Furniture Care

Hand Crafted Solid Mahogany Wood Furniture Care

Thank you for choosing us for your purchase!

We trust you'll relish your furniture piece as much as we took pleasure in crafting it just for you. A common query from many of our customers is whether these meticulously hand-carved pieces can last through the ages. The answer is a resounding yes, provided they're cared for appropriately. Here are some guidelines to ensure your furniture brings joy for many years to come.

The Unique Elegance of Wood

Wood naturally adapts its moisture content to match the humidity of its surroundings. This means wood is always changing dimensionally. When it takes in moisture, wood expands (leading to issues like sticky drawers), and when it loses moisture, it contracts, which can result in cracks or splits. Therefore, maintaining a consistent humidity level is crucial, especially for solid wood furniture, throughout the year.

"Preserve the Beauty and Value of Your Furniture"

Sunlight and Moisture Protection

To maintain the longevity and appearance of your furniture, it's crucial to keep it away from direct sunlight, which can fade its color, and damp areas, which can cause warping or mold growth.

Vents and Furniture Positioning

Positioning furniture away from heating and air conditioning vents helps prevent drying, warping, or other potential damage caused by sudden temperature changes.

Avoid Extreme Heat and Humidity

Please do not place the furniture close to any fireplace, air conditioning, or heater where the humidity is much lower; our mahogany wood comes from a climate with high humidity levels. While our furniture is treated and kiln dried twice to 8-12% MC, any extreme changes in climate/humidity levels may increase the risks of the wood reacting if it is not cared for properly.

Window Considerations

Placing furniture directly beneath windows can expose it to sunlight and weather changes. This can lead to discoloration and material degradation over time.

Protective Measures for Writing on flat surfaces

When writing or drawing on furniture surfaces, always use a protective pad. This prevents potential scratches, indentations, or ink stains.

Polishing Recommendations

Regularly polishing your furniture, ideally every four to six months, not only enhances its shine but also provides a protective layer against everyday wear and tear.

Selecting the Right Polishes

Always use premium quality natural cream or paste waxes (preferably beeswax) and/or spray polishes to care for your furniture. Stay away from polishes or furniture care products that contain harmful chemicals like silicon or water. Silicon and water will harm the finish over time and gradually seep into the wood leaving a white film or haze. It is important to note that most polishes sold today contain silicon and/or water, so it is best to use products like Aristowax wood silk polish, Antiquax, Liberon or Jacpol cleaners, polishes and waxes to care for your new solid wood furniture investment. You can also purchase Scott’s Liquid Gold furniture polish from most grocery store chains, home depot or Lowes.

Plastic Items Warning

Certain plastics release chemicals that can harm furniture finishes. To preserve the integrity and look of your furniture, it's best to avoid placing plastic items directly on it.

Immediate Spill Response

Spills can damage the finish of your furniture, leading to unsightly marks. It's essential to clean up any spills immediately, especially water, to prevent white spots or rings.

Accessory Rotation

To ensure even wear and prevent discoloration, it's a good practice to periodically move and rearrange accessories or decorative items placed on your furniture.

Scratch Prevention

Protective layers, such as felt, cloth, or leather, can act as a barrier between your furniture and potentially sharp or rough objects, helping to prevent unsightly scratches.

Object Handling on Furniture

Dragging objects can lead to deep scratches or gouges in your furniture. Always ensure to lift and move items gently to maintain the surface quality.

Use Coasters for Beverages

For daily maintenance, coasters are recommended to protect surface finishes from hot or cold beverages, preventing moisture rings and heat damage.

Furniture Handling and Placement

When relocating furniture, it is crucial to do so with care to avoid any potential damage. Opt for manual handling with adequate support and use furniture sliders to facilitate movement, ensuring the preservation of your furniture's finish and structure.

Cleaning and Dusting Recommendations

Regularly dust using a clean, dry, lint-free cloth. For deeper cleaning, dampen a soft cloth with a mild detergent solution and warm water. After cleaning, dry completely with a clean cloth and then apply furniture polish, following the direction of the wood grain. Stay away from polishes and other care products that contain harmful chemicals like silicone and water that will seep deep into the finish and wood resulting in a white haze. Please contact us if you would like us to recommend some products.

Safe Cleaning Practices

Please do not use strong harmful chemicals when cleaning or polishing the furniture - Please apply small amounts in a hidden area first before applying to all surfaces. Please make sure the furniture care product that you use is suitable for the finish of the furniture, whether wax, painted, lacquer, or Polyurethane. Always apply cleaners/polishes with soft clothes. Always use premium quality natural waxes and polishes.

Careful Movement and Unpacking

When moving your furniture, always handle gently with care. Do not drag your furniture – use furniture sliders. Stay away from forklifts as we recommend manual handling by people.

Please open the packaging gently, when using any blade or knife. Be careful not to scratch the furniture.

Understanding Wood Finishes

Wood finishes naturally evolve in appearance with use. Minor variations in the appearance or the alignment of joints and seams are due to the natural expansion and contraction of wood as it adjusts to environmental changes.

Caring for Gold or Silver Leaf Finish

Our gold and silver leaf finish is a multi-step, hand-applied process. The Gold/Silver Leaf sheets are tissue paper thin foil squares made of a variety of metals, mostly copper and zinc. Gold/Silver Leafing is a skilled, time consuming and expensive manufacturing process. Consumer care is simple dusting or a cloth dampened with water and then dried with a clean cloth. Do not use aerosol cleaners or oils on Silver Leaf.

Leather Maintenance

Clean the surface with damp cloth and mild soap. Avoid placing a hot material directly on top of the leather. Do not use abrasive and corrosive material on the leather as they may damage the surface.

Caring for Fabric and Upholstery

The fabric that we use is not waterproof, so please only use water-free dry-cleaning solvents to clean your upholstered furniture. To prevent overall soiling, please vacuum the product regularly. Do not leave a spilled liquid for too long on the fabric, clean it immediately to avoid further damage.

Maintaining Granite and Marble Parts

The marble and granite that we use are natural stone, which is very delicate and must be cleaned with neutral and gentle cleaners. Do not use any kind of acid to clean the surface as it may damage the surface permanently. Some marbles are very porous, and may absorb liquid spills. If this happens, wipe it dry as soon as possible using dry clean clothes. The best way to clean the marble or granite is using warm water with very mild soap.