About Us
Roots & Inspiration
The story of Timothy Oulton started back in 1976 with an
antiques shop owned by Tim's father. As it turned out, Tim had
inherited his father's eye for beauty and detail. His innate
ability to see artistic value and the essence of perfection in a
product's design became the starting point for everything new.
Today, that legacy of creativity continues with Tim's son Oli.
"We're not purely a design company per se, it's more than that,
it's about the craftsmanship, the materials, the story." Tim
Oulton
1976
Major Oulton opens Halo Antiques
With an intention to provide a good education for his sons Tim
and Charlie, Major Philip Oulton opens Halo Antiques in the village
of Hale near Manchester.
The benedictine Philosophy
Tim attends Ampleforth College, an ancient Benedictine Boarding
School in Yorkshire with great halls filled with old English
furniture. The Benedictine philosophy of personal contribution and
community impacts deeply on Tim.
Eddie 'Salvage hands'
Major Oulton hires Eddie Salvage hands, Halo's first employee,
who is still with the company today. Eddie was a tree surgeon and
grandfather clock craftsman, and is an expert in all things
wooden.
1984
The summer job that turned into a lifelong love...
Tim leaves school at 18, and forgetting to submit the papers to
secure a university place and a career in the City, he takes a
summer job with his dad, reporting to Eddie Salvage hands. Tim
becomes captivated by the world of antiques.
1990
A VISION TO REINVENT
Six years later, with a love of antiques under his skin and an apparent eye for design, Tim takes the helm at Halo. Realising the limits of antiques as a business, he starts making reclaimed timber and leather furniture. Ideas are borrowed from the past, but reinvented with a daring modern energy.
An obsession with vintage leather
Tim invents Vintage Cigar, a truly authentic leather finish,
which takes the design community by storm. Tim meets Argentinian
leather master Diego Diaz and the pair collaborate on ground
breaking new finishes. Buck'dN Brok'n and Jack'dN Brok'n are later
born.
Our first gallery opens in Los Angeles
The Timothy Oulton retail brand launches with its first gallery
in Los Angeles. More galleries open across the USA, Europe, Middle
East and Asia Pacific. Timothy Oulton opens in Harrods, and wins
the coveted Harrods Storewide Service Excellence Award.
2012
Boarding school welcomes its first pupils
The secret to Timothy Oulton's unique customer experience is our
Boarding School, attended by all staff and partners. An
all-immersive, world-class training programme where attendees meet
the designers and craftsmen, and graduate as a brand expert.
2014
Timothy Oulton Studio Launches
Tim co-founds TO Studio with Simon Laws, a turnkey bespoke
design practice dedicated to the creation of incredible
environments. Projects include 1880 Members Club in Singapore and
the Apollo, a replica of the NASA lunar module rendered as an
intimate lounge.
Bluebird opens & wins prestigious award
Our global flagship opens in Chelsea in the historic Bluebird
building. The following year it wins a prestigious Luxury Briefing
Award with judges hailing it "an astonishing experience full of
stories" with an "outrageously original approach to retail".
Our first pub opens in Chelsea, London
Timothy Oulton expands into hospitality with the launch of The
Chelsea Pig pub & restaurant in London. One of Chelsea's most
historic and best loved pubs, The Chelsea Pig is tucked away behind
the King's Road, just 200 metres from our Bluebird flagship.
Oliver Oulton takes the helm
Tim's son, Oliver Oulton, takes the reins as Creative Director
and continues his father's legacy to create extraordinary
experiences through epic product design.
