From Speyside Casks to Southampton Furniture
Barrels Furniture makes cabinets, tables, stools and armchairs in Southampton from reclaimed Speyside whisky barrels
From a garage to a workshop
Rafal started Barrels Furniture in his garage in 2019, making the first pieces for his own bar. Friends began asking for pieces of their own, and the side project grew into a family-run workshop in Southampton.
Rafal now oversees the design, restoration and finishing of every piece. Each barrel is inspected, its hoops are tightened where needed, and the oak is cut, shaped, sanded and finished by hand.
Where the barrels come from
The workshop uses full and half barrels from Speyside, Scotland, where they previously held Scotch whisky made from grain.
Speyside is one of Scotland’s five whisky regions and takes its name from the River Spey. Scotch whisky must mature in oak casks in Scotland for at least three years.
An oak cask is made from curved staves held together by steel hoops. The workshop preserves the barrel’s original curve, along with the grain and marks left by its previous use. The colour varies from barrel to barrel, so every finished piece is different.
How each piece is made
A cabinet needs a door and shelves. A table needs a level top and legs. The barrel’s curve determines how those parts can be made and fitted.
A half barrel can be made into a cabinet that sits against a wall. A full barrel can become a table with a door and internal storage, or part of a set with matching stools. The workshop also makes coffee tables and armchairs.
Furniture for real rooms
Customers use the finished furniture in homes, garden rooms and venues. The photographs below show cabinets, tables and seating in their owners’ rooms. Where the surface allows, the workshop can also add a name, logo or simple engraving.
Where to see the work
Current pieces can be seen at barrelsfurniture.com, with photographs, measurements and details for each one. A smaller selection is available in the Barrels Furniture Etsy shop, alongside customer reviews and photographs. The workshop also welcomes direct enquiries about custom pieces and larger venue orders.
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