Product quality and care information
We carry a diverse range of products made of many different materials and having different colours and finishes. Each is manufactured to exacting UK and EU standards, but there are some important quality and care details that we want our customers to be aware of before they make their purchase.
Every piece of furniture (tables, sideboards, consoles, coffee tables) can be damaged by spillages or scratched by serve-wear. Stone, metal and wood especially can be damaged by even small spillages, which can corrode surfaces or remove their finish. We recommend the use of placemats at all times.
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- Metal finishes
- Stone, marble and concrete
- Wood and leather furniture
- Velvet
- Lighting
- Home fragrancies
Metal finishes
Solid polished metal items
Some items, like our Boston range, have solid steel or aluminium frames that are forged and polished by hand. Others will feature finer machine-polished metal facia or plating.
On hand-forged solid stainless steel and aluminium furniture, the metalwork has been polished so that it has a near mirror-like finish. But, the finish will look slightly duller than a glass mirrored item and will naturally contain light polishing swirls and light scratches (see example, right). Gentle indentations are to be expected from an item forged from metal. On joins, some soldering marks may be visible - this is normal and a requirement of solid and safe furniture.
We find some customers are disappointed to see these features on hand-forged solid metal furniture items so please do check with us before buying if you're concerned about this. They are perfectly normal and not a quality or fault issue.
After use, much like the casing of an expensive wristwatch or finely polished steel cutlery, the polished metal will show unavoidable light scratches; however, these will in no way detract from the overall look of the piece.
This advice applies to silver, copper and gold coloured solid metal items - the latter two have thick electroplating, which will not come off through the use of cleaning products.
- Not suitable for outdoor use
- Can be cleaned with a metal polishing cloth, microfibre cloth, glass cleaner, furniture polish or soapy water.
Brushed metal finishes
These items have either have an additional metal paint applied to create a grain effect or have been finished with a rough polisher that removes the shine and creates a dull metallic effect.
- Not suitable for outdoor use
- Can be cleaned with glass cleaner, furniture polish or soapy water.
Antiqued metal finishes
These items have paint applied or removed to create artificial 'rusting' or 'tarnishing'. We often use the word 'shabby chic' to describe these items, which have a lived in, antique look.
- Not suitable for outdoor use
- Can be cleaned with soapy water only.
Stone, marble and concrete
Marble and many other stone types are a natural material of sedimentary origin, formed by a metamorphic process in nature. They bring an earthy, organic element into a space. From piece to piece, and even on a single quarried slab, there will be colour and texture variations. Surfaces will have pits and fissures that appear as cracks. These are a result of immense heat and pressure which formed the stone a long time ago. These characteristics do not impair function or durability, instead, they add to the beauty of this natural material.
Despite the perceived toughness of stone and marble items, these are porous materials that can be damaged by liquids that are allowed to rest on the surface for anything longer than a few minutes. This is a natural but unfortunately common blight to stone and marble, even those used in kitchen and bathroom environments.
For day-to-day cleaning, dust with a clean, dry cloth, warm soapy water or use a PH neutral all purpose spray (such as Pledge® pH Balanced Multisurface Cleaner).
Marble must be cleaned with extreme delicacy as it is porous and can stain more easily than other materials. Spills of acidic liquids such as wine, coffee, lemon or vinegar must be wiped immediately. Do not under any circumstances clean with abrasive or aggressive products, acidic detergents, bleach or abrasive paper or steel wool.
Image left: the damage caused to a table when a tough kitchen spray was used to incorrectly clean the top of the marble. The spray removed the shine from the marble within seconds of the liquid hitting the surface, creating etching.
Two types of damage can be caused to all stone and marble surfaces. Marble etching (see example), which is when the polished surface becomes dull or matte, can occur when acidic liquids (e.g. salad dressing, ketchup, wine, soda, tea or coffee and general-purpose cleaning products) are left to sit on the surface and react with the stone’s calcium carbonate. The relatively common sight of colourless but dull cup rings can be caused when hot drinks are spilt on the surface. Re-polishing is required to remove this. Such stains will appear darker on light marble and slightly lighter on dark marble and may only be visible from certain angles.
There are some polishing solutions that successfully remove these marks and can be tried on stone that has not had a shiny epoxy/lacquer covering applied and are matte in appearance. We suggest SRP Water Ring & Etch Mark Remover for matte and semi-matte stone surfaces - we have tested this solution on our own marble items and have found that it successfully removes etching (such as cup rings and splashes) caused by liquid and food spillages. Be sure to follow the polishing instructions on the side of the jar precisely and use a lintfree or microfibre cloth. For further help and to check if this solution is suitable for your marble top, just get in touch.
Staining
Staining can occur when a coloured liquid (sauces etc.) are left on the top, which is then absorbed and stain the marble. These can be removed with some cleaners, and the table top will then have to be re-polished, as the fact it has penetrated the stone means the polishing sealant has also been removed (etched).
We strongly recommended that placemats and coasters are always used when food or drink is placed on top of all stone tables. Much like on wood furniture, the top layer of polish provides some protection, but prolonged exposure will damage the material underneath.
Marble is especially brittle, so if an item is dropped on top of it, the surface may chip, which will then get worse with wear or use… a bit like how a pothole develops in a road. Marble will not develop faults like this without being struck externally first.
No stone or marble item is suitable for outside use unless stated.
Concrete care
Household or dining stains on concrete can be removed or reduced in prominence using a cleaner like Lithofin POW05 MN Power-Clean. Apply by following the instructions. We recommend that concrete table tops are re-sealed 2-3 times per year with a stone sealant (we suggest Cheng Concrete Sealer although Lithofin’s Fleckstop W is also recommended by specialists and is a little cheaper).
Like you should apply an oil to wood surfaces to keep them looking vibrant and help avoid liquid staining, stone should also be treated every six months or so with a sealant. We recommend searching online for Fila Fob Xtreme or Fila MP90 Eco Xtreme but please ensure it's right for the item you have and always test on a small, invisible area first. There are also many tips, trick and advice on household remedies that can help.
Wood and leather
Products created in natural materials such as wood and leather are susceptible to unique characteristics such as knots, grain, minor colour differences, repaired scars etc. These are not deemed inherently as faults but should be embraced as signs of a truly natural and unique product.
Leather is a natural product, and each hide will have its unique characteristics and natural marks. Differences in the grain, texture and colour may be apparent from one hide to another and even within the same hide. We select hides of the highest quality, but some marking is inevitable and should be accepted as part of the individual appearance of leather furniture. Further creases and scratches will appear through use and should be embraced as a positive part of the item’s ageing process – nothing beats the look of a genuinely aged leather finish!
With exposure to light and air, cherrywood, maple and oak will mature to a deeper colour. This will be most pronounced in cherrywood, which mellows to a deep copper colour. For this reason, objects placed on such surfaces could leave ‘shadows’ when removed. Should this happen, exposure to daylight will eventually darken these paler areas and even things out.
Velvet
Velvet upholstery can sometimes feature pressure marks, which are caused by prolonged storage of items in boxes or small spaces. Essentially, they occur when something remains pressed upon the velvet fabric, causing the fibres to remain depressed. The area will look like a lighter or darker patch and can sometimes be mistaken for a fault or stain.
It's a really easy problem to fix. The fibres can be relaxed with humidity, so we suggest using a steamer or clothes iron to apply steam to the area (without getting the fabric too wet or hot). Then, you can brush the fabric with a clean soft brush. The grain of the fabric will be restored in this way.
Lighting
All of our lights are made to EU and UK standards and will be supplied with full fitting and safety instructions. None of our lights may be used with a dimmer unless explicitly stated, otherwise damage and danger may occur and all warranties will be invalidated.
Home scents
We carry a range of gorgeous home diffuser scents. There are some important considerations to be aware of:
- The longevity of these depends on a range of factors such as the heat, light, size and ventilation of the room in which they're placed. Using air dehumidifiers and air conditioning units can also severely shorten their lifespan. We suggest turning the reads once per week to achieve the right balance between the scent's potency and its lifespan.
- You will notice the speed at which the oil evaporates slows as there is less in the bottle. You may notice oil evaporating quickly in the first few days after opening because the oil can escape more easily as it's higher in the bottle and therefore closer to the opening in the glass. Fear not - evaporation slows considerably once the oil can only evaporate via the turning of the reeds.
- The liquid is oil-based so might damage wooden and upholstered surfaces if spilt. Be extra careful when turning the reeds so not to spill a droplet on the surface. Wipe any spillage off immediately using warm, soapy water.
- We are unable to accept returns of these consumable items unless they are unused, unopened and all packaging and seals are in tact.