Butterfly Furniture is an established, family-run furniture-making business based near York, North Yorkshire. Founded in 1983 by Andrew Conning, the business has grown from a small woodworking workshop into a specialist maker of handcrafted furniture, bespoke cabinetry and individual commissions.
For more than four decades, traditional cabinet-making skills, carefully selected timber and attention to detail have remained central to our work.
Today, Andrew works alongside his son Ben, continuing the family’s commitment to creating furniture that is individually designed, carefully constructed and made to last.
Butterfly Furniture was established in 1983 when Andrew Conning decided to become an independent cabinet maker.
Andrew developed an interest and aptitude for woodworking at school before completing a five-year apprenticeship at Acorn Industries in Bransby, North Yorkshire. This training provided a strong foundation in traditional woodworking techniques, furniture construction and the skills required to produce individually handcrafted pieces.
Starting from an 18 × 24-foot wooden shed, Andrew built the business around his passion for furniture making and a commitment to producing work of lasting quality.
Over the years, Butterfly Furniture has developed into a specialist family-run workshop, undertaking commissions ranging from freestanding wooden furniture and traditional cabinetry to fitted furniture and detailed joinery projects.
Despite the growth of the business, the principles established in 1983 remain unchanged. Each commission receives individual attention, with an emphasis on suitable materials, skilled construction and careful finishing.
Traditional cabinet making is a skill developed through practical experience, training and years spent working with different materials and construction methods.
At Butterfly Furniture, that knowledge has been passed from one generation to the next.
Andrew founded Butterfly Furniture following his five-year apprenticeship at Acorn Industries, where he developed the woodworking skills that would form the basis of his career.
With more than 40 years of experience running the business, Andrew brings extensive practical knowledge of furniture making, timber selection, traditional joinery and bespoke furniture construction.
For Andrew, cabinet making has always been more than a profession. His approach reflects a genuine interest in working with timber and creating individual pieces that can be enjoyed for generations.
Ben trained under his father, developing his practical woodworking skills within the family workshop.
He also holds a City & Guilds Level 3 qualification in Furniture Production, combining formal training with hands-on experience of traditional cabinet making and bespoke furniture construction.
Working alongside Andrew, Ben helps continue the family’s furniture-making tradition, contributing to the production of individually commissioned furniture and joinery.
Helen manages the administrative side of Butterfly Furniture, supporting the day-to-day running of the family business.
Together, the Conning family maintains a personal approach to furniture making, with customers dealing directly with an established business built around traditional craftsmanship and individual service.
Butterfly Furniture operates from a purpose-built, climate-controlled workshop at the Conning family’s property in Tancred, near Whixley, York.
The workshop has developed considerably since the business began in a small wooden shed. Today, it provides a fully equipped working environment for producing bespoke furniture, traditional cabinetry and specialist joinery.
Having a dedicated workshop allows Andrew and Ben to manage important stages of furniture production, from preparing timber and developing individual components to construction, assembly and finishing.
The controlled environment is particularly important when working with natural timber, helping ensure materials are properly prepared before furniture construction begins.
Our workshop is central to the way we work, providing the space, equipment and conditions needed to produce individual commissions with care and precision.
Selecting suitable timber is one of the most important stages of traditional furniture making.
Different types of wood have individual characteristics, including variations in grain, colour, density and movement. Understanding these properties helps determine which materials are appropriate for a particular piece of furniture.
At Butterfly Furniture, we carefully select properly seasoned timber from local timber merchants, who source wood from managed and renewable forests around the world.
Once delivered to our workshop, timber is stored in a temperature-controlled environment designed to simulate domestic conditions.
Because wood naturally responds to changes in temperature and humidity, allowing it time to acclimatise helps improve stability before it is worked into furniture components.
This preparation is particularly important for bespoke cabinetry, solid wood furniture and traditional joinery, where the behaviour of the timber can influence the finished piece.
Our approach combines this understanding of natural materials with established woodworking techniques and careful attention to construction and finishing.
One of the distinguishing features of Butterfly Furniture is the small hand-carved butterfly incorporated into every piece we produce.
Andrew originally chose the butterfly as the company’s emblem because of its elegant simplicity. Today, it remains a recognisable signature of the business and its commitment to individually handcrafted furniture.
Every commission is approached with consideration for its intended purpose, proportions, materials and appearance.
Whether we are creating a freestanding cabinet, matching existing furniture or producing a more complex fitted installation, the details are considered throughout the making process.
We believe well-made furniture should offer more than immediate visual appeal. Careful construction, appropriate materials and thoughtful design all contribute to furniture that can remain part of a home for many years.
Over the years, Butterfly Furniture has undertaken a varied range of commissions for customers seeking individually designed furniture and specialist woodworking.
Our experience includes freestanding dining tables, cabinets, dressers, bookcases and display units, alongside fitted furniture for kitchens, bedrooms and living spaces.
We also undertake specialist joinery projects, including doors and staircases, where appropriate to our customers’ requirements.
Our work can involve technical drawings, furniture design, material selection and coordination with other specialists, including upholstery providers where necessary.
This variety of projects reflects the versatility of traditional cabinet-making skills and the ability to adapt established techniques to different designs and practical requirements.
Customers can explore our bespoke furniture commissions, discover our approach to handmade bedroom furniture or learn more about our bespoke kitchen craftsmanship.
If you’re considering commissioning a piece of handmade furniture, we’d be pleased to discuss your ideas.
Whether you’re looking for a traditional cabinet maker, a bespoke freestanding piece or specialist furniture for your home, Andrew and Ben can help you explore the possibilities.
You can browse examples of our completed work or contact Butterfly Furniture to discuss your requirements.
The quality of handcrafted furniture is best demonstrated through completed work.
Our gallery of completed furniture projects includes examples of individual commissions, showing the range of furniture styles, materials and practical requirements we have worked with.
These include bespoke wall units with cupboards and shelving, individually made bookcases, display cabinets and furniture designed to complement existing pieces.
Customer feedback also reflects our approach to design, communication and workmanship.
For example, one customer commissioned two large illuminated bookcases with glass shelving and matching cabinets, designed to complement an existing piece of furniture. Another worked with Andrew and Ben to create a complete wall unit incorporating cupboards, shelving and the company’s distinctive butterfly carving.
Projects such as these demonstrate the individual consideration involved in bespoke furniture making, where proportions, finishes and construction details must work together to achieve the intended result.
Traditional furniture making has a long history in North Yorkshire, with skills developed through apprenticeships, workshop training and practical experience.
Butterfly Furniture’s foundations are rooted in this tradition, beginning with Andrew’s formal apprenticeship and continuing through Ben’s training and qualifications.
Although furniture styles and customer requirements have changed over the years, our approach remains focused on skilled craftsmanship, careful material selection and individual attention.
We continue to work with customers throughout York, Harrogate, North Yorkshire and further afield, producing furniture that reflects their personal requirements and appreciation for traditional woodworking.
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