THE FURNITURE 411

Finding Your Favorite Furniture

The necessity of furniture is one that’s stood the test of time. Since the beginning of man we’ve needed support of all kinds, including things to sit on, things to eat on, things to lie on. Pieces to gather around, pieces to rest our feet upon, pieces to pass down through generations. The obvious truth is that furniture is all around us and truly isn’t going anywhere. As styles and tastes of furniture shift and change, one thing remains the same: the vital presence of comfort, quality and function.

With so many brands coming out of the woodwork, it’s important to be able to decipher what to look for in a long-lasting, high quality piece of furniture that you can rely on for a lifetime or longer.

Enrico Bartolini strives to work with supreme materials paired with first-class workmanship to create one-of-a-kind pieces that are both aesthetically relevant and strikingly timeless. Being able to identify the standards of these materials and methods are imperative when it comes to choosing the perfect piece of “forever furniture.”

On this page, we will help you navigate through the many details and qualities that are imperative to be informed of when shopping for furniture. We hope you find this helpful in your quest to find the perfect piece and we welcome any additional questions or comments you may have. Simply contact us here.

 

Damage Control

It is of the utmost importance that your furniture (amongst other things in your home) be held to a high safety standard. In order to avoid any additional hazards in your home, it’s important that your furniture’s materials be made with fire retardant ingredients. For instance, Enrico Bartolini uses multi-layer fire retardant urethane foam in his chairs and chaise lounges. This cuts down on the easily avoidable hazards that may be brought into your home.

 

Materials

Wood

  • Live Edge in a variety of species
  • Tiger Maple
  • Solid Maple
  • American Walnut
  • American Hardwoods
  • Solid Oak
  • Mushroom Wood
  • Burl
  • Multi-Layer Hardwood Plywood
  • Bendable Plywood

 

Metals

  • Hand-Ground, Engine Turned Steel
  • Hand Machined, Polished Aluminum
  • Premium Cast Iron

 

Upholstery

  • Hand-Sewn, Double Stitched
  • Durable Blends of Cotton, Polyester, Rayon
  • Performance Fabrics
  • Italian Full Grain Chrome Tanned and Veg Tanned Leathers
  • American Veg Tanned Leathers
  • Soft Chrome Tanned Garment Leathers
  • Cruelty-Free Sheepskins
  • Cruelty-Free Hair on Hides
  • Faux Furs

 

Stains & Dyes

  • Hand Rubbed Italian Dyes in Multiple Colors
  • Italian Topcoat
  • Premium Quality Stains

 

Mathematics in Design

  • Angled Ergonomic Balance
  • Sinuous Springs Suspension
  • Premium Webbing for Ergonomic Seating

 

Proper Care & Protection

When positioning your hand-crafted wood and leather furniture, be sure to protect it from direct sunlight, heat sources (fireplaces, radiators and heating vents). The sun's UV rays can darken the original stain, fade fabric or darken the leather upholstery.

Be sure to dust first, then protect your wood pieces by using a soft microfiber cloth and lemon oil polish. Apply the lemon oil polish to the cloth, not directly onto the wood. Polish and buff in the same direction as the wood grain and be sure not to leave any heavy oil residue on the wood piece. For any spills on a wood surface, immediately wipe the surface with a clean, dry cotton cloth and reapply a coat of lemon oil polish. 

What to Avoid:

  • Rubber, cork, vinyl or plastic products can damage some finishes. Avoid placing these materials directly on a wooden surface. Use a protective layer of fabric between the object and the finish.
  • Use caution when placing electronics with rubber or plastic cases or foot pads directly on a finished surface. Prolonged use without protecting the finish may damage your fine furniture.
  • Avoid placing vinyl or cork placemats, coasters or tablecloths directly on a wood surface. To prevent damage, use a protective layer (cotton, linen or felt cloth) between the object and the finish.
  • Use caution when placing items that radiate continuous heat on fine wood furniture. For example, some computers or stereos can raise the surface temperature by up to 20 degrees. Prolonged use without protecting the finish may damage your furniture.
  • Position fine wood furniture away from heating vents, fireplaces, radiators or direct sunlight. Extreme heat or cold should always be avoided. In a natural state, wood contains a surprising amount of moisture. Maintaining appropriate moisture levels in your home is key to preserving your fine furniture.
  • Your fine furniture should not be stored where temperature and humidity levels vary widely from season to season, day and night.

Use protective padding under these items to avoid damaging the finish.

For any spills on a wood surface, immediately wipe the surface with a clean, dry cotton cloth and reapply a coat of lemon oil polish.

WARNING: Liquids containing alcohol and solvents will damage the finish; Especially finger nail polish remover, hairspray, and perfume. If a spill occurs onto the fabric or leather upholstery, quickly soak up the area with a soft cotton cloth and then have it professionally cleaned. Do not use household cleaners. All metal pieces should be cleaned with a soft Micro Fiber Cloth.

 

Live Edge Care

Live Edge wood is admired for its natural beauty. Since organic live edge is in its natural state, it is important to learn how to properly care for the wood and understand the normal characteristics that develop over time.

Our Pennsylvania-based supplier carefully dries the slabs for over one year and expertly kiln-dries them for at least six weeks. This process leaves the slab with the correct amount of moisture and prepares it to be transformed into that your piece.

Our live-edge pieces are finished with Italian dyes and a multi-layered, pre-catalyzed lacquer to ensure the surface is hard, protected and durable.

To keep your live-edge furniture water- and stain-proof, we recommend gently polishing it with a microfiber cloth and a small amount of lemon oil polish, applied to the cloth, once a week for the first four weeks and then at least once a month after that. Polishing will help reduce, as well as seal, any minor scratches.

Be careful not to allow the oil to build up in the wood's natural gaps, ridges, and crannies. Over time, the buildup of oil will make your live edge piece appear dirty.

(Your treated furniture will not stain easily; however, spills and stains will eventually harm the furniture if left too long. Immediately wipe up any accidental spills and remember to use coasters and placemats.)

Your live edge is solid, natural wood and will have a fair amount of movement during its lifetime. It is normal to see dips, curves, and seasonal checks over time. Any epoxy or resin seams may lift or separate slightly. Again, this is normal and contributes to its character and uniqueness.

Solid wood will respond to the temperature and moisture content of the air in its surroundings each season. It is VERY IMPORTANT to avoid placing your furniture near heating or cooling sources. The ideal humidity levels in the home should fall between 45% to 60%. Using humidifiers or dehumidifiers will help maintain these levels. Heavy separation, warping, or shifting may occur if the heat and humidity are not maintained.

Our organic live-edge furniture pieces are made to last, and with a little attention, love, and respect, the piece will be treasured for generations.

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