Terms & Conditions

By placing an order with Modern Approach, you agree to the terms set out below. Please read them before purchasing — they explain how we work, what you can expect from us, and what we ask of you in return.

About Our Products

Our furniture is high-quality reproductions inspired by iconic designs. These are not originals, and Modern Approach is not affiliated with the original designers or their official manufacturers. Any reference to a designer or original product name is used for descriptive purposes only.

We take care to represent our products accurately, but please note:

Colours displayed on screen are as accurate as we can make them, but may vary from the physical item due to monitor settings and the nature of digital colour.
Dimensions and measurements are taken manually and are approximate. They are based on information provided by our manufacturers and may vary slightly in production.
Product images are a guide. The actual item may differ in appearance depending on the upholstery, finish, size selected, or manufacturing process.
Natural materials — including leather, marble, wood, and stone — will vary in colour, grain, and texture. This is inherent to the material and part of its character. Similar items purchased at different times may not match perfectly, and this is not considered a defect.
Most items arrive fully assembled. Some require minor assembly, which will be noted on the product page.

Placing an Order

Registration

If you register an account with us, the information you provide must be accurate and kept up to date. Please notify us promptly if your contact details change.

Order Confirmation

Once your payment is received, we'll send a confirmation email to the address provided at checkout. This confirmation constitutes acceptance of your order and forms a legally binding contract between us. Please save this email — it serves as your receipt and proof of purchase.

Payment

We accept Visa, Mastercard, and AMEX via Shopify Payments, as well as bank transfer. All card transactions are handled with secure encryption under strict banking standards. We do not store card details.

If payment has not been received after an order is submitted, we may cancel the order automatically. Bank transfer payments must be received within 10 working days of the order date; after this, the order will be voided.

Lead Times

Lead times are estimates based on average production and shipping timelines. They are not guarantees.

Standard items: 6–8 weeks (excluding processing time and customs clearance).

Made-to-Order items: 14–18 weeks, from the time your order is placed to arrival at our UK warehouse. Several factors can affect this timeline:

Shipping delays caused by weather, port congestion, customs, or other logistics issues beyond our control
Production slowdowns due to raw material availability or public holidays
Import scheduling — we import from suppliers on a monthly cycle, so orders not ready for the current shipment move to the next available one

Our Chinese suppliers close for the entirety of August, over Christmas, and for Chinese New Year in February. Orders placed near these periods should allow for additional lead time.

We'll contact you if your order is delayed beyond the 18-week window. Custom-made items do not carry a fixed lead time estimate, as timelines depend on the complexity of the project.

Delivery

We deliver to the address provided at checkout. Shipping fees are calculated at checkout and vary by size, weight, and destination.

You become the owner of your goods at the point of delivery. From that point, risk passes to you.

Kerbside delivery: Standard items are delivered to the kerbside. The goods are adequately packaged for transit.

Made-to-Order delivery: Large and made-to-order items are delivered to street level or the nearest accessible ground-floor location. Delivery teams are unable to enter your home or navigate stairs. Please plan for this in advance.

On delivery, please:

Inspect the outer packaging before signing. If you notice any damage, photograph it and note it clearly on the delivery confirmation before signing.
If you're unable to inspect the goods at the time of delivery, sign the delivery note as "unchecked" or "subject to inspection."
Keep all original packaging — it's required for any courier damage claim.
If damage is confirmed after unpacking, notify the carrier in writing within 3 working days of delivery. We recommend sending this by recorded post. Failure to notify the carrier within this window may prevent you from making a damage claim.

If you're unavailable to accept a delivery, you can arrange a second attempt or collect from a courier depot. If delivery fails due to incorrect details, repeated non-attendance, or an uncooperative recipient, and the goods are returned to us, we may cancel the order and deduct 20% of the total order value from any refund to cover return, storage, and insurance costs.

Import Duties (International Orders)

All international orders are shipped on a Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) basis. Customs duties and import taxes are not included in your order total and are your responsibility to pay before delivery can be completed.

We're unable to predict exact duty amounts, as these are set by the destination country. Failure to pay will result in delays, potential storage fees, and ultimately the return of your goods. If goods are returned due to refused customs clearance, we reserve the right to deduct 20% of the total order value from any refund to cover associated costs.

We are not responsible for any charges incurred through customs offices. Please check your country's import policies before ordering.

Circumstances Beyond Our Control

We are not liable for delays caused by events outside our reasonable control — including extreme weather, port disruption, supplier shutdowns, or other force majeure events. In such cases, we'll notify you as soon as possible. If a delay is substantial, we'll work toward a resolution, which may include a refund at our discretion.

Cancellations

Standard items can be cancelled before dispatch. Please contact us as soon as possible.

Made-to-Order and custom-made items can be cancelled or modified within 7 days of placing your order. After that, production is assumed to have commenced and cancellations are not possible — even if the order experiences an unforeseen delay. An exception applies if the item has not been delivered by the 30th calendar week, in which case a cancellation and refund may be arranged. COM (customer's own material) items are final sale — no cancellation, exchange, or refund is available under any circumstances.

Right of Withdrawal

You have the right to return a standard item within 14 days of receiving it, provided the item and all original packaging are returned in the same condition as received. Return shipping costs are your responsibility.

This right does not apply to Made-to-Order, custom-made, or COM items, which are produced to your personal specifications.

If your return is accepted, we'll examine the goods upon receipt. If goods were damaged in transit on the return journey, we'll notify you within 5 working days so you can make a claim against the carrier. We are not responsible for damage or loss on return shipments sent without insurance.

Made-to-Order Replacements

If a Made-to-Order or custom-made item arrives damaged or defective, we'll arrange a repair or replacement at no cost to you, subject to the following:

Damage must be reported within 3 days of delivery, with photographic evidence sent to info@modern-approach.com
All original packaging must be retained, as it may be required for a courier claim
If you need to return the item, it must be repacked in the original packaging

Warranty

All products are covered by a 12-month manufacturer's warranty from the date of delivery.

Residential Use

Covers structural defects in metal and solid wood components under normal domestic use, as well as soft components (threading, piping, buttons, rubber parts, adhesive separation) for one year.

If a qualifying issue arises, we'll supply replacement parts free of charge (estimated lead time: 8–14 weeks). For soft component defects, we may approve and reimburse a local repair, provided you submit a quote for our approval in advance. We are not liable for the quality of third-party repairs.

Light Commercial Use

For offices, hotels, cafés, and similar environments, the warranty covers structural defects in metal and solid wood components only. Soft components are not covered in commercial settings. We may, at our discretion, supply parts, arrange repairs, or offer a replacement. Labour and shipping costs for any remedy are the customer's responsibility.

What's Not Covered

The warranty does not cover:

Natural variation or wear in materials including marble, leather, fabric, paint, veneer, foam, plywood, or fibreglass
Damage resulting from misuse, neglect, improper maintenance, or environmental exposure (sunlight, moisture, weather)
Damage caused by pets, accidents, or natural events (flooding, fire, wind)
Cushion compression or fabric fading through normal use or sun exposure

How to Make a Claim

Contact us within 14 days of discovering the issue at info@modern-approach.com, with a clear description and supporting photos or video. We don't accept responsibility for damage caused after delivery — including marks, scratches, or chips that weren't present when the item arrived.

Made-to-Order items carry the same 12-month warranty but are not covered by the 14-day return right.

The warranty is void if an item has been modified from its original condition.

Liability

Modern Approach is not liable for:

Business losses of any kind, including lost profits, revenue, contracts, or data
Indirect or consequential loss that was not reasonably foreseeable when the contract was formed
Damage or defects caused by your actions or those of a third party
Delays caused by production, shipping, customs, or third-party services

If the goods delivered are incorrect, damaged, or defective, you must notify us within 3 working days of delivery. We will not accept liability for issues reported after this window.

Our maximum liability is limited to a refund of the amount paid for the goods in question (less any applicable delivery charges).

Governing Law

These terms are governed by English law. By accepting them, you agree to the jurisdiction of the English courts for any disputes arising from your order or these terms.

Modern Approach reserves the right to update these terms at any time. Changes will be reflected on this page.

By completing your order, you confirm that you have read and agree to these terms and conditions.