What is our furniture made of?

We work mostly in metal and glass. The metal we use is mostly powder coated mild steel, although we do use stainless steel for some of our designs and chrome plating for others.

What is the difference between metalwork and wrought iron?

Wrought iron is not produced commercially any longer, but in the old days it was used for balconies, furniture., gates etc. Wrought iron is different to mild steel – which is what most of our furniture is made of – in that it has a very low carbon content. (As you add carbon to iron it becomes much more malleable - and therefore easier to work and to weld).

People often describe modern metal furniture as being “wrought iron” furniture when it is not. It is actually mild steel. Wrought just means “worked”. Our furniture is therefore “wrought mild steel£ – which doesn’t sound quite so romantic as “wrought iron” with its overtones of blacksmiths, anvils, furnaces, and leather aprons. But that is what it is. (Technically)

What about the glass – how easily does it break?

All of the glass we used is toughened to British Standards. It will not break under normal circumstances – it is at least 5 times as strong as normal glass.

Where is our furniture made?

Most of what we sell is made in our own workshop in Swindon, Wiltshire - a town often maligned for being nothing but roundabouts. But of course it has a rich railway heritage and it was the town that Isambard Kingdom Brunel considered to be midway between London and Bristol, and so he set up his railway sheds there for turning round and repairing his engines., Our workshop is in one of the old Victorian railway sheds.

How is it made?

We start with mild steel and the furniture is made by welding it, bending, heating it up, beating it, and occasionally hitting it (hard). This is all done by skilled craftsmen/welders, and finished by hand, and then powder coated by hand.

Can we have it in different sizes?

Yes we make furniture to order, and we can make to your own designs or we can design something especially for you? It might cost more – but it will be worth it!

Where can we see TOM FAULKNER furniture?

We have a nice big showroom in Lots Road Chelsea – the centre of modern furniture and interiors – just a stone’s throw from the Chelsea Harbour Design Centre. We do not have everything on show there but we have a good selection, and you can see all the different finishes etc. And you can have a chat with Tom who is often there! The showroom is officially open by appointment, but someone is normally there at least from Monday to Friday. If you are coming it is always a good idea to give a ring to check we haven’t popped out. The number is 020 7713 5767. The address is Chelsea Reach, 79-89 Lots Road, London SW10 0RN.

Is it possible to visit the workshop too?

Yes, but ring first!

How tough is the furniture?

We have three different finishes. Powder coat paint which is a stoved on paint finish which is very ….