Wardrobes are generally the key piece of furniture in any bedroom as they often dominate the room. Other furniture is often covered or concealed by ornaments, photographs and day to day products like jewelery boxes and makeup. The wardrobe is usually the most clearly visible piece of furniture so the look and style of it can influence your whole room. Fashion can change over the years but the wardrobe in your house can stand the test of time. A wardrobe will last as long as you want it to, this depends on how much you are prepared to spend. If you invest in good quality furniture you will not be disappointed and it will serve you well for years to come. Alternatively many people spend less on furniture so they can update to keep up with the latest fashions. Our customers have invariably tried the cheaper route and found that the cheaper quality products let them down due to bad construction and finishes that do not stand the test of time so they look to us for an alternative which is unique and practical.
Our particular style of antique wardrobes are original and usually between eighty and one hundred years old. Each one being unique as we rarely get two the same apart from a few pairs that have come in over the years. The wardrobes are all pine as we don't deal in any other type of wood. All the wardrobes have been hot caustic stripped to remove years of old paint and kill any wood worm. When all all the paint or varnish has been removed we can see what sort of repairs are required, hopefully not too many, as we try to keep all the original features where possible. Normally the first job is to replace the feet with new ones in a style and shape that matches the wardrobe, a victorian bun is a good choice. The feet have a dowel so you have to drill a hole in the base to fit them, they can be glued in but if you have a good fit, leave the glue then you can remove them later. I have to change the top cornice sometimes as they get damaged over the years, plus any splits in the panels are glued and clamped. Check the drawer runners for wear and replace them if necessary. The wardrobe can be sanded down now if there are no other major repairs and stained down with a water based stain to blend in the repairs ready for waxing. Locks and keys are also repaired and replaced.
Our wardrobe collection are mainly of a breakdown type with one, two or three doors. The construction is normally fitted together by tongue and groove joints on all the larger parts and dowels on the rest, this allows the wardrobe to be completely disassembled and easily reassembled in your home. The joints are held together tightly by a wooden or metal taper on the inside on all four corners which gives a good solid construction.
We endeavour to find the best quality pieces with good lines and age but also good solid craftsmanship when they were fist made, so you get furniture that will keep its value and stand the test of time
