How a Mubu Piece Is Made

In a world where so much furniture is mass-produced, we've always chosen a different path. Every piece of furniture that leaves our workshop begins with an idea, a sketch, and a desire to create something simple, beautiful, and built to last.

From our workshop in Cheltenham to homes across Australia, every Mubu piece follows a journey shaped by thoughtful design, careful craftsmanship, and a genuine love for what we do.

It Starts with Michael

At Mubu, Michael is both the designer and the maker.

This is something quite unique in today's furniture industry, where design and manufacturing are often separated by thousands of kilometres and many different hands. For Michael, the two are inseparable.

When designing a new piece, he isn't just thinking about how it will look. He's thinking about how it will be made, how it will assemble, how it will function, and how it will feel to live with every day.

Some designs begin as quick sketches. Others spend months evolving through small adjustments and refinements before they feel just right.

Our Markus Bed, for example, combines a robust timber frame with soft upholstery and a practical ledge that runs around the bed. The details may look simple, but each one has been carefully considered to balance aesthetics, comfort, and functionality.

Designing for Real Homes

One of the questions we ask ourselves throughout the design process is simple:

"Will this make everyday life better?"

It's why we pay attention to things that aren't always obvious at first glance.

"How easy is the bed to assemble?"

"Will this bedside table comfortably hold a book, a lamp, and a cup of tea?"

"Does the design feel timeless enough to still look beautiful ten years from now?"

Our Classic Bed Frame is a good example of this philosophy. It was designed to be simple, sturdy, and versatile enough to work in a master bedroom, guest room, holiday house, or children's room without ever feeling out of place.

Good design doesn't need to be complicated. It simply needs to work well.

Why We Choose Solid Timber

We have always been drawn to solid timber. Not only because it's beautiful, but because it brings warmth, character, and longevity into a home.

Every piece of timber is different. Grain patterns vary. Colours shift slightly. Small details emerge that cannot be replicated by manufactured materials.

These natural variations are part of what makes each piece unique. Timber also tells a story over time. It settles into a home, develops character, and often becomes more beautiful with age. In many ways, that's exactly what we want our furniture to do.

The Making Process

Once a design is finalised, the making begins right here in our Melbourne workshop.

Timber is selected, cut, shaped, assembled, sanded, and finished by hand.

This stage requires patience and attention to detail.

Smooth rounded edges, balanced proportions, seamless joins, and carefully considered construction all come together during this process.

Many of the details people notice and appreciate most are the result of hours of work that happen quietly behind the scenes.

Built to Last

At Mubu, we don't design furniture around trends. We design pieces that we hope people will enjoy for many years to come. Furniture that can move with a family through different stages of life. Furniture that feels just as relevant ten years from now as it does today.

That's why every design decision is made with longevity in mind, from the materials we choose to the way each piece is constructed.

From Our Workshop to Your Home

Before leaving Cheltenham, every piece is carefully inspected and prepared for its new home. It's a moment we never take for granted. What began as an idea in Michael's sketchbook is about to become part of someone's bedroom, guest room, holiday house, or family home. And that's perhaps our favourite part of the process.

Knowing that something made with care in our small Melbourne workshop will become part of the everyday moments that make a house feel like home.

mubu x