About Us

SNOWHOME 2025 is husband & wife team Helen and Matt with help from Carolyn and Louise.

Helen and Matt are not born and bred shopkeepers. Coming from experience within heritage industry and antiques / auctions sectors, our shopkeeping journey began in 2009 when we opened the virtual doors to the Owl & Monkey website which became a bricks and mortar store in 2017 when a one-room corner shop became available on York's Heslington Road.

Joint backgrounds in things past and attendant genuine curiosity and interest in the world we live in today and tomorrow was an inspiration and driver for our personal reinvention as shopkeepers.

 

We believe that as human beings we have an almost species defining desire for acquiring and surrounding ourselves with things an impulse we believe that could, conceivably, be turned into a real force for good for the many while still respecting the planet we all live on.  A passionately held vision of positive capitalism doing as much good and as little harm as possible means that in our collection, you will find goods selected not just because they are wonderful, but because they meet a broad range social, sustainable and environmental responsibilities - from fair wages and working conditions to good environmental practices, responsibly sourced materials and community benefit. 

We also believe that friendly, relevant, convenient bricks-and-mortar shops still have the potential to offer a place for good in their community, a place for creativity, collaboration, innovation and inspiration.  So we opened our doors first in 2017 with a simple vision that we continue today: to create a joyful space and slow-shopping experience, offering connection, sharing, inspiration based round a refined collection of goods: everyday luxuries for desk and life.