Product Care Tips

• A few simple habits protect every piece in your home, whatever it's made from. Direct sunlight is the quiet enemy of most materials, fading fabric, lightening timber unevenly and drying out leather over time, so where you can, position pieces away from unshaded windows or draw blinds during the brightest part of the day. Rotating a piece occasionally helps it age evenly rather than on one side. Furniture also sits most happily in a stable environment, so keep pieces away from radiators, ducted vents and open fires, which can dry materials and cause timber to crack or warp, and take care in rooms prone to damp or steam, as sudden swings in humidity have a similar effect.
• 
  Cushions settle with use, so turn and swap them regularly and plump fibre and feather fills to help them hold their shape. When moving furniture, always lift rather than drag, taking the weight from the solid frame rather than arms, backs or tabletops. And use felt pads beneath legs, lamps and accessories, with coasters and placemats to protect timber and stone from heat, moisture and ring marks. Small measures, but they make the difference over years of use.
  
  
  
  

Good fabric rewards a little care. Not obsessive care, just the kind of attention that keeps a well-made piece looking right for years longer than you might expect.

The everyday upkeep is light. Vacuum regularly with a soft brush attachment to lift dust before it works into the weave and dulls the colour, and plump and turn loose cushions as you go so the filling stays even and the wear spreads across the whole piece. Where you can, keep the piece out of direct sunlight, as strong light softens most colours over time and natural fibres feel it first.

Spills are best met quickly. Blot from the outside of the mark inwards with a clean dry cloth, and never rub, which pushes the spill deeper and disturbs the surface. For most marks a little lukewarm water is enough. We would steer you away from soaps and household cleaners unless the care label allows them. The care label is always the place to start, as methods differ from one fabric to the next, so test any cleaner on a hidden section first.

A little pilling in the early weeks is normal and not a fault. Loose fibres rise to the surface, most often on softer weaves, and lift away gently with a fabric comb or a fabric shaver, easing with each pass.

Some pieces ask for a little extra. Where covers are removable, follow the care label exactly and never tumble dry. Outdoor fabrics take the weather but last longer for a rinse of clean water, a full dry before storing, and shelter over the cooler months. For a stubborn stain, a delicate fabric, or anything you would rather not risk, a professional upholstery cleaner is always the safer choice.

Stone is a natural material, and no two pieces are alike. Its veining, tone and surface are part of its character, formed over time and meant to be lived with. A little regular care keeps it looking its best, and helps guard against staining and wear.

The everyday upkeep is simple. Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and dry it straight away, and for more than dust reach for a little warm water with a pH-neutral cleaner made for stone. We would steer you away from acidic cleaners, vinegar, lemon and anything abrasive, along with general household sprays, as these etch and dull the surface over time.

Spills are best met quickly. Stone is porous and draws in liquid, so wine, oil, coffee and citrus can mark it if left to sit. Blot rather than wipe, which only spreads the spill, and use coasters and mats under glasses, bottles and hot dishes to spare the surface in the first place.

Most stone is sealed to resist staining, and the seal wears with use. To check it, drip a little water on the surface: if it beads, the seal is sound, and if it soaks in and darkens, it is time to reseal. Resealing about once a year keeps everyday stone well protected.

Some marks need a gentler eye. Etching shows as dull spots where something acidic has touched the surface, a change to the stone itself rather than a stain, and it is most visible on polished finishes. For stubborn etching or a piece you would rather not risk, a stone specialist is always the safer choice.

Timber is a living material, and no two pieces are alike. Its grain, tone and the way it warms with age are part of its character, drawn from the tree it was cut from and meant to be lived with. A little regular care keeps it looking its best, and helps guard against drying, marking and wear.

The everyday upkeep is simple. Dust with a soft, dry cloth, following the grain, and wipe away spots with a barely damp cloth before drying straight after. We would steer you away from all-purpose sprays, polishes and anything abrasive, which can cloud or strip the finish over time, and from leaving the surface wet, as standing moisture is what timber likes least.

Spills are best met quickly. Timber takes in liquid, so water, wine and oil can leave a mark or a ring if left to sit. Blot rather than wipe, and use coasters and mats under glasses, bottles and hot dishes to spare the surface in the first place.

Timber also responds to its surroundings. It expands and contracts a little with changes in warmth and humidity, so keep pieces out of direct sunlight and clear of radiators, heating vents and damp, all of which can fade the tone or open small movements in the grain. These shifts are natural and settle as the timber finds its place in your home.

Some finishes ask for a little extra. An oiled surface can be refreshed now and then with a suitable furniture oil to feed the timber and even the tone, while lacquered and waxed finishes need only gentle cleaning. Check which finish your piece carries before you treat it, and for a deep scratch, a water mark or a piece you would rather not risk, a furniture specialist is always the safer choice.