The best of British: I&JL Brown

As part of the Sourced Locally series, Period Living talks to Ian Brown, owner of I&JL Brown.

‘A matched set of antique country chairs is no good if you can’t sit on them,’ says Ian Brown, owner of the Hereford-based furniture and restoration company I&JL Brown. Ian and his wife Joyce started the business nearly 40 years ago. ‘We used to buy antique tables and chairs covered in chicken feathers out of wet barns,’ he says. ‘Then, using a humidifier, we would restore and adapt the pieces for modern living.’

ABOVE (left-right): A bleached and painted country table; An Irish Primitive Windsor chair, both from I&JL Brown.

The restoration company quickly developed to include reproduction country style furniture handcrafted by a team of carpenters and apprentices at its workshops. These bespoke wooden items are comfortable and durable, and are coloured using techniques that are a closely guarded secret. Despite a flagship store opening on King’s Road, London, and more premises across the country, it remains very much a family business with Ian and Joyce’s son and son-in-law now the creative force.

The brand has remained faithful to its heritage, while moving forward design-wise – the dark brown furniture of Ian’s earlier years being replaced with lighter bleached and painted woods.

I&JL Brown is based in Whitestone, Hereford. For showrooms and stockists call 01432 851991 or go to brownantiques.com.

More great British companies
Carpets by Roger Oates...
Fabrics by Abraham Moon...
Furniture by Wesley-Barrell...
Lighting by Jim Lawrence...
Kitchen furniture by John Lewis of Hungerford...
Textiles by Lewis & Wood...

FEATURE KATIE GIBBONS
Featured in the March 2012 issue of Period Living