RUSTIC FURNITURE As a dealer in antique rustic furniture, owner of Louisa Grace Interiors (louisagrace.co.uk), Claire Mcfadyen, has some valuable buying advice
How do you define rustic furniture?
To some degree this is open to interpretation; however, to me, rustic means timeworn and imperfect – seeing the beauty in imperfection is key. I love the Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic and how each piece has its own story to tell, whether an industrial bank or drawers, or an armoire rescued from a French château. Rustic furniture is subjective, a lot like art, and everyone loves something different about it.
Any buying advice?
Always buy pieces you love and take them with you whenever you move. Even if you initially think there won’t be space in a new home, you’re very likely to find a way of repurposing or using it. Keep it in your family if you can as a quality piece of furniture is a lifetime investment. I often refer to books to see how best to use rustic furniture in the home, a favourite being Curate by Ali Heath and Lynda Gardener – all the homes featured in the book have a wonderfully natural and comfortable feel.
What piece would you suggest as a starting point?
A scrub-top farmhouse table would be an excellent place to start. They usually carry charming nicks and scars from decades of use or signs of domestic repair; the lower part of a leg will often have been replaced due to damage from years of wet mops or cloths washing the floors beneath them. Our farmhouse tables start at around £395 for a solid piece, however, prices vary depending on size and condition.