Comfort Crafted: Lyndon’s Role as a British Manufacturer with Global Reach
At Design Insider, we’re committed to highlighting the craft, innovation, and direction of leading furniture manufacturers. This month, Design Insider sat down with Stephen Russell, Managing Director of Lyndon, part of the Boss Design Group. Earlier this year, Boss Design joined the portfolio of Japanese workplace and seating specialist Okamura Corporation, a move that places Lyndon’s British-made furniture firmly within a global framework.
Stephen, who joined Lyndon three years ago, brings 38 years of industry experience to the role. With a background in sales and marketing, he’s guiding the company through a period of agility, expansion, and a renewed focus on both workplace and hospitality markets.
An exclusive Design Insider interview with Stephen Russell, Managing Director of Lyndon
A British Manufacturer with Artisan Expertise
Lyndon sits apart from its sister brand Boss Design. While Boss is rooted in high-performance workplace seating and component manufacturing, Lyndon has carved a reputation for artisan upholstery and timber-framed seating. Every Lyndon piece begins with raw materials, fabric, foam, wood, and is transformed entirely in-house at the company’s Cheltenham site. Stephen explained:
“Lyndon makes a more artisan, hospitality-based product. We don’t rely on bought-in components. Our frames are designed in-house, made in Cheltenham on our 4- and 5-axis machines, and then hand-finished and upholstered by our team.”
That flexibility extends beyond the catalogue. Over half of Lyndon’s production is now adapted or bespoke, from banquette seating to custom collaborative solutions. It’s a model that allows designers to specify with confidence, knowing that dimensions, finishes, and details can be adjusted to meet project needs.
Building Skills, Building Agility
Behind every Lyndon piece is a skilled workforce. The company employs around 40 craftspeople on the shop floor, supported by a design team and a small but agile administration team. Stephen has placed emphasis on multi-skilling, ensuring staff can work across different departments to keep production efficient and lead times tight. Stephen said:
“We’ve trained our staff so they’re not tied to one role, for example, upholsterers can support in frame assembly. This means we stay agile, balance workloads, and avoid bottlenecks.”
The impact of this approach is clear: Lyndon has reduced lead times from 12–16 weeks down to around 5 weeks, with an ambition to align more closely with Boss’s 4-week turnaround. This agility isn’t just about efficiency; it ensures bespoke projects are delivered to clients without compromising budgets.
From Residential Roots to Workplace and Hospitality
Lyndon’s journey began as a family-owned furniture maker, originally focused on residential sofas, tables, and even bedheads. After becoming part of the Boss Design Group in 2010, Lyndon evolved into a specialist for workplace and hospitality settings.
Today, the brand defines hospitality in broad terms: not only hotels and restaurants but also the growing spaces within offices that support social connection and relaxation. Stephen clarified:
“We don’t limit hospitality to hotels. For us, it’s hospitality within the workplace too. Breakout zones, cafés, lounges, these are all spaces where our furniture sits naturally.”
That definition is expanding. Lyndon is actively targeting cinema projects, cruise ships, and aviation, building on its bespoke capabilities to respond to specialist briefs.
A Brand with Identity
In 2023, Lyndon refreshed its brand identity wit the goal to clarify its position in the market and express the inclusive, versatile nature of its furniture. Stephen said:
“We wanted people to understand that there’s a very definitive difference between Boss and Lyndon. Lyndon isn’t just a workplace brand. Our refresh positioned us as versatile, adaptable, and more inclusive.”
That positioning continues to support the company’s profile among designers who now recognise Lyndon as a flexible partner for both workplace and hospitality schemes.
The Value of Craftsmanship
At the heart of Lyndon’s story is its commitment to craftsmanship. Every frame is hand-sanded, every surface hand-sprayed, every seat hand-upholstered. The company’s strapline, Comfort Crafted, is more than marketing, it reflects the meticulous process of refining comfort and finish. Stephen shared:
“One of the things we’re proud of is how much is still hand-finished. Take our Kato chair, the frame takes nearly 40 minutes to sand by hand. That level of craftmanship shows in the tactility, the comfort, and the detail.”
The result is furniture that balances aesthetic elegance with ergonomic rigour. Lyndon’s design team devotes significant time to refining the sit, to ensure comfort is never compromised. Stephen noted:
“There’s not a product here that we’ve launched and later had to change because it wasn’t comfortable. We take that time up front, and our clients feel the difference.”
Global Reach, Local Soul
Though Lyndon manufactures exclusively in the UK, its furniture reaches international projects via Boss Design’s global network. Frames are shipped to the US for Boss America, while completed pieces are supplied into projects across Europe, Asia, and Japan. Stephen reflected:
“Global clients love that we are a British manufacturer. Our Japanese colleagues are especially drawn to Kato, they see nothing else like it in their market.”
While Lyndon doesn’t sell directly overseas, its craftsmanship and design integrity make it a key contributor to the Boss/Okamura global offer, ensuring that British-made furniture is visible on the world stage.
Looking Ahead
With Okamura’s backing, Lyndon is exploring investment in new machinery to increase versatility and efficiency. This will open doors for new product developments, additional bespoke opportunities, and further sustainability improvements.
Stephen is clear on the company’s trajectory:
“Our immediate growth will come from expanding bespoke work, cinemas, aviation, shipping. Longer-term, new machinery will give us scope to design differently, to create products we couldn’t make before.”
For Lyndon, the future blends global ambition with local skill. The factory in Cheltenham remains the beating heart of the brand, a place where hand-finished furniture is made by skilled craftspeople for projects across the world.
Conclusion
Lyndon is a British manufacturer that embodies the best of UK craftsmanship while embracing the opportunities of global reach. With agility, skill, and a growing focus on bespoke projects, Lyndon is carving a distinct path forward under the Boss and Okamura umbrella.
And for designers, the message is clear: whether it’s a workplace lounge, a cinema, or a cruise ship, Lyndon can craft comfort, beautifully, sustainably, and globally!
Find Lyndon on Supplier Finder
Supplier Finder is the UK’s only search platform for accredited suppliers of commercial interior furnishings.
At Supplier Finder, our mission is simple: to help you find the perfect commercial furnishing suppliers for your interior schemes and projects. We understand the importance of having confidence in the suppliers you specify and the products that bring your designs to life. That’s why each supplier featured on our platform is accredited through Commercial Interiors UK’s rigorous membership application process. This ensures that you engage with only the best in the industry!