Furniture Maintenance

We finish our furniture in two ways using two different categories of finish. (See Finishing for overview.)

  • Chairs, table bases, and cabinet bodies are oiled.
  • Table and Cabinet Tops are varnished.

Maintaining our Hand-rubbed Oil Finish

(for chairs, footstools, barstools,table bases, and cabinet bodies)


For furniture used indoors (not porch rockers)

  • Wipe spills and dry the surface as soon as is convenient.
  • Move throws, place mats, and such from time to time to avoid "tan" lines.
  • Occasionally polish with a furniture care product of your choice.

Once every year or two on our chairs, we apply a light coat of lemon oil polish (Guardsman is a good one), rub it in, and buff it dry.


For Furniture used outdoors (mahogany porch rockers)

  • Mahogany will weather from the light brown at delivery to a rich, red brown, on to a gray brown, and then to gray.
  • This change in color will depend on weather, exposure, and you.
  • The furniture will remain tight and functional for decades, whatever you choose. Nothing is required.
  • You will probably want to wipe down or lightly wash the chair from time to time.
  • At some point, you will probably decide the chair is looking dry and will want to re-oil it.

See Porch Rocker Maintenance


Maintaining Varnished Table and Cabinet Tops

  • Polyurethane varnish is essentially impervious to water and alcohol, but it is wise to wipe and dry the liquid spills.
  • Protect the surface from hot vessels.
  • From time to time, move place mats, centerpieces, and such to avoid "tan" lines.
  • Occasionally polish with a furniture care product of your choice.