Category: Living Room

When it comes to furnishing your home, nothing quite compares to the charm and character of bespoke, hand-crafted pine furniture. At Pine & Oak, we believe that every piece should tell a story – your story.

Whether you’re looking for bespoke office furniture, bespoke living room furniture or bespoke dining furniture, we’re here to make concept a reality.

In this blog, we discuss what is made to measure furniture, the benefits of bespoke furniture and ultimately, is it worth the investment?

What is bespoke furniture?

Bespoke furniture (Also named made to measure furniture) is exactly what it sounds like – furniture designed and built to a specific set of dimensions, materials and finish choices defined by you – you can tailor your furniture to fit your space, style and needs.

If your dining room is 20cm narrower than most standard dining tables allow for, or you have a hallway alcove at a width no off-the-shelf console table fills, our team will design and build a piece to those measurements in the wood species and finish of your choice. 

The benefits of choosing bespoke home furniture from Pine and Oak

• Get furniture perfectly fit for your home. No more squeezing standard sizes into non-standard spaces. Custom furniture is measured, designed, and built to fit your exact dimensions.
• Receive unmatched quality. Our craftsmen use sustainably sourced solid pine, selected for its grain, durability, and natural beauty. Each joint is carefully constructed to last generations.
• Experience unique character. Pine furniture develops a rich, warm patina over time. No two pieces are ever identical – yours will be truly one of a kind.
• Furniture is designed around you. You can choose your finish, hardware, storage configuration, and details. From traditional waxed pine to contemporary painted finishes, the choice is yours.

Bespoke oak furniture vs standard furniture

Standard furniture dimensions, configurations and finishes are chosen to appeal to the broadest possible audience. 

Whereas, choosing bespoke furniture allows you to choose what works for you. The dimensions, configuration and finish are chosen by you, and production is scheduled specifically for your order. The result is a piece that fits your space, serves your storage needs and works with your existing interior, rather than requiring your home to adapt around it.  

While ordering a piece made to measure furniture costs more than comparable standard pieces, the premium reflects the additional consultation time, design specification, individual production scheduling and the higher material usage that comes from cutting to customer dimensions rather than production-optimised standard sizes. For more complex configurations or pieces with specific requirements, the premium may be higher.  

What to consider when choosing made to measure wood furniture

Made to measure furniture does typically come with a longer lead time, typically four to ten weeks depending on the complexity of the piece and a higher cost per piece than a comparable off the shelf option. 

Non-standard room dimensions 

Many homes, particularly older properties, have rooms with dimensions that don’t conform to modern standard furniture sizing. Think of a kitchen diner in a Victorian terrace, a dining room in a period cottage or a bedroom in a converted loft, these spaces often have unusual widths or ceiling heights that make standard furniture look wrong or require difficult compromises. Made to measure resolves this issue by allowing you to choose the dimensions that fit your home. 

Alcoves and recessed spaces 

An alcove is almost never a standard size, whether it’s a fireplace recess, a space beside a chimney breast or an area under a staircase, the exact dimensions vary by property. A made to measure shelving unit, bookcase or storage solution fills an alcove completely.

Specific storage requirements 

Sometimes the issue isn’t the overall size of a piece but the internal configuration. You may need a wardrobe with a specific combination of hanging space, shelving and drawers that no standard wardrobe provides, or a sideboard with drawer depths that accommodate a particular collection. Made to measure allows the internal configuration to be specified precisely alongside the external dimensions.  

The Pine and Oak Furniture made to measure service

Our made to measure service is designed to be as clear and straightforward as the result it produces. The stages are: 

1. Initial consultation. You begin with a conversation with our team, either in person at our Midgham or Winchester showrooms, by phone or by email. Bring your room measurements, any photographs of the space and a clear sense of what you need the piece to do. 
2. Design and specification. Our team works with you to define the exact dimensions, material choice, finish and internal configuration. We provide a clear written specification and a detailed quotation before any work begins. 
3. Production. Your piece enters our production schedule and we’ll give you a realistic delivery window at the point of quotation and keep you informed throughout. 
4. Delivery. We’ll deliver your made to measure piece and advise on placement and any assembly requirements.

What can I order?

Our made to measure service covers a wide range of furniture categories across our core solid wood species and finishes. See what you can order below:

• Anything really!
• Wardrobes, including fitted solutions for non-standard alcoves and loft bedrooms
• Dining tables in custom widths, lengths and heights
• Sideboards and dining storage units 

• Bookcases and alcove shelving
• Desks and home office furniture 
• Hallway units, console tables and fitted boot room storage
• Bedroom storage including bedside units for non-standard bed heights or platform beds 

All oak furniture made to measure pieces are available in our full range of solid wood finishes including natural pine, Winchester Oak, Dorchester Oak and painted options. 

To find out more about our made to measure service and request your specific furniture needs, please do submit an enquiry and our friendly, helpful team will be in touch.

Frequently asked questions about made to measure furniture 

How long does made to measure furniture take to produce and deliver? 

Lead times at Pine & Oak Furniture typically range from 6 to 8 weeks depending on the complexity of the piece and current production schedules, however this could increase. We provide a specific lead time estimate when you confirm your order. If you have a deadline, tell us at the outset and we will advise honestly on whether it is achievable. 

Do I need to visit a showroom to order made to measure furniture? 

You do not need to visit in person, but for more complex projects we strongly recommend it. Seeing the materials and finishes in person gives you a much clearer sense of the likely outcome.

Visit our Midgham showroom in Berkshire, near Thatcham and Newbury, and our Winchester showroom in Hampshire to see our made to measure examples on display. 

Can I refund made to measure furniture?

Made to measure furniture is built specifically to your specification and dimensions, so it cannot be returned in the standard sense. We take considerable care during the design and specification stage to ensure the brief is accurate and fully agreed before production begins. 

Can I choose any wood or finish for a made to measure piece? 

Our made to measure service is available across our core wood species including pine and oak, and in all our standard finishes including painted options. If you have a specific requirement outside our standard range, please discuss it with our team at enquiry stage and we will advise clearly on what is possible. 

Whether you’ve invested in the timeless elegance of wooden furniture, embraced the cosiness of fabric pieces, or chosen the sophistication of leather seating, taking care of your furniture is essential to maintain its beauty and extend its lifespan.

At Pine & Oak Furniture, our wooden furniture boasts exquisite finishes, while our fabric and leather pieces offer both comfort and style. However, each type of furniture requires specific care to keep it looking its best over time. In this blog, we’ll provide you with a comprehensive set of tips and tricks to ensure your furniture remains in pristine condition, from the diligent dusting of wooden surfaces to the delicate care of the fabric and the luxurious maintenance of leather.

To discover how to preserve the charm of your furniture and create an inviting living space that speaks volumes about your attention to detail and style, read on!

Wooden Furniture Care

At Pine & Oak, all our wooden furniture has a wax, lacquer, or oiled finish, which brings out the beauty of the wood. While these finishes add a protective barrier to the wood, your furniture still requires proper care to keep it looking its best – here are our top tips for taking care of your wooden furniture:

• Dust Regularly – dust can accumulate quickly on furniture surfaces, dulling the finish and creating a layer of grime, so dust regularly to keep your furniture looking new.

Use a soft cloth, such as a microfibre, to gently remove dust and dirt. Make sure to clean the nooks and crannies, where dust often hides.

• Clean Spills Quickly – spills can easily damage furniture if left to sit for too long. Clean up spills as soon as they occur – use a damp cloth to wipe away the spill, then immediately dry the area with a soft cloth. This will prevent the spill from penetrating the finish and causing stains.

• Avoid Direct Sunlight and Heat Sources – furniture is sensitive to sunlight and heat. Exposure to these elements can cause the wax to start to fade, crack or become brittle.

To protect your furniture, avoid placing it in direct sunlight or near heat sources, such as fireplaces or radiators. If you do place your furniture in a sunny area, use window treatments, such as blinds or curtains, to block the sun’s rays.

• Use Coasters and Place Mats – scratches can easily mar the surface of finished furniture, so to protect your furniture from scratches, use coasters or place mats whenever you place drinks or dishes on it.

This will prevent the finish from becoming scratched and ensure that it remains in pristine condition.

• Avoid Harsh Chemicals, Solvents, and Abrasives – Harsh chemicals, solvents, and abrasives can damage the furniture finish – to avoid damage, avoid using these products and opt instead for gentler cleaning solutions. For tough stains, consider using a solution of water and mild soap.

• Re-Apply Wax as Needed – over time, the wax finish on your furniture may become dull and lacklustre. To restore its shine and protect the finish, it may be necessary to re-apply wax. This will help to keep your furniture looking its best for years to come.

Fabric furniture Care

Fabric furniture can offer a comfortable and cosy look to your home, but it requires a bit of extra care to keep it looking its best. Some of our furniture contains a variety of types of fabric, so it is important to take time to regularly maintain your fabric furniture to extend its life and keep your furniture and home looking fresh and new.

• Pre-treat your fabric furniture with an upholstery protector – even if the fabric is covered in something specifically designed to resist stains, being proactive towards keeping your furniture clean will increase its life expectancy.

• Regularly vacuum – use a soft brush vacuum attachment or a handheld vacuum to remove dust, dirt, and pet hair that can accumulate in the fabric, as a build-up of dirt can cause permanent damage. Use the vacuum’s nozzle to get into corners and crevices where dust and dirt can hide.

• Spot cleaning – despite anyone’s best efforts, accidents and dirt marks can happen. To spot clean, use a mild detergent and warm water on a soft cloth. Blot the spot gently until the stain is gone. Do not scrub or rub the fabric too hard, as this can damage the fabric’s fibres.

• Brushing – brush your fabric furniture with a soft brush to restore the fabric’s original, raised pattern. This will help the fabric look more uniform and keep it from accumulating more dirt. Don’t brush too hard, as this can cause damage.

Leather furniture Care

Much like fabric furniture, taking some care with your leather furniture will ensure the leather continues to look fresh and last a long time.

• Regular dusting & vacuuming – dust your leather furniture with a clean dry microfiber cloth. For more stubborn dust, very lightly dampen the cloth with water. Don’t let the water soak into the leather.

• Use leather conditioner – this is recommended every 6 – 12 months to help prevent the leather from cracking and keep it looking great for longer (Check with the leather furniture manufacturer before applying any product).

• Watch out for sharp objects – even objects like jewellery, belts, and buckles can cause harm to your sofa, it isn’t just pet claws! If your leather furniture falls victim to scratches, you can mask the damage by buffing them with a chamois.

• Keep it plump – an easy way to maintain the appearance of your leather sofas is by regularly plumping and rotating the cushions. This will extend the life and improve the performance of your furniture.

• Blot, don’t wipe – if you get a stain on your leather furniture, don’t wipe it as it can cause the stain to spread further. Instead, get a porous cloth like a kitchen towel and blot to absorb the moisture.

By following the tips and tricks above for wooden, fabric, and leather furniture, you’ll not only protect your investments but also contribute to the longevity and vitality of your pieces.

Remember that the care you provide today will leave a lasting impression on the tomorrow of your furniture, ensuring that it continues to shine, comfort, and delight for years to come.

And if you’re looking for new furniture pieces to cherish, why not check out our wide range of furniture here?