Cotswold Furniture

Cotswold Furniture is Steeped in History

The Cotswolds have a rich history of design, especially in the fields of Cotswold furniture, arts and crafts. Inspiration is said to be due to the stunning scenery and beautiful architecture of the area. There is one person who should also be given credit for the reputation of high quality Cotswold furniture: Ernest Gimson (1864 – 1919).

The Forefathers of Cotswold Furniture

Modern Cotswold furniture owes much to Ernest Gimson, as he helped kick-start the movement. Born in Leicester and trained as an architect, he moved to the Cotswolds in his early thirties “to live near nature” where it is said his creative stimulation was at its highest.

After a brief stay work took his to Somerset, but it wasn’t long before he moved back to Cirencester in Gloucestershire where he set up a Cotswold furniture workshop to indulge in his true passion of Cotswold furniture design. This Cotswold furniture was hand crafted from solid hardwood by highly skilled craftsmen under the renowned cabinet-maker, Peter van der Waals.

Painted Solid Oak
Cotswold Furniture

Cotswold Furniture has an Exceptional Reputation

The Cotswold furniture that he designed in this time was highly structural and obviously drew on his architectural experience. A reputation quickly grew that Cotswold furniture was strong, well crafted, high quality and attractive. This reputation lasts to this day with original pieces fetching thousands of pounds at antique auctions.

Oak Furniture Land Continues the Cotswold Furniture Standards

Oak Furniture Land is based very close to where Ernest Gimson set up his Cotswold furniture workshop. Our designers are influenced by the same idyllic scenery and the history of the Cotswold furniture industry. We use this to blend Cotswold furniture traditions with other international and modern designs to create a vast choice of unique designs and ranges.

The legacy of beautiful, sturdy, high quality hand crafted Cotswold furniture runs through the company and our staff.

Leather Tub Chairs with
an Oak Coffee Table

Tub Chairs Part 2

The tub chair has a longer history than you may think

In the first of this two-part special on tub chairs we looked at the place a tub chair can hold in your house, in this second part we look a the place tub chairs hold in furniture history.

What put the Tub in Tub Chair?

There are various theories about the origin of the name tub chair. One popular belief is that it came from the shape of the tub chair itself being like a bath tub. However, the term bath tub is chiefly American, and as the original tub chairs hail from Europe it is far more likely that the name tub chair is actually a variation of the name club chair.

The term club chair came directly from its most popular usage – in the gentlemen’s clubs of northern Europe. The shape and style of the tub chair leant itself well to the relaxing nature of these establishments, and the tub chair is still a staple part of the scenery in many golf clubs and hotel lounges.

Tub Chairs – Luxury from The Ruling Classes to Your Home

The general design of the tub chair has been around for hundreds of years, but only as a wooden frame without upholstery. It’s strange to think that up until well into the 17th Century upholstered chairs were only generally available to the upper classes, so it was only the master craftsmen who were initially manufacturing what we would recognise today as a tub chair.

Over the years tub chairs have been made from countless materials in a whole variety of colours, however, the highest quality tub chairs are those that are hand made using real leather over a solid oak frame – just like the best antiques that now sell for tens of thousands of pounds.

Tub Chairs in a Golf Club

Tub Chairs at Oak Furniture Land

At Oak Furniture Land our tub chairs are the modern day alternative to buying expensive antiques. Our tub chairs a hand crafted from A-grade solid oak and top quality leather, as well as deep, cosy padding that brings you the same luxury as an antique tub chair at a fraction of the cost.

We also sell leather care kits that make it easy for you to keep your tub chairs in perfect condition for years to come.

Leather Tub Chair
with Mango Side Table

Tub Chairs Part 1

In the first of this two-part special on tub chairs we find out what a tub chair can do for your home, and give you some ideas that you may not have thought of with regards to tub chairs.

Relax in a Tub Chair – it’s what they’re for!

A tub chair is a very versatile piece of furniture that is synonymous with relaxation and the good life. Sitting back and unwinding is what a tub chair is all about. And to this end a tub chair is an ideal addition to any home.

Hand crafted real leather tub chairs are perfect in a sitting room or lounge bar area, even a snooker room. However, if you’re not lucky enough to have a house with such luxuries you should still consider a tub chair.

Tub Chairs Around The Home

Tub chairs are great for conservatories, in the corner of a lounge, and as part of your bedroom suite to give that extra option should you wish to read or watch television without lying down.

Pair of Tub Chairs

Tub Chairs at Oak Furniture Land

The tub chairs we sell at Oak Furniture Land are hand crafted from the same solid oak as the rest of our furniture and then hand upholstered with high quality real leather to make a truly sumptuous tub chair that you can really settle down and relax in. The fact that we use these same materials means that our tub chairs will compliment any room with our oak furniture in.

We also sell leather care kits that make it easy for you to keep your tub chair in perfect condition for years to come.

In the second post of this two-part special on tub chairs we will be looking at the history of tub chairs and their place in society.

Newark Solid Oak TV Cabinet

Consierations When Buying a Television Cabinet

When one is buying a television, there are various considerations – is it plasma, LCD or OLED? Is it HD ready? Does it have enough inputs for all the games consoles, DVD player and Sky box? The list goes on, but the main consideration has to be the size, and this in turn will determine the size of your TV cabinet.

Measuring a Television

The method by which the size of a television is measured can be confusing, and it’s easy to get caught out if you’re not careful. The size advertised by television retailers is not the width, but, in fact, the length of the screen diagonally from corner to corner (not including the surround). This measurement is always going to be longer than the width of a TV.

The ratio of a widescreen TV’s width to height is 16:9, but to save you working it out I have included a short list of the most popular screen sizes and their widths below. †

Now you know the approximate width of your TV you can make a more informed choice of TV cabinet for your home.

Oakdale Solid Oak TV Cabinet

Robust and Stylish TV Cabinets

Televisions are very expensive and heavy, and therefore should always be housed on a sturdy, high quality TV stand to ensure their safety. The obvious choice is solid hardwood furniture (beware of furniture retailers that sell veneered wooden furniture, as it is going to have poor quality wood under the veneer and the weight of the TV will soon crack it!).

Wooden television cabinets are ideal because they take away the modern harshness of modern technology, softening the impact of the new high gloss centre of attention in your living room.

Other Considerations When Buying a TV Cabinet

The other considerations when shopping for TV cabinets include the provision of shelves for DVD players, freeview boxes etc. and drawers or cupboards for storage.

Solid Hardwood TV Cabinets at Oak Furniture Land

At Oak Furniture Land we have a wide choice of solid hardwood TV cabinets and other living room furniture in oak, mango and mahogany. Various sizes, styles and options are available across the ranges. All TV stands are hand crafted to the highest standards, and are more than strong enough to hold even the largest televisions.