Chawton Open Sideboard/Bookshelf
Part of our Chawton collectionThe materials: oak
Oak’s sense of tradition together with its distinctive (but not too knotty) grain makes it our go-to timber. Our wood is durable when it comes to knocks, but we’ve further protected it from spills with a Dark Vintage Oak IsoGuard finish – our natural, VOC-free, oil-based formula that doesn’t mask the timber’s character.The materials: tulipwood
We use tulipwood because it’s strong, smooth and has very few knots, which is the ideal surface for painting. But when it comes to the application, we know that not all furniture and every colour needs the same method, so that’s why we vary the number of coats and use hand-finishing techniques specific to each piece.Design detail
In this base cabinet, we’ve used a shelf along the width to maximise storage space – this is also adjustable, reversible and has cut-outs so you can run cables in either direction. And, we’ve included a removable and reversible base shelf which conceals three cut-outs for your cables to go through and be neatly tucked out of sight – this is especially useful if you have our TV cabinet on top.
Old houses can often have uneven floors, but the Chawton cabinet has this issue covered. Simply use the hidden height adjustable feet on the bottom of the base to add stability.
Doing the right thing
This long-lasting piece is created with wood from the Appalachian Mountains, a region where for every tree harvested or decaying, 2.4 naturally grow back in its place which contributes to forest regeneration.
The wood then goes to our production house, where a dedicated team is leading us towards becoming the most sustainable home and lifestyle brand by 2030. Not only is the production house powered by highly energy-efficient heat pumps, it also reuses and recycles as many by-products as possible to reduce waste and thereby, do what we can to take some of the pressure off our planet.
As well as the wood, our paints are made with both people and planet in mind, too. They're water-based, extremely low in VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds, which release harmful chemicals and unpleasant odours), are suitable for plant-based lifestyles, and they've never been tested on animals. Each pot is made in the UK by our trusted partners who have been mixing paint since 1740.
Chawton's design story
Inspired by the age-old concept of full-wall libraries, the Chawton has been on quite a design journey, all of which you can read about on our journal. Once you’ve discovered Chawton’s story, take a peek at the rest of the collection, or if you’d like advice on how to create a configuration that suits you, just pop into one of our stores to speak to a member of our friendly, well-informed team. You can find your nearest here.
White Glove Service Chawton
Chawton’s delivered using our white glove service. That means one of our two-man delivery teams will bring it to you, take it to your desired spot and take away all the packaging for recycling.
They can also put your cabinet together for you – they’re able to build it up to 190cm (that’s the height of one sideboard base and one triple-height top cabinet), attach any handles and adjust the feet in the base so that it sits steady. We’re afraid that they’re not able to fix it to the wall though, or build it any higher than 190cm. So, if you’d like us to help with those things, just pop into store so we can organise for our fitting team to come out.
No-quibble returns
We believe that returns should be easy, which is why we approach them with a ‘no quibble’ mindset. And, you’ll also have 28 days to do so – just in case you need time to mull things over.
When it comes to designs upholstered in a made-to-order fabric or painted in a bespoke colour, there’s also a 20% returns/cancellation fee. We’d love to not have to charge a penny for this, but as they’re made just for you, we can’t always guarantee that we’ll be able to sell them again.
If you’ve bought something from us outside the UK or Ireland, just get in touch with the store you bought it from – or with our international team if you bought it through them – and they’ll let you know how you can return or exchange it.
And talk to our international team on +44 (0)1793 427 427 or at international@neptune.com.
These terms don’t affect your statutory rights. For our full terms and conditions, please click here.
For our full returns policy, please click here.
Taking care of wood
Whether you’d like advice on everyday cleaning or seasonal and yearly care, you’ll find all our tips in Volume One of our Timber care guide. To clean your oak furniture, use our IsoGuard surface spray followed by our eco refresh spray to keep it looking as good as new. If any stains or marks occur, then use our care kit to bring the wood back to its former glory.
Need to know
Chawton’s freestanding design means that you can easily add or take away sections yourself. However, if you have a full-height Chawton (with a base and top), we recommend you attach it to the wall – you may want a professional to do this to be on the safe side. One of our experts would be happy to help with this as part of our delivery service. Natural timber will expand and shrink as the temperature and humidity in your home changes, but there are specialist joinery techniques that can help to counteract the movement. And that’s exactly what we do, so although you might see a little movement in the timber over the seasons, it won’t change drastically. The colours you see here are as close to the real thing as we can get them, but it’s always a good idea to try a sample first if you’re looking to get the colour spot on. If you decide to add top cabinets to your sideboard in the future, you’ll just need to swap out the work surface top for a dresser-ready one. These have holes in them, so you can bolt the extra cabinets on. Everything you’ll need to add to your sideboard will be included when you buy the extra pieces, from the bolts and wall brackets to the Allen key.