Ten with Tom: Pluck Kitchens

TR: Tell us the story behind Pluck and how it all began.

LT: Pluck was founded in 2016 by my husband, Lloyd Touwen, me and our good friend George Glasier. Having spent years designing and making furniture and exhibition pieces, we were eager to launch our own brand. Our first press releases said ‘Pluck brings a fresh approach to kitchen design’ and that really was the case.

We used to meet in a local coffee shop, F Mondays, and discuss ideas, designs, materials - it was a thrilling time, honing what we wanted Pluck to be…even the name was a eureka moment.

Serendipitous opportunities arose at the time, the warehouse adjacent to our existing South London warehouse became available and so we took a risk and signed a ten year lease. Also luckily for us (in hindsight) the launch of Pluck coincided with the rise of social media, particularly Instagram, which was a fantastic platform to tell people about what we were doing, our followers grew so quickly.

Another piece of luck was how people’s attitudes toward their kitchens were shifting; these spaces were no longer the preserve of the domestic chef, they were becoming places to gather and to chat, with the formality of rooms less rigid in modern homes. The furniture and styling in kitchens were being given the same aesthetic considerations as, say, our living rooms.

We spent hours picking the colours we would launch with, six of them, some now archived, ditto our woods. Since then we’ve constantly evolved - with new colours including our Eco Colour collection, new furniture: The Brixton Dresser, elegant glazed cupboards, prep tables, whilst developing some wonderful working relationships along the way, including our collaboration with German timber specialists Schotten & Hansen. We constantly feel like we have so many ideas and so much inspiration!

What is key to Pluck’s foundation is how different we are; Lloyd studied Industrial Design in Cape Town, George 3D Design at the University of Brighton and I graduated in Philosophy from the University of Leeds, so I have no academic background in design, but a passion for beautiful interiors. We tend to know we have hit upon something exceptional when we agree on it!

TR: Sustainability plays a big role in your brand ethos. What inspired that focus, and how does it shape the way Pluck operates today?

LT: From the start we were selective about the materials we worked with, but to be honest what drove us then was quality and a wish to use the most natural possible materials. We were inadvertently thinking about sustainability but can’t claim to have considered it as a founding principle.

As we grew and as discussions and awareness grew around sustainability, we began to analyse our practices more thoroughly and consider how we could become more sustainable. A big move was switching to an ethical energy supplier at Pluck HQ - we are committed to this whatever the cost - and the increase was significant as this includes our workshop production facility.

Now working sustainably is something we are constantly mindful of, and it always feels like there is more to do.

TR: What do you love most about your role as Co-Founder at Pluck?

LT: How diverse my role is, how creative I get to be, how an idea can be acted upon without having to ask for anyone’s permission, how the buck stops with me. Being a part of forming Pluck is thrilling, our team is brilliant.

TR: What’s your proudest business moment so far?

LT: I’m so proud of all the beautiful kitchens we have designed and made. When I get the chance to shoot a project with our photographer, hearing our clients say how much they love their kitchen, how it’s changed their relationship to the space and their home, how much joy it brings them, I brim with pride… humbled they opted for a Pluck kitchen and proud of our talented team - it takes so many people to make a kitchen!

This year we won a Livingetc Style Award’s Best in Class for Kitchens for our collaboration with German timber specialists Schotten & Hansen - that was a very lovely recognition.

Last year we produced our first brochure, we were spoiled for choice for which projects to include and looking through the finished result felt pretty wonderful…the culmination of many year’s work represented in a sophisticated booklet. There is a new brochure in the pipeline…

TR: Could you take us through what a typical day looks like for you?

LT: My working day starts with checking in with Pluck’s PR team, we work really closely together. I think when you own a business, your days tend not to be typical as you have to straddle so many different facets of the business, so I may meet with George and Lloyd to talk about macro plans, liaise with journalists, write for the website, go through images, research, review legal documents…

TR: Being based in Brixton, are there any local spots you love? Whether for creative inspiration, interior finds, or just a really great coffee?!

LT: Great coffee and glamorous groceries - F Mondays
- Great bread and baked goods - Aries and Mayas
- Great jewellery, homeware and presents - Circus in Brixton Market and Diverse on Coldharbour Lane
- Great value fresh flowers - the stand outside Brixton station
Generally all of Brixton Market is just excellent for picking up unexpected delights, multi-cultural London at its best.

Also I have a soft spot for Morleys, a department store that has been on Brixton Road for over 100 years.

Black Cultural Archives are housed in a beautiful Georgian building on Windrush Square and always have interesting exhibitions and events.

TR: We’re always curious about personal style. How would you describe your interior style, and what elements make your house feel like home?

LT: Eclectic, cosy, colourful, quirky, traditional and modern. I have amassed - inadvertently - a rather large collection of paintings, so our walls are adorned. I also love ceramics, so have many beautiful pieces on display and of course pottery that we use for everyday life too. The daily ritual of a cup of tea or coffee in a handmade mug never fails to bring me joy. That’s why we sell the work of some talented British ceramicists in Pluck’s online shop - potters whose work we have at home too. I adore colour and tend towards more muted shades.

Because we have just renovated and moved, I’ve thought a lot about what makes my house feel like home and it is of course people, Lloyd and our son and Barney, our jack russel! But also familiar objects: a kitchen table, a sofa, a cupboard, artwork, ceramics, cutlery even. I’m enjoying observing how a house transforms into feeling like home.

TR: When it comes to kitchen design, what’s one feature you absolutely couldn’t live without, and why?

LT: I’m unsure I can pin this down to one small feature, so I’m going to be more broad and say a great layout. The flow of a kitchen, where your appliances and storage are, worktop, the natural light, dining table it is all so important and I think it’s irritating to live with a space that hasn’t been designed properly - daily niggles will frustrate you, though of course life is good if this is what you’re up against!

TR: We would love to know what your favourite Tom Raffield design is, and why?

The Shoal Chandelier - so sculptural, part piece of art, part practical lighting - a great combination.

TR: What’s on the horizon for Pluck? Any exciting projects or plans you can share with us?

Yes! There are many plans brewing, but not really at a stage that can be elaborated upon - think creative partnerships, wonderful locations and beautiful Pluck kitchen furniture. As always we’ve got many inspiring kitchens in the pipeline too.

Find out more at www.pluck.co.uk.

Posted: 30.10.25
Updated: 30.10.25