Care Guides

Every piece we make is built from natural materials, and natural materials behave. They move with the weather, take up the marks of use, and change over the years they are with you. The notes below cover every material we work in.

Two rules apply to everything we make. Rotate and turn loose cushions monthly so they wear evenly; on tight-upholstered pieces there are no cushions to rotate, so vary where the piece is used. And lift a piece to move it rather than dragging, which stresses the joinery.

Upholstery — pile fabrics

Velvets, mohairs and other raised-pile weaves. Vacuum weekly with an upholstery attachment, working in the direction of the pile. Blot spills immediately with a clean white cloth — never rub, which crushes the pile permanently. Brush the pile back into direction with a soft cloth after use. Pile marking and shading are characteristic of these fabrics and settle with wear. Professional cleaning only; household upholstery sprays will flatten and stain them. Keep out of direct sunlight, which fades natural fibers unevenly.

Upholstery — flat weaves

Linens, cottons and tweeds. Vacuum weekly with an upholstery attachment. Blot spills at once, working from the outside in — press, do not rub. Light creasing is characteristic of the fiber and relaxes with use. Professional cleaning only.

Upholstery — textured weaves

Bouclés and other looped constructions. Vacuum weekly with an upholstery attachment. Blot spills at once, working from the outside in. Never pull a snagged loop; trim it flush with scissors. Professional cleaning only.

Leather

Dust with a soft dry cloth. Wipe marks with a barely damp cloth and dry immediately. Condition with a neutral leather cream every six to twelve months. Never use saddle soap, solvents or silicone. Unlined leather darkens where hands fall and lightens where light reaches; this is the finish developing, not wearing out. Keep at least 24" from heat sources and out of direct sunlight.

Solid timber

Dust with a soft dry cloth. Wipe spills immediately with a barely damp cloth and dry at once — standing water raises the grain and leaves a ring. Never use solvents, silicone polishes or all-purpose sprays. Use coasters under anything hot or wet. Keep out of direct sunlight, which lightens the finish unevenly, and away from radiators. An oiled surface takes up the oils of everyday use and develops patina; re-oil every twelve to eighteen months.

Natural stone

Stone is porous and reactive. Anything acidic — wine, citrus, coffee, alcohol, cleaning products — will etch the surface if left to sit, and etching is permanent. Blot spills immediately rather than wiping, which spreads them. Clean with a soft cloth and warm water, or a pH-neutral stone cleaner. Never use vinegar, lemon, bleach or abrasive pads. Seal on delivery and reseal annually. Always use coasters and trivets.

Cane and rattan

Dust with a soft dry brush or an upholstery attachment, working with the weave. For deeper cleaning, wipe with a barely damp cloth and allow to dry fully in open air. Cane absorbs moisture: it tightens in dry air and relaxes in humidity, so keep it in ordinary room conditions, away from radiators and out of direct sun. Do not rest heavy objects against woven panels.

Metal

Dust with a soft dry cloth. Wipe marks with a barely damp cloth and dry at once. No abrasives, solvents or all-purpose sprays. Living finishes are intended to age and should not be polished back. Check that floor glides are clear of grit before moving a piece. If a moving mechanism becomes stiff, check beneath it for debris rather than lubricating it.

Glass

Clean with a soft lint-free cloth and a non-ammonia glass cleaner, sprayed onto the cloth rather than the glass. Lift objects rather than sliding them. Do not place hot items directly on the surface.

Mirror

Clean with a soft lint-free cloth and a non-ammonia cleaner, sprayed onto the cloth and never onto the glass — liquid running to the edge will lift the silvering and leave a permanent black bloom. Antiqued and distressed mirror is finished by hand, so its clouding and speckle differ piece to piece and are part of the finish. Do not use abrasives.

Tufting and buttoning

Vacuum inside the buttons and channels with a soft brush attachment; dust collects there first. Do not pull or twist the buttons.

Nailhead trim

Dust with a soft dry cloth, working along the line of the heads. Do not polish; the finish is intended to age.

Skirts and pleating

Vacuum the pleats with a soft brush attachment. Do not press or steam — a lined, weighted skirt is built to hang on its own.

Moving parts

On swivel and reclining mechanisms, if the movement becomes stiff, check beneath the base for debris. Do not lubricate.

Something gone wrong?

If a piece arrives damaged, tell the delivery team before they leave — they stay while you inspect and sign off. For anything that appears later, contact us with photographs and your order number.