After graduating from art school, John Eadon found himself increasingly working with wood, eventually picking up enough skills and interest to create bespoke furniture. Now a fully-fledged designer-maker with his own collection, we caught up with him to chat about his work, dreams and inspirations.

Handmade: If you weren’t a designer-maker, what would you be right now?
John: Being a Designer Maker started off from trying to be an Artist and not happy with being a Carpenter, so perhaps an Artist, but I’ve always been drawn to gardening, so maybe a Garden Designer?

Handmade: Describe your work in three words.
John: Clean Lines Furniture.

Handmade: Are there any other designers whose work you admire, and why?
John: Gareth Neal, he looks back and forward and experiments with both.
Russel Pinch, elegant and timeless quality designs.
Hans J Wegner, So many design classics! Took a seed of inspiration and turned it into an undeniable Wegner design.

Handmade: What do you do in your free time?
John: My work is never far from my mind, that is the reality with being a designer maker, sometimes that’s a good thing and sometimes not, always seeking inspiration. Other than that, spending time with my young family and our friends is very important to me.

Handmade: What’s one thing you like to do everyday without fail?
John: Wake up.

Handmade: What brings you the greatest satisfaction?
John: Creating something, taking and exploring an idea and realising a design, but most of all that it works.

Handmade: What’s the best advice you have been given?
John: “Sometimes it is about a bit of good luck, but you have to put yourself in as many situations as you can so that good luck has a better chance of finding you.”

Handmade: What’s the best gift you have ever received?
John: Here we go… My two daughters!

Handmade: What is your favourite quote?
John: One that has always stuck in my mind is attributed to Abraham Lincoln, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe”.

Handmade: What is in your bucket list?
John: Create a design icon (although you won’t succeed if you try to). Design something for a main avenue garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show.

Check out John Eadon’s designs here.