Natural material 

Timber is a living material, which gives it unique grain patterns, knots and colouring that vary from piece to
piece and make solid timber furniture so desirable. It also means it’ll continue to react to its environment and respond to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. As your timber furniture settles into its new home, some natural wood movement is to be expected. This is nothing to worry about and is an intrinsic part of its character. 

Best practice

• Please bear in mind that movement may happen seasonally due to changes in temperature or moisture – in winter your home has a lower humidity and in summer moisture will increase.
• Any leaves or extendable parts also need time to adapt to their new home and stabilise. Ideally you should have tables fully extended for at least 2 weeks in their new position. We also highly recommend that if natural light or a heat source is subject to one end of the table that it is rotated to allow all areas to have equal exposure.
• Direct sunlight can cause the wood colour to change and/or fade and dry out the wood if exposed for long periods of time.
  

The right wood for the right purpose

We use solid oak (indoors) and teak (outdoors) where we want to celebrate the natural qualities of timber, leaving it unpainted for warmth and texture. Naturally very strong and hard-wearing, these materials age gracefully and take on a heritage feel.  

For our customisable painted furniture, it’s solid tulipwood. Tulipwood’s smooth, knot-free grain offers an unrivalled surface for painting over, ensuring the very best depth and coverage. Hardwood plywood also receives paint beautifully, and its layered construction brings excellent strength and stability to our cabinetry.  

Painted furniture

Thanks to the quality of our acrylic eggshell paint, caring for our painted furniture is very straightforward. Simply dust regularly with a dry e-cloth or use a damp one to remove a mark. Over time, you may need to retouch the painted finish or choose to repaint it all together. 

Retouching paint 

For light scuffs and marks  

1. Order a sample pot of the correct paint from our collection.  
2. Sand the affected area with 320-grit sandpaper.  
3. Prepare the area using a damp e-cloth followed by a dry one. 
4. Thoroughly mix the paint.  
5. Apply a thin layer of paint using a small artist’s brush or a full brush for a larger mark.  
6. Allow to dry before applying a second coat.  
7. Apply further coats if necessary.  

For chips and dents  

If the paintwork is chipped, use wood filler once you have sanded the area. Once filled, be sure to sand again after to restore an even surface. Then, follow the same steps listed above.  

Oak furniture

Our IsoGuard® finish  

IsoGuard® is our revolutionary timber protection treatment. We developed the unique formula to provide robust, durable protection without masking the timber’s natural qualities. The oil-based finish achieves this by bonding with the wood at a cellular level, penetrating underneath the surface rather than sitting on top of it. All our unpainted timber furniture, indoor and outdoor, comes protected with IsoGuard®.  

IsoGuard® care 

Visit the timber treatment section of our website to shop care products.

Everyday upkeep  

IsoGuard® is designed to repel water and other spillages, but it will only do so for around four hours. Be sure to wipe up surface liquid as soon as possible to avoid leaving a stain.  

Simply dust our oak furniture with a dry e-cloth and remove marks with a damp one as needed. For a deeper clean, our Surface Soap is specially designed to care for the IsoGuard® finish. Avoid using standard furniture cleaners and polishes as these may harm the finish.  

Targeted care  

When stains and marks do occur, we have a range of specialist cleaning products designed to restore the appearance of your oak furniture.  

Tannin Spot Remover  

Tannin marks occur when damp metals or ceramics interact with timber, leaving behind a black mark. This could be caused by anything from a mug to a flower pot. Our Spot Remover lifts the stain from the surface, leaving the oak as good as new.  

IsoGuard® Care Kit  

This care kit contains a concentrated version of our surface soap (dilute before use), and targeted cleaners for removing grease and water marks. We’ve also included a microfibre e-cloth for applying them. We stock interior and exterior versions of this kit.  

IsoGuard® maintenance 

The IsoGuard® finish on your oak piece won’t necessarily ever need refreshing. However, well-loved furniture may start to wear in places over time. In these cases, we’d recommend refreshing the finish every couple of years.  

Our oak furniture comes in a choice of different finishes, so when purchasing our Treatment Oil make sure you select the same shade.  

Applying IsoGuard®:  

1. Sand the surface of the furniture all over. We suggest using 150-180 grit sandpaper. 
2. Use a sanding pad to rub the oil into the wood grain in all directions.  
3. Finish by rubbing in the direction of the grain.  
4. Leave the oil on the wood for 5-10 minutes.  
5. Remove the excess oil using a clean e-cloth.  
6. The furniture will be completely dry and ready for use after 24 hours, but it won’t be fully cured for two weeks.  

To note: IsoGuard® oils are potentially flammable, so place used cloths and pads in water straight after use before disposing of them.  

Eco Refresh Spray  

To prolong the life of the IsoGuard® finish and keep it looking its best, we recommend using our Eco Refresh Spray every 3-6 months. This product acts as a moisturiser, keeping the timber nourished and preventing cracking over time. Simply apply with a microfibre e-cloth and leave to dry for one hour.  

Oak in the bathroom  

Due to the high grade of oak we source and the robust protection our IsoGuard® finish provides, our oak designs are perfectly safe for use in the bathroom.  

As well as following the above guidance, take extra care to dry up any spills as soon as possible to avoid the moisture seeping into the timber.  

Oak flooring  

We have two engineered oak flooring collections: Marton and Savernake. Marton is finished with IsoGuard® as well as a UV cured topcoat to protect against discolouration. Savernake has a four-step finishing process which involves brushing, smoking and staining the boards before applying a UV cured top coat. Both Marton and Savernake come in a choice of shades.  

Please note that, due to the nature of the material, variations in colour and grain are to be expected and the flooring will develop a natural patina over time.  

Keeping oak flooring clean:  

• Vacuum with a brush attachment or sweep regularly to remove loose grit and dirt.  
• Clean with our Surface Soap or another pH neutral cleaner.  
• Keep mats by outdoor entrances to prevent dirt being brought in.  
• When moving furniture, pick it up and carry it rather than dragging it across the floor where possible.  

Timber in the garden

Visit our garden care guide for information on caring for timber in an outdoor setting.