Materials

Chosen by hand, board by board.

Eight materials, selected for how they behave in twenty years rather than how they photograph today.

The Palette

Nothing here is chosen for cost.

Each material earns its place by ageing well. Below: character, why we use it, how it changes and how to care for it.

Deep chocolate heartwood with violet undertones and a long, calm grain.

Why we choose it: It is the most forgiving timber to live with — warm in low light, quietly formal in daylight.
How it ages: Lightens gently over decades, the contrast between grain and ground softening into honey.
Maintenance: Dust with a dry cloth; re-oil lightly once a year on working surfaces.

Open, upright grain with visible medullary rays when quarter-sawn.

Why we choose it: Structurally generous and honest. It takes a hand-planed edge better than almost anything.
How it ages: Darkens to amber and hardens with use; small marks become part of the surface.
Maintenance: Blot spills quickly. A soap finish can be refreshed with warm water.

Pale, bright and elastic, with a straight, athletic grain.

Why we choose it: We use it where a piece must feel light in the room without feeling slight.
How it ages: Warms towards cream and gold; the grain gains definition rather than losing it.
Maintenance: Keep out of direct afternoon sun to slow uneven colouring.

Golden brown, naturally oily, with a faint leather scent when freshly cut.

Why we choose it: Its own oils make it the only timber we trust fully outdoors.
How it ages: Silvers into a soft grey patina outdoors — many clients prefer it to the original tone.
Maintenance: Leave it be, or oil annually to hold the gold.

Full-grain, vegetable-tanned hides with the original surface intact.

Why we choose it: Corrected leather looks new for two years. Full-grain looks better for twenty.
How it ages: Develops a patina at the points of contact — the record of how a chair was used.
Maintenance: Wipe with a dry cloth; condition sparingly every twelve to eighteen months.

Cool, veined stone cut to reveal the movement across a single slab.

Why we choose it: One material in a room should be older than everything else in it.
How it ages: Etches and softens at the edges, gaining the matte sheen of a used surface.
Maintenance: Seal on installation; use coasters for citrus, wine and oil.

Solid, hand-brushed brass — pulls, inlays, feet and fine detailing.

Why we choose it: It is the one warm metal that belongs beside walnut without competing with it.
How it ages: Oxidises to a darker, quieter tone; handled edges stay bright.
Maintenance: Leave to patina, or polish occasionally to return the shine.

Heavy-weight, loosely woven flax in undyed and slow-dyed tones.

Why we choose it: It breathes, it drapes honestly, and it never looks synthetic in natural light.
How it ages: Softens with every wash and settles into a relaxed, lived-in fall.
Maintenance: Rotate cushions; professional clean for loose covers.

By Appointment

Every remarkable home deserves furniture with a story.