Town guide / Chester and around
Antique cupboards for Hoole's terraced houses
Hoole grew up in the Victorian era close to Chester's railway station, and its long streets of brick terraces and bay-fronted houses still give it a consistent, recognisable character.
i.
The houses
The typical Hoole house has a chimney breast in each main room with an alcove either side, ceilings of a moderate height and a straight, fairly narrow staircase. Many alcoves have been filled with fitted shelving over the years, but a freestanding cupboard often looks better and moves with you if you leave. Suspended timber floors in houses of this age are rarely perfectly level, which affects how the doors on a tall piece hang.
ii.
Antique cupboards in that setting
Measure each alcove at skirting height and again higher up, because chimney breasts and plaster are seldom square. A cupboard that fits in width can still catch on a picture rail, so note that height as well. Ask Sara whether the top section lifts off, and request a photograph of the doors closed so you can see how they meet.
iii.
Buying from Caernarfon
Life: Full Colour has no showroom in Chester. It is based in Caernarfon, reached from Hoole by the A55 west along the North Wales coast and then the A487.
Buying works the same way from anywhere: find a piece, ask Sara about it by the enquiry form or on 01286 400155, and buy through Creative Caernarfon.
Visiting and delivery
Life: Full Colour is based at 9 Segontium Terrace, Caernarfon LL55 2PN. Ask Sara whether delivery or viewing is possible for a particular piece.
iv.
Questions for a Hoole buyer
Sometimes, but alcoves vary even within one street. Measure the width at floor level and at shoulder height, the depth from the back wall to the face of the chimney breast, and the height to any picture rail. Compare those figures with the measurements Sara gives you, leaving a little space so the cupboard is not wedged in.
In Welsh furniture, a press cupboard usually has an upper stage, often set back, above a lower cupboard base. A Deuddarn has two stages and a Tridarn three. A simpler single-stage cupboard is often easier to fit into a terraced house, particularly where stairs or ceiling heights are limiting.
Solid timber likes steady conditions. An outside wall in an older terrace can be colder and occasionally damp, so leave a small gap behind the cupboard for air to move, and avoid placing it right beside a radiator. If there is a damp patch, sort that out before standing any old furniture against it.
Mention the piece when you fill in the enquiry form on lifefullcolour.uk, or ring Sara on 01286 400155. You can ask for extra photographs, the dimensions of each section and whether viewing could be arranged and how delivery would be quoted. Purchases are completed through Creative Caernarfon.
Before the call, write down the height you can take, the width of your alcove or wall, and the doors the cupboard must pass through. During the call, jot down what you learn about the sections, hinges and locks. A page of notes lets you compare pieces calmly afterwards.
Use a soft, dry brush, such as a clean paintbrush, to lift dust from carving, then a soft cloth on the flat areas. Avoid damp cloths in the grooves, where moisture lingers. A light touch is enough, as old carving can have fragile edges.
Pine is softer, so it dents and scratches more easily, and it can darken in sunlight. Dust it regularly, wax it lightly, and use mats under anything heavy or hot. Oak is more forgiving, but both prefer a thin coat of wax to repeated heavy polishing.
Fitted shelving uses every inch, but it stays with the house. A freestanding cupboard can move with you, be used in another room, and bring solid timber and some age into a plain space. If your alcove is an awkward size, fitted shelving may still be the neater choice.
List what each offers: size, number of doors, condition and what you want to store. Ask the same questions about both so the answers can be compared fairly. Pick the one that suits the wall and your daily use rather than the one with the most decoration.
Listed sizes are usually given as height, width and depth, sometimes with the base height as well, in inches. Convert to centimetres before comparing with your tape, and check whether the figure includes any cornice or rack. If it is unclear, ask Sara what the numbers cover.
Yes. Keep the listing, your measurements and any answers you were given, and note the date you bought it. Those details help if you ever need to describe the piece for insurance or a future sale, and they remind you what to look at when you care for it.