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 you may bring into your home.
Plywood
- Steam-molded
- Multi-layer hardwood plywood
- Bendable plywood from Italy
Metals
- Hand-ground, engine turned steel for that Classic Mid Century look / style
- Hand polished aluminum hand machined high grade aluminum
Upholstery
- Hand-sewn double stitched
- Woven blends Mongolian faux fur
- Durable blends of cotton, polyester and rayon, 100% silk
Leather
- Saddle leather Made in The USA
- Top Grain Upholstery Leather Imported from Italy
- Embossed Italian Leather
Wood
Finest woods:
- Burl wood
- Live edge wood
- Tiger maple
- American walnut
- Solid pine
- Solid maple
- Oak (white & red)
- Authentic old world wide plank pine
- Exposed woods
- Steam bent wood
- Amish Steam bent solid wood in different species
Cruelty-Free Wool
- Icelandic Long Hair Fur 6 to 9 inches long environmentally harvested
- European Sheepskin
Stains & Dyes
- Hand rubbed Italian dyes in multiple colors
- Antique honey dye
- Black Italian dye
Mathematics in Design
- Angled for ergonomic balance
- Sinuous springs suspension
- Premium Webbing for Ergonomic Seating
Quality Antique Materials
- a Rare 2000 year old fossilized walrus ivory sled runner carved into drawer knob
- Burl wood cut from the trunk of a 150 year old white oak tree
- Japanese cherry leaves that have been rusted and preserved during an intense, week long process
- Repurposed cast iron
- Natural wood distressing including wormholes & trails, seasonal splits and old age cracks
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.
Proper Care and Protection
When positioning your hand-crafted wood furniture item, be sure to protect it from direct sunlight. The UV rays of the sun are very strong and can darken the original stain/color of the wood and also fade the fabric or darken the leather upholstery. Leather furniture is very sensitive to heat and sun damage. Position it away from windows, and from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators and central heating vents. Be sure to dust first, and then protect your wood pieces by using a soft cotton cloth and lemon oil polish. Apply the lemon oil polish to the cloth, not directly onto the wood. Polish in the same direction as the wood grain, not across or in circles, and do not leave any heavy oil residue on the wood piece when finished. Do not over polish.
Rubber, cork, vinyl or plastic products can damage some finishes. Use caution when placing telephones, cell phones, clocks and electronics on a finished surface, as most have rubber or plastic cases or footpads which can react with a lacquer finish. 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 protective padding under these items to avoid damaging 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.
Avoid heat and light. In a natural state, wood contains a surprising amount of moisture. Preserving appropriate moisture levels is key to the preservation of fine furniture. Accordingly, position fine wood furniture away from heating vents, fireplaces or radiators. Don’t store fine furniture in attics, where temperature and humidity levels vary widely from summer to winter, day and night. Avoid placing furniture in areas where it will sit in direct sunlight, which can fade fine furniture; use drapes, sheers or protective window films to guard against the sun’s rays. Exposure to moisture, dry air (keep away from the direct air flow of heat vents) direct sunlight, extreme heat or cold should always be avoided. 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.
