How it started
Work Recover Play kicked off the day my wife and I bought our first home. Dream? Achieved. But now we had to figure out what “homely” actually meant, with two under four running the show... Imagine Bart Simpson and Dora the Explorer under one roof... yes, great fun.
We wanted a space filled with love, fun, and work ethic, the kind that helps raise good humans who think about others and not just themselves. My wife’s a high-achiever with great taste. I’m a performance nut who treats his body and mind like a finely tuned Formula 1 car. So naturally, things got… specific.
For me, that meant carving out a proper command centre. A space so dialled in Neil Armstrong could’ve used it to prep for Apollo 11. Perfect light, posture-friendly chair, temp set to “don’t mess with it.” A room that made deep work feel easy... or at least possible with two kids climbing the walls.
Then came the recovery zone: sauna, cold plunge, the works. Because if I want to perform at an elite level into my 80s, I’d better start acting like it now... Peter Attia would be proud. And finally, the play space, home theatre, golf sim, maybe a cheeky game of FIFA. Priorities.
But here’s the thing… finding equipment that looked good, worked hard, and didn’t involve Harvard level research? A nightmare.
So I built the store I wish I had. For high-performers, tired parents, and anyone trying to stay sharp without losing their minds.
Why we started
As I was planning these spaces, I realised something: sourcing the right gear takes forever. Comparing brands, reading reviews, measuring specs, scrolling until your eyes go square it’s a full-time job in itself... Time is money.
And I thought, surely I’m not the only one who wants a high-performance home without the spreadsheet.
What if I made a store for people like me? People who want their space to work as hard as they do. A place that curates the best gear for work, recovery, and play without the noise or the existential crisis over which chair to buy.
So... I built it.
Enter Work Recover Play. A store that’s still early in its journey, but already resonating with people who think like we do: high standards, low tolerance for bull****, and a belief that your space shapes how you show up.
Who we are
I’m Michael, husband, dad of two, founder, and big believer in building a life (and a home) you actually want to live in.
Work Recover Play started as a one-man mission to create a better way to shop for the gear that actually matters. Since then, it's grown into a small but mighty family business with a growing team behind the scenes and a lot of love in the details.
We partner with brands trusted by founders, entrepreneurs, coaches, and creators not random Ali Express factories with pixelated product shots and vague promises (no offence Jack Ma). And no, not everything here is “cheap” but everything here works. Long-term. High-quality. Comfort you notice.
And if you ever need help... picking a product, measuring a space, or just chatting to someone who’s been where you are, we’re here. Use the live chat, send us a message, or pick up the phone. Yes, a real human will answer. Probably one who’s also juggling toddlers and testing the plunge tub at 6am.
This is more than a store. It’s a shared standard.
If you've read this far, chances are... you're one of us.