Furniture

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67. I love Fifties Americana and have been looking for authentic furniture for our dining room. I've seen some reproduction diner chairs and tables, but my heart's set on the real thing. Can you help? There was a fad for diner style in the Eighties, then everyone got excited about Modernism and it was left in the design wilderness. As more people are embracing decorative interiors, it could be having another moment. It's getting harder to find, but companies such as Out Of Time cherry-pick the interesting stuff. Or check out Cola Red. It's been manufacturing its range since the Fifties, so is certainly authentic.

68. The veneer on my 10-year-old beech dining table has started to flake off. The table itself is solid, so I wondered whether there was a way of refinishing the top surface, either with a varnish or lacquer? I've also considered covering it with wallpaper under a glass top. It is possible to have furniture re-veneered, but it's only worth doing so with something you really love. As this is a fairly modern piece, the idea of putting a print (that you can keep changing) under glass is a good one, as it will make it easier for you to refresh your interior. Get your local glass merchant to cut low-carbon glass (which has less of a green tint) to size, and have it hardened for safety.  

69. Does anyone make a modern-looking dressing table? I don't want anything 'shabby chic', just something very simple. Dressing tables are difficult – the nice ones tend to command bespoke prices, so people often use console tables with a separate mirror. We found this stained-oak veneer version from Dwell for £175. It also comes in natural oak veneer.  

70. I recently inherited an original Eames chair which is in need of repair. The leather seat cushion is worn and cracked and has split at the zip. I need to find someone who will restore it sensitively and who understands/appreciates its great design. Can you suggest who might be able to help me? Any professional upholsterer will be able to replicate the design, pattern and stitch detailing, if you make it clear that's what you're after. Usually, the old cushion is taken apart to provide the pattern, so it's important that people keep these for the upholsterer to use. Find a local qualified upholsterer through the trade association website, upholsterers.co.uk.  

71. We'd like to use bamboo units for our new kitchen, both for its sustainability and affordability, but the only ones I can find are from expensive companies who don't supply just the doors. Our kitchen is being built by a great local firm so we don't want to work with anyone else. Any ideas? Ideally we'd like them unfinished so we can stain them. EcoImpact has a great range of panel products. Because of the block-board construction, I was concerned at first about warping, but I checked and they've had no reports of problems. Panels can be made in sizes up to 2.4m wide (minimum run, 10 panels), and 20mm thick seems to be the popular choice, which works out at around £80 per sq m.  

72. The bay window in our Victorian house has folding shutters that open inwards. We want to replace the old chesterfield sofa that sits in the bay but we have not been able to find another sofa low enough for the shutters to open over it. Can you suggest one that is no higher than 66cm? A maximum height of 66cm for a sofa sets quite a challenge, and even some of the companies that adapt their seating told me they could not take the height down this far. Sofa Workshop, however, has three designs that could work. There is the Connor, which is just 64cm high, and the Mr Bourbon, at 66cm high. Both are in a simple, contemporary style and prices include fabric. But a buttoned chesterfield called Grand Old Gent, stands 70cm high on slightly tapered wooden legs. The body of the sofa can't be adapted and the company itself doesn't offer to do what we're going to suggest, which is to cut 4cm off the legs. Unless you can cut it accurately, get a carpenter to do it. 

73. Do you know where I can some simple bar stools for my kitchen? Margherita bar stools by the Italian company YDF, are a perfect choice, and are available to order from The Design Net. They come in two heights, 102cm and 112cm to the top of the backrest. The frames are in brushed stainless steel (chromed or epoxy paint finish also available), with a wood veneer or a light alloy seat, and an epoxy finish in a choice of nine colours. Prices depend on the size of the order, as the cost of sending a consignment from Italy is less per item the more that is sent.

74. Who could I contact to make a wardrobe to fit into an alcove 120cm wide? It needs to have an asymmetrical door because of a window on one side. Heal's has over 40 pieces of furniture, including bedroom furniture in several of its ranges, which can been adapted to suit individual requirements. Dimensions can be changed, as can the arrangement of drawers or shelves, plus there is a choice of woods, finishes and materials. It could adapt its Nova wardrobe to fit your alcove with a smaller door on the window side so as not to block out too much light. Made in oak veneer, it would have two hanging rails and four shelves. Leporello makes an attractive range of painted bedroom furniture, including wardrobes, armoires and linen presses. All its furniture is made to order and can be customised to fit awkward spaces.

75. I'm trying to track down a single armchair sofabed for a tiny spare room. Can you suggest anything that might be suitable? Futons have come a long way from being just a flat, lumpy mattress and this one is ideal for a small room. The Oke single bed futon, £399, from the Futon Company has a solid hardwood frame with arms and an extra-comfy mattress, plus it folds out into a full-length bed.

76. I want to update my old varnished pine chest of drawers by painting it white. What's the best paint to use and how can I prepare the drawers? I really want to do a professional job. We asked Mary Ward, creative director at Dulux for her top tips. "You'll need to sand the drawers lightly first - this will remove most of the varnish and give you a clean, smooth surface. Primer is essential if you don't want the wood to show through. Use a product such as Dulux Multi-Surface Primer followed by a solvent-based paint specifically for wood. If you want an aged finish, try rubbing candle wax on corners and handles before painting. The paint won't stick to the wax, so hints of wood will show through."

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