Terms
General terms which apply to all sales
All orders placed either verbally, in writing, or via this website indicate your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Trading stated here.
Samples
We strongly advise that you obtain a sample before placing your order. Orders placed without receipt of a sample are entirely at the customers risk.
Howe can post samples to clients anywhere in the world. Large returnable samples are available on almost all products for up to 14 days, at a cost. If the sample is returned within 14 days in perfect condition, the customer will be refunded for the cost of the sample, but not for the delivery charges. We will attempt to supply returnable samples free of charge to established trade clients.
Perfect colour conformity between samples and final goods ordered is never guaranteed.
Suitability of goods
Whilst every effort is made by Howe and its external houses to ensure that your goods are received in the best condition, you must inspect all items immediately upon delivery or collection.
It is the customer’s responsibility, regardless of the delivery address (excluding Howe London Ltd and its furniture workshops), to ensure that the goods are as ordered and are of satisfactory quality in every respect before undertaking any work.
Howe is not responsible for the workmanship of any craftsperson / maker / upholsterer (professional or otherwise) using our goods (except for Howe workshops), and no claim can be made against Howe for poor end results with our leathers, fabrics, wallpapers and trimmings. Labour claims will not be accepted.
Any trialling or testing deemed necessary must be discussed with us prior to sale. We will always assist as much as possible, providing samples or advising a ‘test and trial’ on a small quantity of goods before proceeding with a large order, to ensure satisfactory end results and to reduce risk of unsuitability. ‘Test and trial’ may be necessary if using Howe at 36 Bourne Street leathers or fabrics on Howe London furniture, as the combination may not have been tried before. In these circumstances it will be discussed prior to sale and may require a small charge to be paid by the customer.
Orders placed and work undertaken, without first testing the suitability of the item for use in your specific location or on specific piece of furniture, is done entirely at the customer’s risk.
Liability
In all cases Howe supplies goods on condition that Howe’s liability for any fault or defect in quality, or description, or suitability for purpose in any other way, is limited in amount to a sum not exceeding the purchase price of the goods supplied. Under no circumstances does Howe’s liability extend to the making-up or processing of our leather, fabric or trimming, or hanging wallpaper.
Advice and guarantees
All advice given by Howe, in person, by telephone or via the website, is given in good faith and with the intention of enabling the customer to achieve the best possible results with our goods. Howe makes no specific guarantees as to the suitability of any of our goods, with the exception of the request of a formal written guarantee prior to the sale taking place. All other advice given by Howe is therefore to be taken as such and is not a firm guarantee of suitability or longevity of the goods.
Flame-proofing and extra treatments
Any finishing treatments administered (including fire retardant substances) are done so at the customer’s own risk. Howe will not accept any claim made for changes of appearance or handle etc. While Howe will not undertake any treatments on the customer’s behalf, we are happy to recommend treatment houses and can arrange delivery to their addresses. Howe makes no claims as to the fire-retardant level of any of its goods unless where specifically stated.
Dimensions and sizes
We do our best to provide accurate dimensions of materials and pattern repeats on this website, but all sizes should be treated as approximate.
Shrinkage, washing and care
Washing and care advice given by Howe, both published on our website and given in person, should be treated as advice and are no guarantee of success. All washing and maintenance of goods should be undertaken with due care by the customer, working slowly and in small patches. The customer should only continue once the final outcome is established and approved. We do not guarantee any goods against shrinkage as this will often occur due to atmospheric variables beyond our control.
Prices
We attempt to review prices each January, but reserve the right to make changes at any time, without prior notice. We will make every attempt to inform customers in such cases.
Quotes
The customer should assume all prices quoted are excluding VAT. Formal quotes can be issued upon request and prices will be valid for 30 days. Quotes for leather purchases are subject to change as an exact price can only be provided after final skin selection has taken place.
Payment terms
We issue invoices that have a payment link powered by Stripe, or you can pay by bank transfer.
We operate on a pro-forma basis for all clients, and no order will be prepared, cut and dispatched until full payment is made and cleared in our bank.
Payments from non-UK based bank accounts
We require the invoice total to be paid in full, with the customer opting to pay all associated bank charges accrued in sending a payment to us. Your order will not be prepared or dispatched until the full and total amount has been received by our bank.
Transfer of ownership
Goods remain the property of 36 Bourne Street Ltd until paid in full.
Lead-times
Leather orders are usually dispatched within 7-14 days from the date of full payment clearing in our bank. Orders requiring quicker dispatch times will be subject to an expedited fee.
Textile, wallpaper and trimming orders are usually dispatched within 72 hours from the date of full payment clearing in our bank.
These lead-times are a guide and subject to goods being in stock.
Delivery
Delivery charges start from £14 excluding vat, depending on the size of the package and the destination. Delivery to a business address is typically cheaper than to a residential address as courier companies charge a premium for residential delivery.
When Howe arranges a delivery on your behalf with our courier (usually UPS or DX), if the customer does not provide a full and correct address, further charges may be later applicable for the arranging of a re-delivery once the address has been corrected. Howe does not have the facilities to check every address provided and thus the onus is on the customer to ensure details are correct. These extra charges can be considerable if the location is remote and / or non-UK based.
Whilst we can arrange expedited delivery we cannot guarantee a particular delivery day/time, so if you require goods for a particular deadline we would recommend that you arrange your own courier service.
Delivery to non-UK based addresses
You should expect import duties and taxes to be payable on your order upon entry into the delivery county. This is a process we are not involved in – we do not act as an ‘agent’ and therefore cannot anticipate any charges or delays. Any fees or levies applicable are to be paid in full by the customer. Howe will not accept responsibility if goods are returned due to duty payments arriving too late or if answers supplied by the customer are deemed inadequate or late. Further delivery attempts will be charged, and if the goods are returned back to the UK the initial delivery bill will still be valid.
If you wish to remove your purchased goods from the UK by fastest possible service, we recommend arranging shipping yourself, or through a dedicated export agent of your choice.
Force majeure
Howe is not liable for any costs arising from delays in lead-time or delivery times when circumstances are beyond our reasonable control.
Product specific terms:
Leather
Batch variation
You will notice slight differences in tone and shade of colour across leather skins and within batches. This is normal and to be expected – a consequence of using natural materials. For this reason samples may vary somewhat from current stock and CFAs tend not to be useful as even different parts of a single skin can vary significantly. Our leathers may also show small scars and scratches, fat wrinkles, spine lines and occasionally some small holes. Please also expect slight changes in thickness and texture across a skin and across a selection of skins within your order. These characteristics are not considered faults, and should instead be embraced as the individuality which makes this natural material so beautiful.
All leather skins can be inspected prior to purchase at the customer’s request. If the leather is not inspected by the customer prior to purchase, they agree to anticipate any and all of the characteristics listed above.
Colour fastness
All leather colours will naturally mellow and fade with exposure to daylight. Fading will be most apparent on pale green and blue shades, and on darker colours. The most drastic fading happens where the intensity of light is very strong and exposure occurs over long periods of time. In extreme cases, with colours such as (but not limited to) ‘Duck Egg’ blue and certain pale green shades, the colour can fade completely to the original putty shade of the naturally tanned skin. Howe makes no guarantee of the light-fastness of any of its leather colours. For a modest fee, we can test what level the leather achieves prior to your purchase.
Some shades of leather may be susceptible to colour ‘lift’, especially where the leather is very new, if it has become damp, or has a damp item placed upon it. Please be aware of this if you choose the darker or vibrant colours in our leather range, with red shades being the most susceptible to lift. Nubuck or suede leather will always shed ‘dust’, which should be a consideration if you intend to use it for seating. We are always happy to give advice where required.
Contact with water (or other liquids) will mark the leather, and over time build to a unique patina and weathered look. Be mindful that spills are impossible to remove. Choosing one of our very dark coloured leathers is the simplest strategy if you want to avoid a potential look of heavy patination and marking.
Claims, returns or exchanges
Claims of any kind will not be accepted once the leather has been cut. It is essential that the customer has checked their leather for colour, quality and quantity before cutting. Howe will not accept any claim for problems arising from leather subjected to further treatments for flame-retardancy, stain proofing etc.
Damaged goods
Any requests for returns or exchanges of goods damaged in delivery must be raised with Howe within 14 days of delivery. Any claims made after that period will not be accepted. If a longer claim period is required due to exceptional circumstances we must be informed prior to payment of the invoice. All damage claims need to be supported with photographic evidence. In these cases Howe will cover the costs of delivery and collection to and from the customer and either an exchange or a full refund will be given.
Cancelled orders or ‘change of heart’
Requests for returns or exchanges of goods due to customer ordering errors, over-ordering or a change of heart must be raised with Howe within 6 months of delivery or collection. Any claims made after that period has elapsed will not be accepted. In these cases Howe is not liable for return costs. It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that the goods are returned in perfect condition, rolled and not folded, and within a reasonable time-frame. Creases caused by the leather being folded renders it unsaleable and therefore skins that are creased or damaged in any other way while being returned will not be accepted for credit.
Leather returns must be sent to our studio address in Camberwell, London. We will exchange the leather for another selection, from the same batch where possible, but we can make no guarantee that this selection will be more suitable than the last. Photos and CFAs cannot be deemed a reliable representation of a whole selection, or even a single skin, so we do not supply them. We therefore advise that you come to the studio in person with your panel sizes or templates to approve the selection yourself.
New Textiles
Batch variation
At Howe we strive to create textiles from yarn which is unprocessed, limiting the use of bleach and detergents where possible. Our cloths are made either partially or entirely from natural materials and yarns, and often produced on vintage looms. This approach means our fabrics have beautiful irregularities and a non-uniform appearance. It is possible that there will be slight variations between different batches.
Colour fastness
All fabric will naturally mellow and fade with exposure to daylight. Fading will be most apparent on darker colours, and most drastic where the intensity of light is very strong and exposure occurs over long periods of time. Howe makes no guarantee of the light-fastness of any of its fabrics. We can test what level the fabric achieves prior to your purchase for a modest fee.
Some shades of fabric may be susceptible to colour ‘lift’, especially where the fabric is very new, if it has become damp, or has a damp item placed upon it. Please be aware of this if you choose the darker or vibrant colours in our fabric range, with red shades being the most susceptible to colour lift. We are always happy to give advice where required.
Pile fabrics
Fabrics with a pile such as velvet or corduroy must be handled with extreme care and stored horizontally to reduce pile flattening. Parcels containing pile fabrics must be opened immediately.
Printed fabrics
We cannot guarantee that the pattern will be printed completely ‘square’ on the cloth. Fabric is less stable than some materials (e.g. wallpaper), therefore a degree of tolerance is necessary. Pattern matching width to width cannot be guaranteed.
Claims, returns or exchanges
Claims of any kind will not be accepted once the fabric has been cut. It is essential that fabric is checked by the customer for colour, quality and quantity before cutting. Howe will not accept any claim for problems arising from fabric subjected to further treatments for flame-retardancy, stain proofing etc.
Faults
We endeavour to supply the customer with a flawless piece of fabric, but faults in production will occur within each batch. These can take the form of slubs in the yarn, different coloured threads, slight changes in fabric widths, and small cuts or tears, etc. Where we consider these not part of the expected and acceptable ‘character’ of the fabric, we will limit them to one fault in ten metres, or five faults in fifty metres etc. An order for five metres may have one fault, and an order for 13 metres may have two faults.
Damaged goods
Any requests for returns or exchanges of goods damaged in a Howe arranged delivery must be raised with Howe within 14 days of delivery. Any claims made after that period will not be accepted. If a longer claim period is required due to exceptional circumstances, we must be informed prior to payment of the invoice. All damage claims need to be supported with photographic evidence. In these cases Howe will cover the costs of delivery and collection to and from the customer and either an exchange or a full refund will be given.
Cancelled orders or ‘change of heart’
Requests for returns or exchanges of goods due to customer ordering errors, over-ordering or a change of heart cannot be accepted as fabric orders are cut specifically for the customer and are therefore a bespoke product.
Vintage Textiles
‘Sold as seen’
Our vintage textiles are sourced from across Europe and are mostly hand-woven, each piece being non-repeatable and totally unique. These are always ‘sold as seen,’ with no specific guarantees of suitability implied. It is the customer’s responsibility to fully inspect each piece prior to purchase and to decide if the item is fit for their purpose. If the customer does not fully inspect items prior to purchase and/or the customer had the items delivered to a workshop or other third party, we cannot offer any refund if the customer is later dissatisfied with the results.
If the vintage fabric is purchased from Howe at 36 Bourne Street and sent for use on a piece of furniture at a Howe London workshop, Howe at 36 Bourne Street will endeavour to fully inspect and prepare the item for use for upholstery on behalf of the customer. However, Howe cannot guarantee the vintage fabric will be suitable for the furniture and the risk of using the vintage fabric on Howe London furniture rests with the customer.
Colour fastness
All vintage fabric will naturally mellow and fade with exposure to daylight. Fading will be most apparent on darker colours, and most drastic where the intensity of light is very strong and exposure occurs over long periods of time. Howe makes no guarantee of the light-fastness of any of its vintage fabrics. We can test what level the fabric achieves prior to your purchase for a modest fee.
Some shades of fabric may be susceptible to colour ‘lift’, especially where the fabric is very new, if it has become damp, or has a damp item placed upon it. Please be aware of this if you choose the darker or vibrant colours in our fabric range, with red shades being the most susceptible to lift. We are always happy to give advice where required.
All vintage fabric can lose colour when exposed to water or when washed as they are not commercially dyed. A trial wash should be undertaken on a small piece of fabric to test the level of colour loss prior to washing the whole piece.
Returns or exchanges
Some Howe vintage fabrics are sold as a single piece and others are cut to a requested size. Any items cut to order are non-returnable and non-refundable as they are considered a bespoke order. Items sold as a ‘piece’ can be returned or exchanged subject to the following conditions:
- The exchange or refund request is submitted in writing within 14 days of receipt of delivery or collection from Howe
- The item is returned to us within 21 days of receipt of delivery or collection from Howe
- The item is in perfect condition
Should any of these 3 stipulations not be adhered to, Howe is not obliged to offer a refund or exchange. Howe also reserves the right to charge a 25% fee, or £40 ex vat charge (whichever is greatest) to cover the administration charges accrued in the sale and refund processes.
Wallpaper
Hanging advice
Our wallpaper is a ‘standard’ width paper printed in England, with either a coated or uncoated surface, and can be hung by ‘standard’ methods. We recommend that for best results the walls should be lined horizontally using a good quality lining paper. Allow to fully dry before hanging the wallpaper. Please ensure that the same adhesive is used to hang both the lining paper and the wallpaper. For best results we recommend the use of a ready mixed starch based paste. A fuller version of this hanging advice can be found on the reverse side of the wallpaper label, inside each roll of wallpaper.
Faults and claims
Before unwrapping your wallpaper and hanging check that the rolls are undamaged, that batch numbers and letters are the same for each roll in your set, and that the design and colours match. Only unwrap and open each new roll after completing the papering of the previous roll.
After hanging two drops and every drop thereafter, inspect the results to ensure that no shading or any other flaws are in evidence, and that the paper is suitable in all respects. This inspection must take place as no claims for hanging costs will be accepted.
If a fault is found whilst papering, Howe is only liable for the replacement of that single opened roll, as all other rolls in your order should be unopened. Customers should report any fault or issue with the opened roll within 14 days of delivery or collection of the paper. The faulty roll will then need to be wrapped and sent back to Howe. If our inspection finds that the roll is faulty, the costs of that return will be refunded to the customer and a new roll will be dispatched.
Decorators
The paper should be allowed to dry naturally to avoid shrink-back. Therefore we recommend that any central heating is turned off until the natural drying process has occurred.
Howe is not responsible for the workmanship of any decorator using our wallpaper. No claims can be made against Howe for poor results with our wallpaper. Our liability is always limited to the price paid for a single roll of wallpaper, should fault be found.
Returns
Unfortunately we can’t accept returns of less than five rolls of paper. We sell wallpaper consecutively roll by roll in the order it is printed in, to avoid any small differences which can occur between the start of a print run and the end. This means that returns of a few rolls here and there really disrupts our stock flow.
If you wish to return five rolls or more, please first contact howe@36bournestreet.com so that we can advise the correct return address, as this is not our shop address. Rolls to be returned should then be sent back to us within 28 days of delivery or collection from Howe. A 25% charge will be applied to your refund as a restocking and administration charge. Please note that the refund will only apply where the rolls are unopened, the cellophane wrapping is undamaged and the product is in perfect condition.
Trimmings
Batch variation
Our leather trimmings are made from the exact same leather available to purchase by the skin from Howe. You will notice slight differences in grain texture and shade of colour across a length of piping, where different skins have been joined to create the length. This is normal and to be expected, a consequence of using natural materials. These characteristics are not considered faults, and should instead be embraced as the individuality which makes this natural material so beautiful.
Colour fastness
All leather colours will naturally change with exposure to daylight, either mellowing and fading, or darkening, depending on the specific colour. Fading will be most apparent on (but not limited to) pale green and blue shades, and on darker colours. The most drastic fading happens where the intensity of light is very strong and exposure occurs over long periods of time. In extreme cases, with colours such as (but not limited to) ‘Duck Egg’ blue and certain pale green shades, the colour can fade completely to the original putty shade of the naturally tanned skin. Howe makes no guarantee of the light-fastness of any of its leather trimmings. We can test what level the leather achieves prior to your purchase for a modest fee.
Some shades of leather may be susceptible to colour ‘lift’, especially where the leather is very new, if it has become damp, or has a damp item placed upon it. Please be aware of this if you choose the darker or vibrant colours in our leather trimmings range, with red shades being the most susceptible to colour lift. Nubuck or suede leather trimming will always shed ‘dust’, which should be a consideration if you intend to use it for seating. We are always happy to give advice where required.
Contact with water will mark the leather trimming, and over time build to a unique patina and weathered look. Be mindful that spills are impossible to remove.
Returns or exchanges
Any requests for returns or exchanges of goods damaged in delivery, or goods with faults, must be raised with Howe within 14 days of delivery or collection. Any claims made after that period will not be accepted. If a longer claim period is required due to exceptional circumstances, we must be informed prior to payment of the invoice. All damage or fault claims need to be supported with photographic evidence. In these cases Howe will cover the costs of delivery and collection to and from the customer and either an exchange or a full refund will be given.
Cancelled orders, over ordering or ‘change of heart’
Requests for returns or exchanges of trimmings due to customer ordering errors, over-ordering or a change of heart cannot be supported if the trimming has been cut to size at the customer’s request, such as an order for Leather Piping or other items sold by the metre. If the trimming is not cut to order (such as a nail, washer, tassel or button) a return is possible. In such cases please contact Howe within 14 days so that we can advise the correct return address. Trimmings should then be sent to us within 28 days of delivery or collection from Howe. A 25% charge, (or one-off fee of £40 ex vat, whichever is the greatest) will be applied to your refund as a restocking and administration charge. The refund will only be applicable if the trimmings and any packaging they were supplied in are in perfect condition.