Living by design

PRODUCT CARE + MAINTENANCE

Every material used by Living By Design has been chosen for its high quality properties, but there are simple steps you can take to minimise any damage or ongoing wear and tear. From outdoor teak furniture to concrete resin table tops or fabric sofas, we’ve provided some care and maintenance tips to keep your Living By Design Furniture and Homewares in optimal condition. Because after all, with quality this good, your items deserve to look beautiful for years and years.

"Create a lasting impression by following our expert care tips. These simple maintenance steps are easy to follow and will help keep your furniture and homewares looking just like new"

ROBYN AGIUS | STYLIST

UPHOLSTERY FABRIC PRODUCTS

General care/cleaning:

  • Vacuum fabric occasionally with a soft upholstery attachment on a light suction to remove any dirt or dust
  • Treat any spots, spills or stains immediately before they become absorbed
  • Don’t rub the stain, but gently blot it with a clean, dry and absorbent cloth
  • Using a circular movement, work from the outside of the spill to the centre and if this doesn’t remove the mark, dry cleaning is recommended
  • A professional dry cleaning treatment at least once a year will help keep the fabric looking its best

Placement:

  • Protect your upholstery fabric from direct sunlight exposure and sources of heat
  • Placing furniture in direct sunlight, including sunlight coming through a window, can cause fading so use curtains or blinds to prevent this

Characteristics:

  • Temporary pilling is a characteristic of many upholstered fabrics and is a result of excess fibre coming off the surface of the material
  • Pilling is not considered a fault and is not covered under warranty by the fabric mills
  • Simply use a pill removal device to remove any excess fibre

Sevilla Range:

  • Colour may vary from the photos due to the washed denim fabric. Some items may have a less uniform colour due to the washed denim process in production by our design partners.
  • This is not deemed a fault and will not be eligible for a faulty return
  • Professional cleaning is recommended for the Sevilla slipcovers. For in-home care, cold gentle hand wash is advised. Line dry and refit whilst damp for optimal stretch.
TIMBER PRODUCTS

General care/cleaning:

  • Heat, moisture and direct sunlight can affect timber products, causing joint movement, cracking and fading
  • Clean up any spills as soon as possible, and do not immerse the wood in water
  • Although our furniture is manufactured to be heat-resistant, avoid placing hot or wet items directly on the timber surface as this can leave marks and cause swelling or splitting where joints or veneers meet
  • Wipe down the timber occasionally with a clean, dry cloth
  • Only use recommended professional care products to care for your timber pieces
  • Many supermarket polishes and waxes contain high levels of silicon and petroleum distillate that can damage the surface 

Placement:

  • Keep furniture out of direct sunlight

Aquilla and Silas range

  • The unpolished surface is porous and must be treated with care
  • Wipe up any spills immediately, and don’t allow any oily substances to come into contact with the timber or staining could occur
TEAK TIMBER PRODUCTS

General care/cleaning:

  • Our teak collections are finished with a light oil but for additional protection, we recommend applying a specialised protective treatment
  • We recommend Cabot's Cabothane Clear Water Based because it’s highly durable, hard wearing, fast drying and requires no sanding. (Refer to label instructions before applying)
  • To clean your teak items, use a damp sponge or cloth with a mild solution of water and natural soap, and avoid using detergent
  • Frequent cleaning in this way will gradually build up a protective layer
  • The wood will absorb the soap over time, becoming more stain repellent.
OUTDOOR TEAK PRODUCTS

General care/cleaning:

  • To retain the natural golden colour of teak, treat the furniture with teak sealant before use and then on a regular basis
  • Teak table tops should be cleaned and treated at least twice a year but the frequency of application will depend on the climate and whether the furniture is in a sheltered position
  • To clean, use a moist cloth or sponge, lukewarm water and washing-up liquid
  • A soap flake solution can also be used to saturate the wood and improve stain resistance
  • If your teak furniture becomes silvery-grey or black on the surface, it can be cleaned with a recommended teak cleaner
  • After cleaning and rinsing thoroughly with water, allow the furniture to dry completely dry before treating with a teak sealant
  • If the furniture has been exposed to the elements over an extended period of time and has developed patina, you may need to sand it before cleaning and treating

Placement:

  • All Living By Design outdoor furniture items, including teak, plastic, woven, powder-coated and resin products, are intended for undercover outdoor usage only
  • We do not recommend outdoor furniture be exposed to the elements for a prolonged period, as this can cause damage and will void the warranty

Characteristics:

  • Teak will expand and contract due to changes in humidity and temperature and this can cause some splitting
  • This is a natural occurrence and is not considered a fault
  • Over time, all teak furniture will naturally change to a grey colour when left exposed to the elements
STONE MARBLE PRODUCTS

General care/cleaning:

  • Use coasters and placemats etc to avoid any marks or stains from heat or liquids
  • Because marble is porous, we recommend cleaning any spills immediately
  • Wash the surface using a small, overlapping, sweeping motion, then dry with a soft clean cloth to prevent spotting
  • Do not let any spill sit on the surface as this will permanently mark the stone
  • Avoid any abrasive cleaners that have acidic properties, such as juices, detergents or corrosive liquids, as these will damage the marble

Characteristics:

  • Marble is a natural and porous stone
  • Each piece of marble is unique and has inherent qualities that will vary from piece to piece including veining, tint and density
  • Minor pitting and/or surface variations are normal characteristics of natural stone and are not considered defects
  • Marble is not scratch proof, so small nicks and/or scratches are considered general wear and tear and are not covered under warranty
ARIA CONCRETE RESIN PRODUCTS

General care/cleaning:

  • Although our Aria furniture items are sealed, they are not impermeable to stains and scratches
  • Use coasters and placemats etc to avoid any marks or stains from heat or liquids
  • Use slate or marble heat proof trivet for warm or hot pots and plates.
  • Clean general spillages immediately
  • To clean, use a soft cloth, warm water and gentle soap
  • Avoid spilling any vinegar-based products or red wine etc
  • Avoid acid- or citrus-based cleaners or any solutions containing acetone, alcohol or bleach
  • Any items placed directly onto a concrete surface could cause discolouration

Placement:

  • All Living By Design outdoor furniture items, including teak, plastic, woven, powder-coated and resin products, are intended for undercover outdoor usage only
  • We do not recommend outdoor furniture be exposed to the elements for a prolonged period, as this can cause damage and will void the warranty

Characteristics:

  • Like most organic products, such as natural stone, you should expect some colour variation and mottling with concrete surfaces
  • This will change and develop a unique patina over time
OUTDOOR WOVEN PRODUCTS

General care/cleaning:

  • Our outdoor woven products have been developed to withstand harsh climate conditions
  • If the products are used outdoors over an extended period of time, regular cleaning with a soft brush and soapy water is important
  • This ensures the removal of and dirt and debris before they build up
  • Products can also be cleaned with a high-pressure cleaner set at moderate

Placement:

  • Our outdoor woven furniture isn’t designed for permanent outdoor use
  • To prolong the product’s life span, store in a dry location or use an outdoor cover when not in use or during periods of inclement weather
  • All Living By Design outdoor furniture items, including teak, plastic, woven, powder-coated and resin products, are intended for undercover outdoor usage only
  • We do not recommend outdoor furniture be exposed to the elements for a prolonged period, as this can cause damage and will void the warranty 

Characteristics:

  • All products are hand-woven and can vary slightly in colour
  • This creates a contrast in the surface of the weave, giving the furniture a unique and natural look
OUTDOOR TEXTILINE + SUNBRELLA FABRIC

General care/cleaning:

  • If the products are used outdoors over an extended period of time, regular cleaning with a soft brush and soapy water is important
  • This ensures the removal of and dirt and debris before they build up
  • Clean up any spills as soon as possible using warm soapy water and allow the cushion to dry in an upright position
  • White furniture and fabric are more prone to staining and will require more regular cleaning

Placement:

  • Place your cushions in an upright position when not in use to ensure optimum drainage that will minimise any risk of mould and mildew
  • The anti-bacterial protection in the cushion core is most effective when the cushion can drain correctly
  • All Living By Design outdoor items, including teak, plastic, woven, powder-coated and resin products, are intended for undercover outdoor usage only
  • We do not recommend outdoor items be exposed to the elements for a prolonged period, as this can cause damage and will void the warranty
LEATHER CARE

General care/cleaning:

  • Only use industry-approved leather cleaners and moisturisers to clean and care for leather products

Placement:

  • Always keep leather furniture away from harsh weather and direct exposure to sunlight
VEGAN LEATHER CARE

General care/cleaning:

  • Polyurethane (PU) is a highly resilient, flexible and durable material with water resistant qualities, meaning leather cleaners + leather protectors are not needed
  • If dust or light dirt is evident, clean with a soft cloth and warm water
  • For stubborn marks, add some dish detergent to your cloth or sponge. Avoid using an abrasive cloth as they can damage the surface. Eucalyptus oil is the final frontier, if the mark refuses to shift - a small amount on a clean cloth + rubbing gently

Placement:

  • Always keep vegan leather furniture away from harsh weather and direct exposure to sunlight
VENEER

General care/cleaning:

  • Wipe down the timber veneer occasionally with a clean, dry or damp cloth to keep dust and dirt away.
  • Heat, moisture and direct sunlight can affect timber veneer products.
  • Clean up any spills as soon as possible, and do not immerse the wood veneer in water

Placement:

  • Keep timber veneer products out of direct sunlight

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