Our Story
“Make it simple, make it well.”
That's the line the founder of Made By Morgen, Nick McDonald, built the brand on. Coming from a commercial building background, Nick witnessed how modern building standards impacted every aspect of life. He wanted to create beautiful spaces and objects that inspire and unite people. He drew inspiration from skilled and hardworking individuals, and Scandinavian and mid-century furniture designs.
Design & Fabrication philosophy
-
Every piece begins with timber we source and trace ourselves, through relationships with local providers built over years, not from a catalogue. Ask where the timber in your piece came from and how it was harvested, and we can tell you.
-
Nothing is made ahead of time. Every piece begins as a real conversation about your space, your brief and your timeline, then it's made to order, which is why it takes twelve to sixteen weeks, not two.
-
A tree takes decades to grow. We build for pieces to outlast that: every one carries a 10-year structural warranty, made for whoever owns it in a decade, not only for whoever commissioned it.
-
Every line and every joint is there because it needs to be, not because it looks considered.
-
Hand-finished joinery, hand-matched finishes, hand-selected timber. Our workshop supervisor, Doug, has “measure once, cut twice” tattooed on his arm. It isn't a slogan. It's how the workshop is run.
-
This starts with the land we make on: we acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work. It extends to the people who make with us, and to what we build: furniture meant to be handed down, not replaced.
Timber sourced and traced to origin
10-year structural warranty
12–16 week lead time
Designed & fabricated in Melbourne
Delivered across Asia-Pacific and beyond by arrangement.
Practice in the workshop
What the six pillars above look like day to day in the workshop.
Timber we source and trace ourselves, matched to the piece before a single cut is made.
Every piece is checked against the same standard before it leaves the workshop, not just at handover.
Joinery, edges and finishes done by hand, piece by piece.
Traditional joinery techniques, supported by CNC precision and digital drawings where they improve accuracy and consistency. The tool is chosen for the piece, not the other way round.
Behind the Vision
NICK MCDONALD,
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
The Founder and Director of Made by Morgen, Nick McDonald, reflects on how he turned a passion project, which operated out of a small shed on his parent’s property in country Victoria, into a thriving bespoke furniture business based in Melbourne.
Nick’s path to furniture making was anything but an ordinary one. After quitting his job in construction, Nick spent six months in Denmark, hoping travelling would help him discover a newfound purpose in his career. Finding himself in a small town on the west coast of the country ended up playing a pivotal role in his journey. Nick fell in love with the minimal nature of Scandinavian furniture and was inspired to bring some of those design influences back home to Australia, which eventually led to the formation of his company, Made by Morgen.
Behind
the Vision
From Left to right. Marinos Drakopoulos, Douglas Maloney, Anaïs Molé, Nick McDonald, Angus Walker and Louie the Bluey. Nick McDonald
Nick McDonald reflects on how he turned a passion project, which operated out of a small shed on his parents’ property in country Victoria, into a thriving bespoke furniture business based in Melbourne.
Nick’s path to furniture making was anything but an ordinary one. After quitting his job in construction, Nick spent six months in Denmark, hoping travelling would help him discover a newfound purpose in his career. Finding himself in a small town on the west coast of the country ended up playing a pivotal role in his journey. Nick fell in love with the minimal nature of Scandinavian furniture and was inspired to bring some of those design influences back home to Australia, which eventually led to the formation of his company, Made by Morgen.
Founder, Designer & Maker
Anaïs Molé
Anaïs leads business development for the studio: building and holding the relationships with architects, designers and clients that the project pipeline runs on. Her background spans architecture, art and events, and she brings that same range to how she runs marketing, OH&S and HR: the systems that let the workshop focus on the work.
Studio Manager
Doug Maloney
Over a decade in timber, including time honing his craft in Tasmania. As workshop supervisor, Doug makes sure every piece meets the standard before it leaves.
Workshop Supervisor & Furniture Maker
Marinos Drakopoulos
Industrial Designer & Furniture Maker
An award-winning industrial designer and a perfectionist by nature, Marinos crafts every project to a standard he'd put his own name to. He teaches in Monash University's Furniture and Industrial Design program alongside his work at the studio.
HOW WE WORK
DISTINCTIVE, SUSTAINABLE DESIGN
The unique value offered by Made by Morgen lies in its distinctive design. Crafting furniture that holds significance, we provide design services with aesthetic and functional approaches. Our design process involves the exchange of ideas, pushing boundaries, and embracing new challenges.
We offer custom pieces tailored to suit your specific needs, providing adaptable solutions for your space and people.
Each of our pieces is meticulously crafted to endure the test of time. Our ethos revolves around simple, timeless design, ensuring longevity and enduring appeal. We prioritise ethical and sustainable production practices, aligning with our commitment to environmental stewardship.
TIMELESS, METICULOUS CRAFTSMANSHIP
We recently captured Made By Morgen’s spirit and dedication in a short film
(film directed by RM Williams)
OUR CUSTOM PRODUCT DESIGN PROCESS
-
We discuss your requirements, vision including design preferences, Materials, finishes, dimensions, and any specific features you want.
-
Based on the consultation, we provide a detailed quotation outlining the costs involved.
This quotation is valid for 30 days.
-
To secure your order, a 50% deposit is required.
This deposit confirms your commitment and allows us to start the next steps, including purchasing materials.
We generate an official invoice detailing the deposit and the remaining balance.
-
We produce a design that combines all of your unique needs. We will discuss the design with you and make any amendments needed to capture your vision. We create detailed renders and dimensioned drawings, outlining every aspect of your order.
eg. Fisher & Paykel Case Study
-
All the products are designed and made in our workshop in Melbourne, Australia, using FSC certified timbers. We source the best quality timber based on your pieces specifications and on finish samples. Read more about the timber story.
-
Our commitment to sustainable and ethical production practices ensures that each piece is not only beautiful but also made to last. By maintaining local and intimate relationships with providers and employing highly skilled craftspeople, we guarantee a unique quality in our work. If applicable, we collaborate with trusted metalworkers, chairmakers or leathercraftmen. We keep you informed at various stages of the production, and discuss with you the finish selection.
Our range of eco-friendly finishes is designed to be simple yet versatile, complementing any design or space. Additionally, we offer the option to match existing finishes, ensuring a seamless integration into your home or project.
-
When production is complete, we generate the final invoice for the remaining balance. You complete the payment, which allows us to prepare for pick up or delivery (and installation if applicable.)
-
Once your balance payment is done, the final step is getting your custom furniture to you:
- Pick-up: we arrange a time for you to pick up your order at our Melbourne showroom.
or
- Shipping: We arrange for delivery to the specified address (at your own expense). For clients in Melbourne, we offer delivery and installation services.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TO VISIT OUR SHOWROOM
Our Brunswick showroom is open by appointment from Tuesday to Saturday.
Please book an appointment and we look forward to showing you around our showroom and answer any questions regarding our furniture.
If you're not based in Melbourne we're still here to help – we're only a phone call or an email away and would love to hear from you.
Showroom
59 Weston Street
Brunswick, VIC, 3056
Australia
Click here to book an appointment
Contact
Nick - 0408 170 248
hello@madebymorgen.com