Finishes Available

The choice of finishes at I & JL Brown is second to none. The following are a guide only to the colour finishes that are available on the choice of 3 standard woods from I & JL Brown.

Important please note: These colours are a guide only and are not intended to be used as an exact colour match. Detailed colour examples can be supplied on request.

Other timbers available by quotation. Important please note: These colours are a guide only and are not intended to be used as an exact colour match. Detailed colour examples can be supplied on request.

• The appearance of standard colours may vary due to the natural grain of timbers
• When ordering clearly state colour name and code number
• If critical colour matching to previous purchases from our standard range is required please supply your sample
• Colour phasing is standard
• Items are given an antique appearance unless specified otherwise
• Timber appearance will vary from board to board and and it is very apparent with light colours. Grain, texture and colour can be matched and variation in this natural product is 'no fault'

Distressing: A unique art
A number of items affect the appearance of a piece of furniture. One of those is the level of distress that is applied to the overall finish of the piece. Distressing is a process which seeks to emulate the passing of time and the history of the item. There are 4 different levels of

Light Distressing
Little more than softening with a limited number of light usage marks (normally on semi-formal items only).

Medium Distressing
Normal usage marks on items in daily use in a country farmhouse home for 200 years Some physical damage and indentations, insufficient to affect practical use.

Heavy Distressing
A much harder used item over a 200 year plus period. Physical wear areas to edges with more pronounced indentation.

Savaged
Severe damage as in heavy distressing but all marks are significantly enhanced and increased particularly defiles and intrusions. There will be a small areas with sufficient distress to prevent small objects such as wine glasses standing evenly. (In Fauld's opinion the close grain nature of cherry wood does not lend itself to savaged distressing).

An adze was an early hand tool used in place of a plane to obtain a near even surface. However, the limitations of the tool, with its necessarily narrow blade, left an uneven finish which, with the passing of time, wears and softens. Certain items benefit from the hand adzed finish which I & JL Brown still perform. Our recommendations as to which products should receive this historical process are highlighted in the product specification. The process is expensive, laborious and highly dependent, as in ancient times, upon the individual craftsman's skill.

Where the item is marked as "Standard" we will supply an adzed finish, unless specified otherwise at the time of an original order. On some items we do not feel that adzing is necessary and accordingly marked as "Not recommended", but will add the finish if requested to do so. Items that incur an upcharge are marked as "Extra". For technical reasons, some items cannot be satisfactorily adzed and are marked "Not Available"

I & JL Brown has a long history in both furniture design and quality of manufacturing. Since being established the Company has gathered a great knowledge of traditional techniques and materials, some of which have been handed down through generations of craftsmen, father to son, master to apprentice. Close association with genuine antiques have also greatly aided the ability of the tradesmen to create the ambiance of the passage of time.

Maintenance in a domestic environment
The traditions of Country style furniture are to use materials which will withstand the normal rigors of domestic use. The passage of time will certainly add to the individuality of the furniture which is designed to withstand knocks during domestic usage in a caring situation but of course to show such individualisation without detracting from the functionality of the piece.

Temperature and humidity
Conditions which are comfortable for human beings are also normally comfortable for furniture. We would advise you not to place your furniture near to any source of heat or into direct sunlight. Excessively high or low humidity should be avoided. We specifically state that we are not producing a finish which is temperature resistant, as this would destroy the 'natural' appearance of the furniture. If you wish to put heated tablewear onto your furniture please use an insulated mat or coaster.

Liquid spills
The enhanced traditional finishes which we use do have some ingredients that give some resilience to many liquids. However, whatever the substance it should be mopped up as soon as possible and the surface wiped dry immediately. If the liquid leaves a mark the surface should be re-waxed to replenish the protection that the wax gives. Certain liquids are particularly penetrative and damaging and the more rapidly they are removed from the surface the more likely it is that there will be no marks left on the table. One of the benefits of using beeswax is that it will in the short term repel most liquids.

Everyday use
Normal good housekeeping of a wipe down of the table top after use with a dry cloth is normally sufficient. Only in extreme conditions would a very slightly moistened cloth be needed. Certainly the moistened cloth should not be used on a regular basis.

Waxing
According to regularity and severity of use your table (mainly the top - base less regularity) benefit from the use of a natural beeswax based application every 30/90 days. Avoid waxes containing silicon (it may affect the finish and character of the table and also fill the wood pores).

Wax (which is a beeswax based) should be applied in the following manner: Application Using a soft clean cloth apply wax sparingly in a circular motion. (If the situation is very warm 75'F plus (21'C) it may be beneficial to chill the wax in a domestic refrigerator for 12/24 hours before use. (TAKE CARE NOT TO CONTAMINATE FOOD OR ALLOW ACCESS BY CHILDREN.) The circular motion should be continued vigorously until the cloth starts to 'grip' on the waxed table top. Once the top is lightly covered with wax quickly 'stroke' the wax in the direction of the grain of the wood, allow to stand for 12/24 hours. Polish vigorously with a clean cloth until a shine appears. Finally using a new cloth buff slightly. NB Several thin coats of wax and polishing spread several days apart are more beneficial (and easier to apply) than one heavy application.

Marks
Light usage marks will largely be softened and clouded by the light colouring in most waxes. Harsh marks that destroyed the finish may be lightly coloured in by the use of a suitable wax crayon (in the absence of a more specialist colouring material) and then re-waxed several times in the general are to restore the surface.