At Labour and Wait we spend our time sourcing and developing products which will stand the test of time. We firmly believe that good quality well-designed items enhance our daily lives, and we hope that a sense of timelessness pervades all that we do. 

‘British Standard’ follows a similar philosophy. Their straightforward wooden cupboards are designed and made in Suffolk using traditional methods, proving that it is still possible to find honest properly made cabinetry which will last a lifetime.

Here, British Standard’s design director, Merlin Wright, test drives his top picks from Labour and Wait in his London home.

1. BREAD KNIFE
"Made by Opinel with a wooden handle and serrated blade, which is particularly effective on crusty loaves."

2. COBWEB BRUSH
"The soft, bulbous brush and long handle enable people with high ceilings to sweep away cobwebs and dust without damaging paintwork."

3. PRESERVING JARS
"These airtight jars are perfect for storing dry goods such as flour and rice; much better than leaking plastic bags and you can see how much is left."

4. TEA INFUSER
"Loose tea tastes much better than tea bags but is fiddly and messy to use for a single cup - this infuser is simple to fill with a single scooping action and to empty after use with a flick of the wrist."

5. RE-ENGINEERED BROWN BETTY TEAPOT
"The perfect teapot, improved. This classic design is now stackable and has a removable metal strainer for easy extraction of old tea leaves."

6. BIB APRON
"In thick brown cotton with robust ties and brass eyelets, this classic apron can be used in the kitchen or workshop. This is the long version with a neck loop to protect the whole torso and has handy pockets for small tools or a recipe perhaps."