Project: Parker Knoll - Heals Oak Bed Settee refurb.

[down-in-the-dumps]

Hello, I have over a few days now started a refurbishment project. I found this seat in the 80's when you could find these pieces of furniture in empty London properties that had stuff left for skipping or disposal. Hard to really believe this story nowadays. Anyway, I have owned this seat for more than 30 years and undertook a basic wash down of the timber faces etc and then bought material and filling and that was it for 30yrs. Thankfully I didn't try to work with the limited technologies that are with us now but not available to us DIYers in those days. So in short I am starting from scratch on the rebirth of this wonderful and practical settee. So it has been in my workshop gathering a lot of 'protective' dust for probably 20 years plus now.

I would just like to sketch out my basic evolving ideas.
1. The springs form the seat are pretty shabby with loss of some sort of cotton socks. Ebay etc. has some sort of long life covered springs but I am uncertain for the moment of going down that route, maybe I can find some flat profile garden hose... ideas?
2. I am uncertain as to whether this is oak or some other English wood. The final stain colour looks like the photos, (E) inparticular, and to my eye like a 'milk' stain that occludes/ hides the grain of the wood. So where there are knocks and scratches ( on the exterior faces of the settee ) after just wetting the surfaces and also just applying 25 yr old oil (C) that I have used on my 8" floorboards to discover the condition of the settee frame. The oil worked very well with R's Ikea iconic chair were the wood was worn and kicked in areas required some brightening up. So I am using this same oil for the settee for the moment, smoothing/ polishing back with a coffee filter paper in my hand only...ideas?
3. Where the 'head and foot' sides of this bed sit, there are major 6mm deep gouges in the 'legs' (B&D) of these pieces where they have worn without my knowledge and I propose to use the RepairCare wood filler to level out some of the faces of the legs and fill the 4nr. screw holes that act as a rotating hinge!, in effect allowing the 'head and foot' to go from 80* to parallel to the floor. Sleeping mode...ideas?
4. Ideas about the sizes of the cushions - foam for the seat, and back and pillows etc. for the 'head and foot...ideas?

A. Here is a basic image of the seat
B 'head and foot'
C. Rustic Oil
D. Repair to splits in the tongue area
E. Trying to show true colour of the 'arced' wood piece

Over long and image heavy. Sorry.
John

 

[Cubist]

You have a very interesting project there and one I would ordinarily envy you for. Seeing it in its dis-assembled state has me guessing how mechanically the various elements would have operated and at present I'm stuck with guesses alone. To answer, or at least shed some light perhaps, on your plan/questions;

1. The springs form the seat are pretty shabby with loss of some sort of cotton socks. Ebay etc. has some sort of long life covered springs but I am uncertain for the moment of going down that route, maybe I can find some flat profile garden hose... ideas?

• Steel coil springs would typically be sown individually inside strong cotton or calico fabric pockets that would then be arranged into the general shape of the desired cushion and tied/sown together using upholsters twine - there is a strict method for this tying stage which allows the springs to work together, rather than individually, to create a more comfortable seating/lying surface. Additional facing and edge padding would then be added before a final fabric covering is applied.
• For this seat, and assuming it was intended to sleep two adults the loose cushions to the rear and possibly the sides too would have been produced in the way. The cushions for the back would also double as themattress for the section that extends from beneath the setee frame.
• Best practice your sowing skills and read up on Furniture Upholstery methods and tools. - theres a very good guy featured on that Salvage Hunters The Restorers tv programme.

2. I am uncertain as to whether this is oak or some other English wood. The final stain colour looks like the photos, (E) inparticular, and to my eye like a 'milk' stain that occludes/ hides the grain of the wood. So where there are knocks and scratches ( on the exterior faces of the settee ) after just wetting the surfaces and also just applying 25 yr old oil (C) that I have used on my 8" floorboards to discover the condition of the settee frame. The oil worked very well with R's Ikea iconic chair were the wood was worn and kicked in areas required some brightening up. So I am using this same oil for the settee for the moment, smoothing/ polishing back with a coffee filter paper in my hand only...ideas?

• I would need a couple of close up photos of the timber - wide view of the face and maybe one of an endgrain - to be reasonably sure but at present I'm not convinced it's oak. The grain pattern I can see at present seems very tight and fine so I'm thinking its most likely beech.
• The 'milky' stain is the product of damp exposure. Getting rid of this could mean taking the finish back to bare wood before the lacquer/varnish coat can be repaired.
• That oil could be a problem for you later. The knocks and scratches in the old finish will have allowed the oil to bleed outward from the exposed wood into slightly larger areas. If you later decide to fully strip the surface lacquer you may find it difficult to re-balance the colours of the raw wood around these darker spots - you may end up having to apply a couple of coats of the same oil blend and hide the nicks and nocks.

3. Where the 'head and foot' sides of this bed sit, there are major 6mm deep gouges in the 'legs' (B&D) of these pieces where they have worn without my knowledge and I propose to use the RepairCare wood filler to level out some of the faces of the legs and fill the 4nr. screw holes that act as a rotating hinge!, in effect allowing the 'head and foot' to go from 80* to parallel to the floor. Sleeping mode...ideas?

• Some photos would be useful here but I would be worried about any filler you might use to make the repairs. Getting some fillers to accept a stain of any kind can be very difficult and matching the resulting colour to that of the surrounding wood can be exceptionally difficult if not impossible with some fillers. If theres no other way to fix these gouges then you would be wise to test the selected fillers colour adoption performance before using it.
• Depending on the severity of this damage a restorer may choose to 'let in' a new piece(s) of matching timber.
• Can you share of picture of the 4nr screw holes please? And, explain what is meant by 4nr?

4. Ideas about the sizes of the cushions - foam for the seat, and back and pillows etc. for the 'head and foot...ideas?

• How many swings have you got and are they still tied together albeit sans pockets and fabric coverings?
• A google search on 'Parker Knoll Day Beds or Bed Settees will give you some ideas regarding size/scale and styles of cushions used.

Hope the above helps and good luck.

Cheers,
Cubist

 

[down-in-the-dumps]

I have been saving this up for a cold winter indoors job and I am throughly enjoying my exposure to multi tasking to something that is <2m/2.
To answer your points.
1. It is long enough for someone taller than six foot I would guess but no wider, but useless with a companion. Unless someone is on top then the springs couldn't handle the weight. End of Warranty then.
2. I believe it slow grow oak, having written that the grain is very straight very much like beech.
3. 4nr. is the European way of writing 4 number, old as the hills. When I get around to that hole filling I have enough experience with RepairCare now and with careful prepping it will take a secure screw, I will cut some silicone washers from a thin sheet that I have. The screws, I think they are brass nr.10's.
4. This is going to be the hardest choice, foam and synthetic horse hair works together but would nice to have a hidden cord edge to all edges ie old fashion for a change, in keeping with something that goes back to the 1930's.

More photos to follow.

 

[Cubist]

4nr. is the European way of writing 4 number,

Coo. And theres me headquartered in Paris for four years and accountable for Southern Europe and Iberia - how soon we forget. Made a # of that didn't I.

So likely just drop-down wings to extend the length rather than a pull out section. I suspect you may need a tame upholster near you for that kind of work.

 

[Cubist]

Just found this one that looks very similar to yours.

https://www.vinterior.co/furniture/seating/sofas/heal-s-parker-knoll-oak-sofa-1930s-sku86384776

And now I see the springs are circa 0.5 metre long fabric bound and not what I first thought.

 

[down-in-the-dumps]

Ha Hey!, a lucky find, thank you for posting that link. I'll take a look now.