Walnut
Solid boards, never veneer, rested for three months before cutting. Finished in hard-wax oil.
Kiln-dried, graded by hand
Walnut piecesMade by hand, a few at a time.
Every Dove House piece is drawn, sampled and built in one Pretoria workshop. We make fewer things, more slowly, so they last longer in your home.
The workshop
One room, every step.
Timber is stacked at one end of the workshop and finished furniture leaves from the other. In between, each piece passes through the same few pairs of hands.
We keep joinery, upholstery and finishing under one roof so the person shaping a frame can talk to the person who will cover it. It is slower than outsourcing, and it is the reason our pieces sit square, wear evenly and can be repaired decades from now.
Materials
Four materials, known deeply.
Marble
Calacatta-style slabs chosen in person, book-matched and honed rather than polished.
Selected slab by slab
Marble piecesLinen & bouclé
Stonewashed linen and looped wool bouclé, cut and sewn by hand with finished seams.
Natural fibres only
Linen piecesBrass
Solid brass, turned and brushed by hand, left unlacquered so it deepens with use.
Unlacquered antique finish
Brass piecesBespoke commissions
From first drawing to your room.
01
Consultation
Visit the showroom or send us your room’s measurements and a few photographs. We talk through how you live in the space.
02
Drawings and samples
We send scaled drawings and post physical swatches of timber, stone and fabric, so you choose with your hands, not a screen.
03
Making
Once you approve the drawing, the piece is made to order. Most bespoke pieces take 8 to 12 weeks.
04
Finishing
Every surface is oiled, honed or brushed by hand, then checked against the drawing before it leaves.
05
White-glove delivery
In Gauteng our own two-person team delivers, unpacks and places each piece, and takes the packaging away.
Care guide
Looked after well, they get better.
Natural materials change with use. A little care each season keeps that change graceful.
Walnut
Dust with a dry, soft cloth. Wipe spills straight away and use coasters under hot cups. Once a year, apply a thin coat of hard-wax oil and buff it off after ten minutes. Light marks can be sanded out by our workshop.
Marble
Marble is porous. Wipe wine, citrus and coffee at once, and clean with a damp cloth and pH-neutral soap. Re-seal every 12 months. Honed marble gathers a soft patina over time; that is part of its character.
Linen and bouclé
Vacuum weekly with a soft brush head. Blot spills, never rub. Linen covers can be washed cold and line-dried. Keep upholstery out of strong afternoon sun to slow fading.
Brass
Unlacquered brass darkens and warms with handling. Leave it to age, or polish it back to bright with a soft cloth and a little brass polish. Avoid abrasive pads.
Bespoke
Have a room in mind? Let’s draw it.
Tell us about the space and the piece you imagine. We reply within two working days.
Commission a piece