We started this simply. A name borrowed from a dog, a love of beautiful things, and the courage to begin.
A croft in Kiltarlity
We live in Kiltarlity, a small village in Strathglass in the Scottish Highlands, where the hills roll in quietly and the landscape does the talking. Our croft sits just along the road from home — a patch of old oak trees and open green fields, currently shared with a small herd of horses who seem entirely unbothered by the wind.
It’s the kind of place that changes slowly but visibly with the seasons. In winter it lies white and still. Autumn turns every oak a different shade of amber and rust. Summer brings the grass up long and full of wildflowers. And in spring — which is our favourite time — the trees come back to life with new leaves so soft and fresh they almost look fluffy. That quiet rhythm of the natural world is woven into everything we do.
Something built for myself
Croft & Cleo is run by Samantha — a stay-at-home mum and carer, and the person behind every product choice, every order packed, every decision made. Ali handles the technical side of things, but the buying, the curation, the character of this shop — that’s Samantha’s.
Starting a business while carrying the responsibilities of family life takes a particular kind of courage. Samantha took that step anyway, and Croft & Cleo is the result. It’s a shop that exists because someone decided to back herself — and we think that spirit shows in everything here.
Meet Cleo
The Cleo in Croft & Cleo is very much a real dog. She’s a Basenji — an ancient, rare and rather special breed — and she’s the kind of dog who will spend twenty minutes finding the perfect patch of sunlight to lie in, and then charm everyone in the room once she’s settled. Affectionate, playful, and not above the occasional act of mischief.
Cleo, at home in Kiltarlity
When we were looking for a name for the business, Cleo came to mind immediately. It sat well with Croft. It felt right. And it seemed only fair that the dog who brings so much warmth to this house should have her name on the door.
The question we always ask
Every product in the Croft & Cleo collection is chosen with one question in mind: would I want this in my home? Not every home, not any home — our home. The croft. The kitchen. The mantelpiece. The garden.
That means we’re not interested in things you can find everywhere. We look for pieces that are a little more considered — items with a particular craft to them, or a character that makes them feel genuinely different from what’s on the high street. Things that earn their place.
We want every parcel that leaves us to feel like something worth receiving. Whether it’s a gift for someone you love or something chosen entirely for yourself, we hope it arrives and makes you glad you found us. Our aim is to be the kind of shop people come back to — not because we’re the biggest, but because we’re genuine.
If you only remember one thing about Croft & Cleo, we hope it’s this: genuine kindness in everything we do.
Samantha & Cleo — Kiltarlity, the Highlands