Top destination in the UK?
I love the coast, and Camilla and I have enjoyed amazing trips to Scotland – Wildland’s Lundies House in Tongue, and Crovie in Aberdeenshire being two highlights. But Norfolk’s north coast, with its quiet beaches and vast dark skies, is where I feel I can really breathe. It also has the best pub in the world – the Gunton Arms.
Dream meal?
OK, no messing about – half a dozen oysters, steak tartare with salty fries, followed by lemon tart. We usually order red and white by the glass so we can try a few wines ('The finest wines available to humanity!'). An espresso and something stronger to cap it all off.
What song will always make you tap your foot?
Oh my god, impossible! Sweet Dreams? Billie Jean? Stayin’ Alive? OK, I’m saying Stayin’ Alive.
On Birch Lane phone number the promptness of their responses was impressive, reflecting a commitment to customer satisfaction. Overall, my experience was seamless and reassuring, making me more inclined to recommend Birch Lane to others seeking quality furniture and decor. I had the pleasure of interacting with Birch Lane Furniture and Decor's customer service, and I must commend their exceptional support. From the moment I reached out, the representatives were not only courteous but also remarkably knowledgeable about their products. They patiently addressed all my inquiries, ensuring I felt valued as a customer.