19 Heather St,

Heatherbrae,  NSW,  2324

Australia

Phone: (02) 4987 7225

Fax: (02) 4987 7335

_______________

FINALIST

FIAA Australian Furniture

of the

Year Awards - 2011

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WINNER

Home Furniture Store

Hunter Local Business

Awards - 2011

_______________

FINALIST

Home Furniture Store

Hunter Local Business

Awards - 2010

_______________

WINNER

Furniture Division

Port Stephens Small Business

Awards - 2004 & 2005

_______________

FINALIST

Furniture Division

Port Stephens

Small Business Awards

2003, 2006, 2007 & 2008

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TIMBERS

What timbers do you use?
Bessant's furniture is crafted from a variety of select-grade Australian and exotic timber species. All timber used at Bessant is sourced from suppliers who strictly adhere to sustainable management principles, or from trees which have been salvaged.

Sustainable timber means the forests are harvested in such a way so that each tree removed is replaced by another tree, either naturally grown or hand-planted. The amount of timber removed from a forest is in balance with it's ability to naturally reproduce new trees.

Salvaged timber is timber which has come from trees which have fallen due to old age, or have come down in wind storms. These trees are normally old-growth trees which would not normally be harvested. It is an ethically-acceptable way of utilising timber that would otherwise go to waste.

The more popular and readily available timbers include:

	• Western Australian Jarrah - Eucalyptus marginata Western Australian Jarrah is a very dense, hard and heavy timber which is well suited to both indoor and outdoor furniture. It has a rich warm dark red colour and is very seldom stained due to its natural colour and beauty. The intensity of the colour depends on a few factors including the age of the tree before it was logged, how long the timber has been milled, as well as where the timber has come from within the tree; the heartwood is dark red in colour, while the sapwood is usually paler in colour. Eucalyptus marginata grows best in the wet forests of south west Western Australia, where the rainfall is high. In favourable conditions, the trees can grow to a height of 40 meters, with a diameter up to 2 meters.
	• Tasmanian Blackwood - Acacia melanoxylon Tasmanian Blackwood is a much valued furniture timber that has been used for over 100 years. The grain of this hardwood is predominantly straight but may occasionally be wavy, and varies in colour from light to dark brown with occasional red tints and black streaks. It is an excellent timber to work with and dresses to a smooth finish that takes polish well (it is very rarely stained). Blackwood is one of the largest of the Australian "Wattles" and can be found from the Atherton Tablelands in north Queensland, along the east coast of NSW to the southeast of South Australia, and in Tasmania. The best natural form is found in moist gullies and in cool temperate rainforest. The main source of Blackwood timber is from the "Blackwood swamps" of north-west Tasmania where the tree grows quite profusely.
	• New Guinea Rosewood - Pterocarpus indicus New Guinea Rosewood is often a warm golden brown colour. It has a variable grain which is often highly figured. This timber is very rarely stained and is chosen for its natural characteristics. Rosewood is commonly found throughout the Asian and Pacific regions.
	• Sydney Blue Gum - Eucalyptus globulus Sydney Blue Gum is a majestic white-trunked forest tree found along the coastal belt of New South Wales and into southern Queensland. It is an open textured hardwood and is pale pink to pinkish red in colour. It has similar characteristics to Rose Gum, but Sydney Blue Gum is a harder and stronger timber. In the past, it was generally only used as a building timber as it was considered difficult to season. However, with the advent of technology and modern kiln-drying techniques, the timber is becoming more sought after and is being used extensively by modern day cabinet makers.
	• American White Oak - Quercus alba American White Oak is a hard wearing hardwood, predominately found in eastern North America. It's appearance ranges from pale ochre to mid-brown, with shades of grey and pink. It is similar in appearance to Tasmanian Oak, but has a more distinctive grain pattern, with more decorative figuring. Whilst still being a light coloured timber, it is slightly darker in appearance to Tasmanian Oak. American Oak has many uses ranging from high-end furniture, architectural interiors, to doors, flooring and panelling.
	• European Beech - Fagus sylvatica European Beech is found across Great Britain, central and western Europe. It is a well known commercial timber, and is used around the world in musical instruments, decorative detailing, flooring and furniture making. Despite being a hardwood, it is relatively easy to work with, and when seasoned, is harder than Oak. European Beech is a straight grained timber, with a fine, even texture. It ranges in colour from light cream with pinkish tones, to a light brown with golden hues.
	• Huon Pine - Lagarostobos franklinii Huon Pine is only found in West and South-West Tasmania (from the Pieman River in the north, to the Huon River in the south). They grow in wet temperate rainforests, especially on the banks of rivers. It is one of Australia's most durable and prized timbers. Huon Pine is a rich creamy yellow - gold in colour and the grain can have many features depending on its grade. The more figured and featured the timber, the better the grade. The sample, left, shows a highly figured sample of 'Birds-eye Huon Pine'. Huon Pines are very slow growing trees, often growing less than 1mm in girth per year, and can reach magnificent ages, with many trees aged 2,500 years or older! The trees do not reproduce until they are 600 - 800 years old. The timber contains a natural preserving oil called methyl eugenol which makes the tree waterproof and insect repellent, allowing it to survive on or under the forest floor for centuries without degrading. Huon Pine forests are treated with respect and care. The industry takes very seriously its responsibility to preserve these trees for future generations. For this reason Huon Pines are not logged, and all Huon Pine timber comes from licensed sawmills which have retrieved logs and stumps of long-dead trees from the forest floor.
	• Tasmanian Oak - Eucalytpus obliqua, regnans The name Tasmanian Oak was originally used by early European timber workers who believed the eucalypts showed similar characteristics to English Oak. Tasmanian Oak is a warm, dense hardwood. It works extremely well as a furniture timber and produces an excellent finish. Tasmanian Oak generally has a very straight and even grain and is naturally light in colour, varying from straw to reddish brown with intermediate shades of cream and pink. It has long-lasting appeal in it's natural state, but also has excellent staining qualities, making it possible to stain it almost any colour, right through to the very dark chocolate brown shades.
	• Painted finish We are able to finish your furniture in your choice of colour, including colour matching to your wall colour. When this finish is chosen, we use a Heat and Moisture Resistant (HMR) MDF board, which is then prepared and finished in your chosen colour. A strong, durable, clear top coat is then applied to maintain the finish. HMR MDF is NOT particleboard/chipboard. It is a long lasting material and will not flake or crumble like particleboard/chipboard.

We have samples of these timbers in our Showroom which you can take home and compare with your existing flooring, wall colour and other furnishings. These timbers have been used in our Showroom furniture so that you can view the timbers and their characteristics on a large scale and get a feel for their warmth and beauty.

If the specific timber you have in mind is not listed above, please ask. Chances are, we will be able to source it from one of our reliable timber merchants who specialise in rare and unique timbers. If not, we will be able to recommend a timber which is similar in appearance and characteristics.

Some other timber species we can source include Blackbutt, Queensland Maple, Silver Ash, Red Gum, Celery Top Pine, Australian Red Cedar, Mahogany, Myrtle, Teak and Walnut.

 

STAINING, LACQUERING, PAINTING AND FINISHING

What stain colours and finishes are available?
Unlike many retail stores, you are not limited to choosing from 3 or 4 standard stain colours. All staining and finishing of your furniture is completed in a designated polishing area within our workshop. We only use the best quality stains, lacquers and paints to ensure the final finish is beautiful, yet practical and hard wearing. We employ the services of a very talented Furniture Polisher who has won many awards. With many years of experience, our polisher is very particular about his work and has a keen eye for detail. He is capable of colour-matching your new furniture to existing furniture, as well as creating custom stain colours that will harmonise with your home and decor.
Solid paint colours are also available and we have the ability to have our paints mixed to any colour. We can even match to your wall colour!

 

DESIGN, QUOTING AND ORDERING PROCESS

How can I find out more?

Bessant Showroom: A Bessant staff member will assist you with your enquiries, advise on available options, and answer any questions you may have. It is recommended that the preliminary enquiry be conducted in the Bessant Showroom. This allows for an easy explanation of different options with regards to timber selection, finish, dimensions, construction methods, fittings, mouldings, glass, handles etc. Our showroom hours are 8am - 4pm Monday to Friday, and 9am - 1pm Saturday. (Closed public holidays and long weekends.) After hours consultations are also available.

In Home Consultation: Alternatively, if a showroom based consultation is not possible, an In-Home Design Consultation may be more convenient. An experienced staff member will visit you in your home to discuss your requirements. A small charge is payable for an in-home consultation, however this fee is deducted from the final price should you decide to accept our quote. The in-home consultation fee is kept to a minimum and is charged to cover costs such as fuel and time away from the workplace.

Website & E-mail: For long distance and interstate clients, or those who prefer the convenience of shopping from home, we recommend liaising via our website. We have developed an easy to use, no nonsense site for your convenience. Our website contains photos of past work and a variety of information to help make the planning of your new furniture stress-free and enjoyable.


I live outside of the Newcastle/Port Stephens area!
No problems! We have completed work for clients in Melbourne, Sydney, Tamworth, Far North Queensland, even Alice Springs! Where it's not possible for clients to visit our Showroom, or for a Bessant representative to visit your home, we can discuss your furniture needs over the phone, fax and e-mail. Our website will be a great help for you to view some of our past creations, and to visualise similar options that are available for your desired piece.


How do I obtain a quote?
For your initial enquiry we just need to know 5 basic things in order to provide you with a preliminary quote:
• The item description (i.e. Entertainment Unit, Display Cabinet etc)
• The approx. dimensions (H x W x D etc)
• The configuration and design (a sketch and/or photo will help so we know where you would like any shelves, doors and drawers!)
• Your choice of timber or construction material
• Your contact details

This is generally enough information required to provide you with a preliminary quote estimate. If you would like to proceed to the next stage of the design process, a fully detailed fixed quote/order summary and scale plan drawings will be provided to you for your approval.


How do I know what design is right for me?
The process of designing furniture is a very personal choice. We offer many styles, from modern and contemporary, through to the more traditional and period styles. As our name suggests we only build "custom made furniture". As all items are special one-off designs, no 2 pieces we craft are ever the same. Our many years of combined experience in furniture design and creation will ensure the design process is comprehensive and thorough yet remains informative, pleasant and enjoyable for our clients.

An easy starting point is to decide if you would like your new piece to match the style of existing furniture already in your home. Alternatively, a great visual help is to have a browse through our website or some home decorating magazines to see if there's anything similar in style or configuration to what you're after.


What is the next stage in the design process?
Once an overall style has been determined, we can move onto the next stage of the design process. This involves the confirmation of exact dimensions, the configuration of the piece (ie where the shelves, drawers and doors are to be), the timber selection, and finally the stain or finish that you had in mind.

Once all of these details have been confirmed we can further refine the design by suggesting other possible features and inclusions and advise you on the final selection of the profiles, mouldings, handles, etc in order to achieve your desired look. A detailed quote / final order summary is then prepared and scale plan drawings are created to help you visualise the final piece.

Before you'll know it, you will have a beautiful custom designed piece of furniture designed and ready to craft.


Does my quote cost anything?
No, we offer obligation-free quotes for all requests. A small charge is payable for an in-home consultation, however this fee is deducted from the final price should you decide to accept our quote. The in-home consultation fee is kept to a minimum and is charged to cover costs such as fuel and time away from the workplace.


Does Bessant give package discounts?
Yes. Due to more efficient document preparation, workshop production, raw materials purchasing and delivery schedules, a package discount usually applies to larger quantities of furniture, e.g. Dining Suite including chairs, room quantity of furniture using the same timber etc. Please enquire for further details.


What if I'd rather add to my collection piece by piece?
That's fine too! We set up a file for each and every customer. This documents all of your details such as the timber you chose, the handles, stain mix, all mouldings, profiles, etc. That way, when you are ready for the next piece of furniture, we just look over your file and we can craft the new piece to match your existing Bessant furniture.


How long will my furniture take to make?
Due to the unpredictable nature of making a custom designed piece of furniture, we are usually unable to give an exact time frame in which your furniture will be completed. There are many variable factors which can affect the course of production, including availability of timber and materials, progress of other work, and poor/wet weather in regards to polishing and finishing of your furniture. Please refer to our "Waiting Period Policy" for further details. As an estimate, we are currently working on an 8 week production time.

We prefer to work on the principle of quality not quantity.

As many of our customers tell us, they have usually been searching for months, even years, trying to find the perfect piece, so at least now they know it's finally on it's way!

 

DELIVERY

Local delivery
We can arrange and co-ordinate the careful transport of your new furniture via our preferred local contractor. There are always 2 men for the move so all you have to do is tell them where you would like your new piece to be placed! For your peace of mind, our local transport contractors are covered by Public Liability and Damage to Goods Insurance.


Local Installation
For quality assurance, all necessary installation is personally completed by Bessant. For items requiring on-site installation (e.g. wall units, beds, buffets and hutches etc) installation will be carried out on the same day as delivery where possible. In certain circumstances this will occur on the next working day.


What about long distance and interstate delivery?
We only contract reputable furniture carriers to carefully transport our furniture. We take the stress out of this vital stage of the process by arranging quotations for the transport and optional insurance as well as organising the logistics of packing, wrapping, delivery schedules etc. All you have to do is approve the quote of your preferred carrier!


What if my furniture is damaged during transport?
For your peace of mind, all local transport contractors are covered by Public Liability and Damage to Goods Insurance. Separate insurance is available at an additional cost for all interstate and long distance transport. In the unlikely event damage to goods occurs in transit, Bessant will personally oversee and co-ordinate all repairs and further transport arrangements with as little inconvenience to you as possible.

 

GUARANTEE

Does Bessant offer a guarantee?
Over the past years Bessant Custom Furniture has developed a strong reputation for crafting quality, solid timber furniture that has been designed and constructed to last the test of time. We believe this reputation has been earned by ensuring a complete quality control process from the initial enquiry to the final installation. Whilst we do not offer a formal guarantee, our policy remains the same "if a problem occurs due to faulty workmanship, then we will fix it." That's why we are proud to brand our creations with our family name.

 

CARE AND MAINTENANCE

How do I care for my new furniture?
Our furniture is easy to care for. Usually, all that is required is to wipe it over with a soft cloth or duster regularly. All new furniture is delivered complete with care instructions to ensure the long lasting beauty of your new piece. We have a range of care products such as polishes, leather care kits and fabric care kits available for purchase through our showroom. Please enquire for details.

   

Bessant Custom Furniture
Phone: 02 4987 7225   Fax: 02 4987 7335   
19 Heather St, Heatherbrae
Raymond Terrace, NSW, 2324
Email: enquiries@bessant.com.au