Description
A refined James Shoolbred & Company oak recliner.
Fully-restored in our workshop in Glasgow, Scotland the armchair has been restored using time-honoured techniques. This is a piece that is over 100 years old and will last for decades more before requiring future restoration. Sustainability is a the heart of everything we do.
The piece has been reupholstered in a subtle yet stunning Robert Kime striped fabric.
James Shoolbred & Company opened on Tottenham Court Road, London in the 1880s and was the city’s first large department store. The quality of their furniture was recognised in the 1880s when they were granted a Royal Warrant.
Shoolbred’s sales catalogue featured a guide for customers on how to assemble room settings that were aesthetically pleasing – ‘a guide to good taste. The company ceased trading in 1931.
A lifelong interest in rugs and textiles, frequently admired or collected for the story they may tell, make robust appearances in Robert KIme’s homes and projects. Having decorated some of England’s foremost houses, with an air of natural permanence, his large stock of antique textiles started to dwindle. This led Robert to begin designing his own fabrics in 1983, a practice that has carried on since, based on his extensive collection and sourcing of document pieces.
This same approach, of experience, suitability and interest, is shared by Robert Kime Design Limited. The design philosophy is unwavering, allowing both client and designer to centre on answering the most essential question – how does the client want to live? The team’s ability to deliver an environment that reflects the interests and tastes of the client and their desire for a comfortable house is at the heart of the Kime reputation. Embracing the three strands of Robert’s expertise as an antiques dealer, textile and fabric collector and interior designer, Robert Kime Design creates a signature atmosphere of comfort and ease, in projects of all sizes and styles, for a world-wide clientele.
