Our range is well constructed and designed to last. Through the life of any piece of furniture, some amount of wear and tear is unavoidable. We like to think that this adds character and tells the story of how your furniture was tied in with your own.

When moving your furniture, please ensure you always lift it rather than dragging the item, as otherwise you may break or scratch the legs. Do not stand on your furniture (tell the kids we said no!), and only sit on chairs and stools.

We are pleased that you have chosen quality furniture from the IconByDesign range, and wish you many years of enjoyment from each piece.

Wood

Our sustainably-sourced solid American oak and walnut is robust and provides structural strength to your furniture. We treat each piece with clear satin lacquer to provide a subtle sheen and enhance the natural attributes. One of the beautiful aspects of the naturally-sourced wood used in each piece is that it will vary in tone and grain. This gives each item a unique characteristic.

As soon as you have unpacked your furniture - and at 3 or 4 month intervals afterward - we recommend you treat your furniture to a quality polish. If you do, you’ll maintain the lustre of the finish for the long term, and the furniture will benefit from the layer of protection. Before applying the polish, give the furniture a once-over with a duster so that you’re not rubbing dust or dirt into the surface.

Regular dusting with a soft (preferably microfibre) cloth will keep your furniture’s sheen looking good, and help prevent fine scratches from accumulating.

For any product you intend to use in cleaning your wooden furniture, please ensure it’s a timber-safe cleaning agent. Your furniture’s finish will maintain its colour and thank you for keeping harsh chemicals or cleaners away.

Coasters, placemats and tablecloths should be used when dining so that you protect your furniture - when everyone’s finished enjoying their meal, wipe underneath coasters and placemats to make sure no spills seeped underneath.

It’s important that if a spill should occur, you blot it up immediately with a soft, slightly damp (not wet) cloth. After the spill is cleaned, dry the area thoroughly to avoid staining. We’re sure you prefer your stories to be shared word-of-mouth rather than recorded in the actual furniture itself!

We recommend that you do not place hot serving dishes or plates, coffee or tea cups or cold beverages directly onto the surface of your furniture. Cold beverages can ‘sweat’, leaving a ring or mark on the surface, and heat can damage and mark the lacquer.

Keep your timber furniture protected from direct sunlight to avoid fading, and place it well away from heating or air conditioning vents so that it doesn’t dry out.

The beauty of natural timber is that, even though we put it through a manufacturing process, it is organic and will continue to behave that way. Timber can move; it can develop cracks or imperfections. The colour may be irregular and the piece may shrink or expand. This is normal and to be appreciated as part of living with natural materials.

To reduce the likelihood of issues or irregularities with your products, please consider reducing the exposure of your product to extreme levels of, or sudden changes in temperature, humidity, sunlight exposure, or other environmental factors.

Fabric

It is important that when you first receive your sofa or chairs, you apply a fabric protection spray to the upholstery to help prevent staining. These products are designed to repel liquid and so will contribute to longer-lasting enjoyment of your furniture. However, always spot test the fabric protection product in a small area to make sure it does not cause discolouration.

If liquid is spilled on the upholstery please blot it with a soft, lightly-damp cloth. Do not use a wet cloth and do not rub the spill - if you do it is likely to push the liquid deep into the fabric, and that will increase the possibility of staining.

As part of your regular housekeeping, give the upholstery a gentle vacuum.

It’s best if you keep your furniture away from direct sunlight to prevent the fabric fading. And should you need to give the fabric a clean, avoid harsh cleaning agents or chemicals.

One more thing to consider is that when your furniture is made, the fabric is freshly manufactured. It sometimes contains stray fibres or threads within the weave - as you begin to use your furniture these fibres can become bunched together. We call them “pills”. It’s entirely normal and, if you use a pill remover, the instances of pills should lessen over time.

Leather

Leather is a classic and durable option for upholstery, so naturally we use top grain leathers for their softness, handsome appearance and longevity. As soon as your furniture is settled into your home, we recommend you apply a protection cream so that you help prevent staining, and keep the material supple. Because many protection creams moisturise the leather, the material will have more chance of not drying or wearing out prematurely. It’s a good idea to re-apply the protective cream to the leather every 3-4 months.

Giving the leather a regular dusting with a soft, lightly-damp cloth will help keep the material at its best. Also, make sure you attend to spills as soon as possible so that liquids have less chance of being absorbed into the material, and less chance of staining your furniture.

Should you need a cleaning product, please use one that is specifically designed for leather so that it is gentle on the material.

One thing we should highlight - please do not use products on your upholstery, such as shoe polishes, that are designed for leather shoes. Not only are they likely to stain your clothes (and nobody has time for extra stain removal in the laundry) but there is a strong possibility they will discolour your upholstery.