Aftercare; caring for your bespoke furniture
Your relationship with Kevin Hallsworth does not end with the buying process and Kevin hopes you will enjoy many years of use with your carefully chosen design and with care any piece of furniture from Kevin should become an heirloom to treasure.
Please read below for some hints and tips of how you can ensure enjoying the best from our furniture designs.
Home furnishings are largely a matter of personal taste and bespoke, or custom-made, furniture is one way in which you as a homeowner or high end commercial property owner can express yourself as well, of course, as working around the more awkward areas of your home or commercial premises.
Bespoke cupboards, cabinets, tables and other items are not limited to the standard sizes of mass produced furniture and those choosing bespoke furniture can also choose the materials, colour, functionality and ergonomics of a piece to suit their individual needs and the look they wish to create.
Customers are really only limited by the bounds of their imagination, or that of a professional furniture designer such as Kevin Hallsworth with whom they work. Furthermore, because bespoke furniture pieces are created individually, by craftsmen, rather than by machine, they are typically designed to be more robust and better fitting to your individual situation.
Many still consider bespoke furniture to mean furniture that incorporates traditional, handcrafted cabinetry and finishes that with time acquires a patina, or sheen, produced by age and use. This can now more likely include contemporary furniture designs as seen on this website which incorporate modern elements of texture and colour as well as modern finishes such as water bourne laquers or natural oils.
Superior quality wood and materials as found in our furniture designs can usually be maintained in good order by the application of a good quality wax, in paste, rather than aerosol form,once every few months. A small amount of wax should be applied with a soft lint free cloth using a circular motion, but care should be taken not to apply too much wax as an accumulation can dull the surface of the wood and attract dust and dirt. Once the wax is dry, it can be buffed with a clean lint free cloth to once again reveal the original colour and grain of the wood.
Oil based finishes are relatively tough, are residitant to most chemicals , and usually need only a furhter light application of oil such as Danish oil with a lint free cloth to bring back it's original sheen
Between applications, the surface of the wood can be cared for simply by dusting with a clean, soft cloth on a regular basis. Orange Oil can applied if more thorough cleaning and polishing is required, but cleaners, including aerosol cleaners, that contain silicon oil and other agents that are potentially harmful to wood should be avoided.
Of course, you should take care not to drop or slide objects, such as vases, crockery onto or across a polished wooden surface for fear of scratching the surface. Spills of water and other liquids should be cleaned up immediately. Products are available for the removal of light scratches and light water marks, but deeper scratches and any more serious damage may require professional attention.
Glass table tops,although remaining relatively tough with their furniture grade toughened glass should be treated with care so as to avoid scratches and accidental breakage. Abrasive cleaners should be avoided here at all costs and a quick wipe with a damp cloth or with proprietry glass cleaner on a soft cloth is usually all that is necessary to maintain their original shine.
Many furniture restorers will happily provide quotations for insurance work, should your bespoke furniture require repair or restoration following transit damage, water damage caused not only by burst pipes and floods, but also something as simple as over watering plants - burns, scratches, etc.
Upholstery and covers should have light marks removed with a damp cloth and for any serious staining you should seek proffessional advice before tackling this job.
If you do have a valuable piece, or pieces, of bespoke furniture, remember it is well worth checking your home insurance policy to make sure that you have adequate cover, including for accidental damage.
Remember contact with Kevin Hallsworth does not end with the commissioning or buying process and Kevin is always ready to offer advice on aftercare of your chosen design, whatever your furniture problem and is he only one click away...