Our tables are built with style in mind. While the bases are made from ‘new’ FSC certified wood our reclaimed tops are what makes them rustic.
You’ll find a variety of features which vary from table to table. These may be from their previous life or simply the natural grain and pattern in the wood. We enhance these features and will never send out a table we wouldn’t want ourselves. They are ‘imperfectly perfect’ and that’s the way we like them!
Reclaimed wood is not for everyone. It can be full of character which of course makes it unique but it is very different to high street furniture that is made to be uniform. Reclaimed wood can come with dents, scratches, minor splits, missing knots and uneven surfaces. We’ll always select planks that work well together to ensure a beautiful overall look.
Handmade items are exactly that, handmade. You won’t find factory grade precision in our work but you will find uniqueness, attention to detail and of course heaps of character! All the wood used is cut by hand and then built by hand as well. Painting and oiling? You guessed it, all done with our own fair hands.
We are an affordable and ethical choice for solid wood furniture that is handmade in the UK and not imported.
All our wood is carefully kiln dried to a humidity of 8-10% moisture, an industry standard level. We use only the best planks and reject timber that is unsuitable for furniture making.
In very dry or warm settings this moisture content percentage could decrease, leading to cracks/movement. This is usually over the winter when homes are warmer and dryer than normal due to central heating.
Wood is a natural and ‘live’ material and care must be taken to avoid fast changes in environment. We make our furniture with wood movement in mind; however we can’t take responsibility should the piece react to the heat and/or humidity of your own environment.
Underfloor heating, strong sunlight (such as in conservatories) or exceptionally warm homes can impact on the movement and also shrinkage of the wood. We advise you to avoid any heated room for the first 6 weeks while the wood settles to your environment and then slowly acclimatize it to your normal conditions.
We recommend avoiding the use of a PVC or waterproof tablecloth on your table as this will result in uneven moisture distribution and can result in warping and other issues.
Do not store your table or bench in a damp or cold space such as a garage or shed as this may lead to movement due to the moisture levels and temperature.
Our reclaimed wood COULD contain some of the following characterful traits:
- Dents and scratches that are original to the piece of timber.
- Small missing knots of wood – usually placed on the outside planks.
- Splits that do not interfere with the function of the piece. These can be present on arrival or can develop over time.
- Minor discolouration that is original to the piece of timber.
- Signs of old nails or staples within the wood (made completely smooth and do not interfere with the function).
- Unevenness to surfaces from the natural cupping of the timber. These planks are usually placed in the middle of tables to aid with cups and plates being able to sit flat. Sometimes it may be necessary to use a placemat.
- Minor gapping off up to several mm between planks at certain times of year if/when the wood shrinks.
- Wood is a live material and solid wood items even when kiln dried are liable to movement.
- Lips between planks where one may be slightly higher than the next. These usually develop over time and are part of normal movement.
- You may find that you need to pop a felt pad under a leg to rectify a wobble if slight movement occurs.
Straight leg tables and benches are often made with salvaged timber for the legs which may also feature rustic character and may not be completely smooth/flat when painted.
On occasion we will slightly sand one or two feet on a table or bench after it has been built to ensure the items sits flat. This is to compensate for slight unevenness from the reclaimed wood tops which can affect the table once the reclaimed materials are joined up with the new wood base.
The undersides of our products are lightly sanded but not as finely as the top. The underside central area between the table frame work is not oiled, only the outer edges up to the skirt.
The tabletop planks and table frame are joined using pocket hole screws but are not glued.
Our sizes are approximate and may vary by up to 5cm in length and 2cm per plank on the width.
Once oiled our tops take 2-3 weeks to fully cure. We recommend being slightly careful during this time so as not to scratch or mark the surface while the premium oils fully harden. Once cured the finish lasts 3-5 years with normal use.
Due to the nature of the wood used, the final finishes may vary from photos online or samples we send out, but we will always do our best a get a good match.
Our standard leg colors are colour matched to Farrow and Ball paint colours, if you are looking for true Farrow and Ball painted items then we recommend you select the ‘Custom Colour’ option available on the product page and state your Farrow and Ball colour in your order notes. Our team will then buy the paint for your item directly from Farrow and Ball.
We will not accept returns, make alterations, or offer refunds due to issues arising from the customer’s personal preference on wood grain, colour or any other character of the wood.
Our table specifications are standard for the handmade furniture industry.