We are pleased to announce a crowdfunding campaign for a local English entrepreneur, Jason Lugrin, and his new concept: Bespoak Home & Furniture. He is kindly offering a cutting board as a competition prize but make sure to click on the Wemakeit link below to pre-buy an item, sign up for a workshop, or get a discount voucher for a future piece to grace your home. Please help them reach their funding target before mid-April 2026 which will allow them to purchase equipment and materials!
Tell us about your presale/crowdfunding campaign
At the moment I have launched a presale through my crowdfunding campaign, which helps support the development of the workshop and the first pieces of furniture. It’s also a way for people to be part of the project from the beginning. It has had a very encouraging start. The project has already reached 37% of its goal, which has been incredibly motivating and confirms that there is real interest in sustainable, thoughtfully made wooden objects. It has been wonderful to see people supporting the project so early and becoming part of the story of the workshop.
Some of the rewards include handcrafted objects such as cutting boards and cheese boards, as well as vouchers that can be used toward a bespoke project at a discounted price.
For example, one of the special rewards is a Wine & Cheese Experience at the workshop in Satigny (GE). This is an exclusive evening at the atelier where guests can enjoy a glass of wine and a selection of cheeses while discovering the world of Bespoak.
The experience includes:
– A private wine and cheese tasting evening at the workshop
– A solid wood “Gourmet” cheese board, crafted from carefully selected offcuts to reduce waste
– An avant-première discovery of the future Bespoak furniture collection
– The guest’s name engraved on the workshop’s Founders Wall
It’s meant to be a convivial and relaxed moment to discover the workshop, the materials, and the philosophy behind Bespoak in a simple and refined atmosphere.
Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
I started Bespoak from a deep love for wood and craftsmanship. Wood is a living material with a story, and I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of transforming it into objects that can last for generations.
Part of that inspiration goes back many years to when I was about 16, learning woodworking in my father’s workshop in England. Spending time there, surrounded by tools and beautiful pieces of wood, gave me a deep appreciation for craftsmanship and the satisfaction of creating something with your hands. It was there that I first discovered how rewarding it is to shape raw material into something meaningful and lasting.
Since moving to Geneva with my Swiss wife, I’ve continued working on bespoke woodworking projects over the years, gradually developing the idea that eventually became Bespoak.
More recently, my children have become another important source of inspiration. As a father of three beautiful daughters — including newborn twins — I think a lot about the kind of world we are leaving them. I want to contribute, in my own small way, to a more sustainable future by making objects that are built to last rather than things that are quickly replaced and thrown away.
Wood is a remarkable material — natural, durable, and something that ages beautifully over time. Creating furniture and everyday objects from beautiful materials, designed to be used for many years and hopefully passed on to the next generation, feels like a meaningful way to combine craftsmanship, sustainability, and purpose.
Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
In many ways, the seed was planted a long time ago in my father’s workshop. When I was around 16, I started learning woodworking there in England, and that experience stayed with me.
Over the years, after moving to Geneva with my Swiss wife, I continued designing and building bespoke pieces for clients, friends, and personal projects. What began as a passion gradually grew into something more serious, and through that process the idea for Bespoak slowly took shape.
What are your plans for the future?
My goal is to grow Bespoak as a small, independent workshop known for thoughtful design and high-quality craftsmanship.
I plan to continue creating bespoke furniture and wooden objects, collaborating with local designers and architects, and working with beautiful hardwoods such as oak, walnut, maple, cherry, and sipo.
Alongside custom projects, we will also feature a curated collection of pieces I have designed and made, almost like an online boutique. This will allow people to discover and purchase unique furniture and objects that are both beautiful and built to last, while still offering clients the possibility of commissioning bespoke work.
Looking ahead, I would also love to share the craft itself by offering small woodworking workshops locally in Satigny, where people can learn basic skills and reconnect with the experience of making things by hand.
What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
One of the biggest challenges has been finding the right place to set up the workshop. In Geneva, just like with apartments, suitable spaces are limited and can be very difficult to find. Securing a workshop to rent has therefore been a real challenge.
Another obstacle has been acquiring the professional tools and machines needed for high-quality woodworking. Setting up a proper workshop requires significant investment, but it is essential in order to create precise, durable pieces and continue developing the craft.
What is your favorite product you offer and why?
One of my favorite pieces is the Sip & Nibble Tray. The idea actually came during the many nights awake with my newborn twins. Anyone who has had babies knows those long, quiet nights when you’re up feeding them and trying to stay awake.
At some point I realised that when you’re holding a baby — or two — you simply don’t have enough hands for anything else. A small snack and a drink nearby, like a cookie and a glass of milk, can make those moments a little easier, but there isn’t always a good place to put them.
That’s how the idea for the Sip & Nibble Tray came about — a solid wooden board designed to hold both a drink and a small bite in one place. It’s a very simple object, but it comes from a real moment of everyday life that many parents will recognise.
The cutting board is also one of my favorite products as It’s made from offcuts of beautiful hardwood that would otherwise go to waste, which gives these pieces of wood a second life in a thoughtful and sustainable way.
Each board is made using end-grain construction, which makes it particularly sturdy and durable, while also being gentle on knives. I like the idea that something created from small leftover pieces can become an essential object in someone’s kitchen — something used every day and made to last for many years, unlike many mass-produced boards that quickly wear out.
There’s something very satisfying about turning what could have been discarded into something both practical and beautiful.
There are already three different ways people can benefit from the project.
First, through the WeMakeIt presale, I am offering vouchers that give supporters a discount toward a bespoke project.
Second, I would be very happy to offer a handcrafted cutting board as a prize for a reader competition (see below). Remember, that through the WeMakeIt presale, I’m offering vouchers toward bespoke projects as well as items like cutting boards, Sip & Nibble trays, and the wine & cheese experience. So even if the prize competition winner wants to support us further, all these items make lovely gifts. Purchasing them through the campaign helps us reach our funding target and continue developing Bespoak.
Finally, people can also join the newsletter on my website. Once the workshop is set up, starting in summer 2026, there will be a monthly prize draw for subscribers, with one winner contacted by email each month to receive a Bespoak piece.
Enter our competition to win a Bespoak cutting board!
Bespoak has kindly offered one of our readers the chance to win a 30cm x 25cm handcrafted cutting board (value CHF 100.-).
To enter the competition, just fill in this form and answer this multiple choice question: What is Jason's favorite item he offers?
Only one entry per email is allowed. The competition closes at midnight on Thursday, 12 March 2026. The names of all those submitting correct answers will be placed into the digital hat and the winners' names drawn at random on Friday, 13 March 2026. The winner will be notified by email. No cash equivalent of prizes is permitted. Cutting board prize does not include delivery outside of Switzerland.
Bespoak Home & Furniture
Jason Lugrin
Satigny, Switzerland
https://www.bespoak.ch
WeMakeIt presale and crowdfunding last date to participate is 16 April 2026. Start by creating an account on that site. If you search "Wood that deserves to last WeMakeIt" in Google, you will also land on it.
