Our Story

Inspired by a love of our native trees and timbers, and the pleasure of preparing and sharing delicious food; we craft practical and beautiful kitchen tools.

TOM MUIR & LOUISE ARMSTRONG

We are Tom Muir & Louise Armstrong, and Kitchen Artefacts is our shared creative enterprise. In 2011, a ‘blessing in disguise’ propelled us from central Auckland City to Te Miro, in countryside Waikato. Here, surrounded by hills, paddocks, and pockets of bush, we found an old house and barn on a smallpaddock with volcanic soil. With our collection of salvaged native NZ timbers, this is now home, workshop and evolving garden for us, daughter Jess and young grandson Theo. Over the years of learning here, we’ve developed the design and making skills to craft implements that are a pleasure to hold and an asset in the kitchen, well suited to everyday cooking needs or treasured possession status. Honouring the qualities and beauty of the timber and the often-extraordinary history of these sometimes-ancient trees, we aim to create well-used and loved pieces that can be
passed on to the next generation. For you and your kitchen, from our hands to yours.

“When someone gifts you one of these; every time you use it you think of them”

Tom Muir ( Senior)

OUR KITCHEN ESSENTIALS

GOOD MIXER

Our ‘go-to’ kitchen helper. Versatile, use for mixing baking, blending sauces, frying, serving, scooping out pumpkin seeds, etc…

CHOPPERS

A satisfying form to hold and use. Great for chopping soft herbs, pastry and dough, cold chicken, etc. Use it on a cheese board. Excellent for chopping in a container, to easily contain juices, eg tomatoes (something you can’t do with a knife). Try it for removing parboiled sweet corn off the cob …. the blade doesn’t dig into the cob, like a knife does. Can be sharpened with 240 or 400grit sandpaper.

MINI SPATULA

Long enough to get to the bottom of the nut butter and jam jar. Strong enough to whisk, fry, and scramble.

#kitchenartefacts

Have you found your favourite? Share with us on Instagram.