"Koa is more than a name, it’s my heritage. Named after the strong and resilient Hawaiian tree, it reflects the beauty, integrity, and purpose I bring to every design."
What We Do
At Koa Design, we make custom furniture and interiors that are built to last and built to feel right. From clever built ins to bold statement pieces, we design and make things that look great, work hard, and actually fit your life (and your awkward alcove). Clean lines, honest materials, and thoughtful details.
Who We Are
I’m Darren O’Neill, designer, maker, and founder of Koa Design. I’ve spent years in and around design, first studying architecture, then teaching product design to the next generation of problem solvers. But I’ve always loved making things with my hands. Koa was born from that pull, a mix of head and heart, craft and creativity. These days, I work with people who want more than flat-pack and fast fixes. They want something personal, well made, and done properly and that’s exactly what I do.
Why we do it
Because there’s real satisfaction in making something that lasts, something that’s useful, well built, and genuinely appreciated. It’s about more than just furniture. It’s about solving problems, bringing order to a space, and creating something you actually look forward to living with. It never gets old seeing an idea grow from a rough sketch to a finished piece that someone uses and loves every day. There’s nothing better than seeing someone genuinely happy with what we’ve made for them.
How we do it
We start wherever the idea starts, whether that’s a sketch, a quick photo, or a scribble on or even a weirdly helpful AI suggestion, whatever’s to hand. We use a mix of tools to explore and develop ideas: 3D CAD for precision, CNC for clean cuts, and hands on finishing to bring everything together. Birch ply is our go to solid, simple, and dependable, just like the kind of work we aim to deliver.