Funky Modern Furniture Made in Vermont? YES!

Who would have ever thought that chic, hip, modern, funky, new wave furniture and Vermont would be used in the same sentence?!  Now, dont get me wrong.  I was raised in Vermont and love a ton of things about this beautiful state.  But, having lived outside of the state for over 9 years and having just moved back gives me a little different perspective.  Let's face it, Vermont is known for a quite a few things, like....cows, Ben and Jerry's, snow, apples, maple syrup, farming, down home quaint small beautiful town commons, and that is just naming a few.  Feel free to add to this list by the way all you Vermonters. :)  But, Vermont is NOT known for chic, modern, funky furniture until now! Take a look at us now all you New Yorkers!!!

Mahogany and Stainless Steel Boat Table

Modern Horizon Dining Table

Modern Artisan Entertainment Center

Luxury Whimsical Hutch

Funky Modern Rocket Stools

 

 

 

 

 

 

So....now that you have seen what the cool furniture makers in Vermont have been doing during those long cold winters.  Now you know!

Enjoy!

Rebecca

 

 

 

Luxury Gift Idea | Modern Artisan Console Table

This table is just too cool....I just love the modern look with the look and feel of natural wood that is the top of this beautiful table.  This table is exclusive to Vermont Woods Studios and can be customized to fit any space you want to place it.  So give us a call if you have any questions!

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Unique Artisan Furniture | Coming Soon To Vermont Woods Studios!

Keep an eye out for the newest additions to our furniture gallery here at Vermont Woods Studios!  These artisan furniture pieces are fun, eclectic, unique and quite amazing and all made here in Vermont!  Here is a sample of the items we will have available soon.

Enjoy!

Rebecca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Ten Eco Friendly Star Couples | Even Reese Gets Down On The Farm!

I was surfing the Internet today wondering what to post next and this posting on InStyle caught my eye. It talks about eco-friendly star couples and the "little" every day ways they are living a "green" lifestyle. Check it out:

1. Reese Witherspoon and Jake Gyllenhaal ~ Jake joined the Global Green Initiative and Reese gardens at her family farm outside of Los Angeles.

2. Jessica Alba and Cash Warren ~ Have been doing "green" renovations to their home and Jessica has been seen buying organic-cotton onesies for their daughter.

3. Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry ~ Have spent about $60k on environmentally friendly nurseries and only buys organic cotton baby clothes.

4. Rachel Bilson and Hayden Christensen ~ Christensen has bought an organic farm in Canada and Bilson line-drys her vintage clothes and has incorporated little eco-friendly ways into her daily routine, like recycling and driving her hybrid car.

5. Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell ~ Drive a Prius and have a purified water system in their home as well as solar panels.

6. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ~ Brad has his green building efforts in helping to rebuild New Orleans and both are dedicated to building green communities.

7. Bono and Ali Hewson ~ Both are involved in green fashion with their organic Edun line, and they are very green around the house with a recycler, and an ethanol car.

8. Toby Maguire and Jennifer Meyer ~ Both are living the vegetarian lifestyle.

9. Keira Knightley and Rupert Friend ~ Shop at their local farmers market and use reusable bags to carry their organic purchases.

10. Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey ~ Recently rallied Capitol Hill to have toxins removed from children's vaccines (which have been alleged to cause autism).

Enjoy!

Rebecca

*Photo courtesy of InStyle.com

Vermont Woods Studios Furniture Featured in New England Home Magazine

Vermont Woods Studios was featured in New England Home Magazine this last month (November/December 2009)! Page 223 Item #12 features our Custom made Modern Equinox Table which is a very cool and contemporary table shown here. This table is exclusive to Vermont Woods Studios and is handmade in Vermont with sustainable wood. Check it out!

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Furniture Sales at Vermont Woods Studios

Check out the furniture on sale at Vermont Woods Studios! Peggy always has great specials running and there are times that you can get a "floor model" at super low prices. Vermont Woods Studios collaborates with small artisan furniture makers in Vermont to market their items on her website. Making it so they can focus on their craft and still sell their beautiful furniture. Because of Peggy's commitment to the environment all furniture from Vermont Woods Studios is made from certified sustainable wood or recycled wood. Check out Peggy's commitment on the "about us" page.

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Great Holiday Gift Idea | Customized Round Shaker Dining Table

This beautiful Round Shaker Dining Table caught my eye recently when we had a customer order it from us. The finish on the table was impecable and I just loved running my hands over the table top. This table makes a great kitchen table since it can be customized to fit any space you wish. It can also make a great dining room table since it can come with extension leaves to make it large when you need it for those holiday times or when you are entertaining. This table is available at Vermont Woods Studios exclusively.

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Green Living By Example. Eco-Snobbery?

I found this really interesting blog on Treehugger.com that talks about "green living" and if sometimes when we are trying to live a better eco lifestyle does it offend others that maybe don't make the same decisions. If you have been following this blog you will know that I am far from being what I consider a "greenie" but in my own way make little differences here and there. But, I have to admit that when you hear the diehard eco's talk it can sometimes get a little...blah, blah, blah. LOL! So, if you are like me, take a look at what is said on this posting called Green Living: Leading by Example or Passive Aggressive Preaching, and decide for yourself.

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Top Ten Items That Do Not Count As Christmas Gifts!

My boyfriend and I are having that classic discussion about what constitutes a gift for the holidays. Christmas is right around the corner and I am having a hard time buying for him. So I "subtly" have asked him what the heck he wants for Christmas. Subtle right? So he starts naming off stuff that I would consider "household" items. Must be a guy thing. So I guess it's okay to buy that stuff for your guy but us girls aren't that simple. Here are the top ten items you do NOT buy for your girlfriend, wife, or mother unless she specifically asks for it:

1. Lawnmower
2. Blender
3. Weedwacker
4. Tool Shed
5. Clothes Washer & Dryer
6. Vacuum Cleaner
7. Ultra Sonic Toothbrush
8. Rake or Hoe or Wheelbarrow
9. Dishwasher (Peggy and I are arguing about this one)
10. Leaf Blower
11. Armorall and Shammies
12. Gun Rack for the family van
13. Gardon Hose
14. Singing toilet seat
15. Subscription to hunting magazine
16. Snuggie
17. Toaster Coazie
18. Gift certificate to the hardware store

Okay, so we got a little carried away! Peggy and I have been laughing the whole time while making this list! So, we have started discussing if furniture should go on this list or not and we decided no. Women like to have nice furniture and getting high end furniture as a gift for their home is a great idea. Especially furniture that lasts and will be handed down for generations. Our furniture is like that here at Vermont Woods Studios and makes great holiday gifts. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah or Christmas, luxury furniture makes a great holiday gift. We have made it simple for you to find great luxury Christmas and holiday gift ideas. Okay girls, please add to our list above and tell us what "interesting" gifts you have received from your man. Let's see who comes up with the best (or should I say worst) one.

Enjoy!


Rebecca :)

Chic Modern Furniture Made in Vermont? No Way!

Being what Peggy calls a chi-chi South Florida girl, I had a preconcieved notion that artisans from Vermont only do "country" furniture.  Yes, I was raised in Vermont but have been "citified" and hadn't really seen the proof for myself.  Well, here it is.  I have seen a lot of these pieces myself and fell in love with the artistry and the extreme details with this furniture.  Literally, when I walk up to this furniture I cannot help but run my hands along the wood surfaces.  The wood is finished so finely that it feels so amazingly wonderful under the fingertips.  The only way for me to describe it is the wood "comes to life" under your touch and feels like "skin", smooth and velvety.  Here are some examples of fine Vermont furnishings:

So, if you think that all Vermont is just good for is colorful leaves and maple syrup, think again.  This furniture is chic, modern and totally hip!

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Custom Made Heavenly Sleigh Bed | Celestial Sleigh Bed

For the person who has it all....or just thinks they do. Take a look at this gorgeous, ultra-luxurious bed. It's called the Celestial Sleigh Bed because it has hand-carved angels sitting among the clouds on the headboard, and the foot of the bed features a whimsical moon and stars theme. Shush...don't tell, there is a secret compartment hidden in the footboard to keep extra bedding and pillows. The "key" to opening the footboard is hidden in the chin of the moon. This bed was designed and created by a Vermont artisan that is willing to customize this beautiful bed. YOU choose the theme and work with the artisan to create your "one-of-a-kind" bed with the headboard made to your specifications. This artisan is exclusive to Vermont Woods Studios. Check out more Artisan and Custom Wood furniture.

Enjoy!

Rebecca

There Was Global Warming BEFORE Humans? Gasp!

Okay, I am going to say it. I do not believe that we humans are the source of global warming. I just have taken all this propoganda with a grain of salt and do not believe that we can affect our world as much as we think. I think it's similar to the notion of years ago when our ancestors thought that the earth was the center of the universe. Everybody said so! The notion that we can affect our planet this greatly makes me think of that attitude...that we are larger and more important than we actually are. Can we stop or affect hurricanes, tornadoes, typhoons or just something as simple as the rain....no, so why do we think we can heat or cool the entire planet?

I definitely believe that we are affecting our planet in horrible ways but that we are the cause of the earth warming up, to actually alter the entire atmosphere, I think is ridiculous. I think that all the things that we do to help the planet are GOOD, and I dont think that it should stop. But, there were thousands of years without trees, no polar ice caps, ocean levels hundreds of feet higher than they are now and these were all things that happened a long time before there were humans (see chart above). There seem to be so many things that effect the atmosphere, how can the scientists really know that it is us. The minute a scientist gets all his facts something has changed...hello, any New Englander will tell you that if you dont like the weather, wait a minute, it will change. So, I fully expect to have tons of facts thrown at me from this posting and relish the thought....but just think about what I have said.

Have eco fun!

Rebecca

Madonna Plants a Moringa Tree at Her Girls School in Malawi

Who would have ever thought that a crazy singer who rolled all over the stage in '84 at the MTV Music Awards in a wedding dress would have opened a school for orphaned girls in South Africa years later. But, Madonna has done just that.

According to Ecorazzi.com, she has been talking about it since May of last year. She planted a tree at the construction site of the new academy for girls at Chinkhota village, the tree is called a Moringa tree known as the "miracle tree" for its cure of many diseases. Hundreds of kids will be helped from various orphanages. Way to go Madonna!

Rebecca

*Photo by MTV

Ten Easy Every Day Ways to Save the Planet From an Eco Dummie

Okay guys, I am not what you would call a "Greenie", but I would like to be! Now working with Peggy from Vermont Woods Studios, it has made me more aware of my responsibility to the planet. I have just always felt a little overwhelmed by all the ways to "save the planet". I know that I cannot be the only ECO DUMMY out there. ( At least I hope not). So, here are ten EASY every day ways to save the planet, that even us eco dummies can do.

Deforestation Up Close | 250 Year Old Tree Cut Down Illegally

They say that pictures speak louder than words. This tree was cut down illegally in Brazil and was left where it fell. The chestnut tree will now be at an environmental exhibit in the country's capital in November. Weighing 15 tons and being 40 meters tall (about 122 feet) this 250 year old tree is on the country's endangered plants list and it's forbidden to cut them down.

Great Holiday Gift Idea | Modern Equinox Table

This Modern Equinox Table is just gorgeous and one of my favorite pieces that we sell. With a clean, modern, chic look this would make a wonderful addition to your contemporary home. This table is handmade in Vermont and done in maple with an espresso stain but can be custom made in natural cherry, walnut or oak. Go to Vermont Woods Studios for more information on this beautiful table and to order in time for the holidays.

Rebecca

Fall Foliage From Vernon, Vermont

Hey guys, take a look at the pics that Peggy took from the neighborhood! Really great fall foliage pictures! Here is one and the rest are on our Flickr.com photostream.

Check it out!  We have to find the other ones on her computer. She lost them.  Shhhhh...dont tell her I told you.

Rebecca :)

Why is Walnut Furniture More Expensive?

Since starting with Vermont Woods Studios, I had been asking Peggy, "why do we have an increase in prices for the walnut furniture?" So Peggy sent me on a mission. Find out why walnut wood is more expensive than other woods for furniture. This is what I found out.

1. Walnut wood often has a curved curly grain that most people find more desirable in furniture then a straight grain.
2. Walnut is so hard, strong and durable that furniture makers find it more desirable for their furniture. It can also be easily carved making it a great choice for ornate furniture that requires intricate woodworking.
3. In pre-colonial days the walnut tree was plentiful, but specimans were used recklessly for solid walnut furniture and exported to Europe. The wood was also used for railroad ties, and fence rails because of it's durability when in contact with soil. This started the depletion of good walnut tree specimans. Northernwoodlands.org speaks about this more.
4. In the mid-1700's black walnut was used and favored for gunstocks in the Connecticut River valley so much that the high-quality black walnut tree population was wiped out by 1795. It is no longer found in New England. (Too bad they didn't have sustainable forestry practices back then.)
5. Gun manufacturers had to start getting their hardwood walnut from as far away as the Ohio Valley, west of the Alleghenies. Making good specimans of walnut rather rare.
6. The rare good specimans of walnut are so desirable that they are used as a veneer for furniture. The process brings out the best of the grain and allows for more to be used. Using the veneer also makes the furniture more affordable.

Those are the reasons why walnut is a premium priced wood for furniture. We have depleted the good speciman trees in our past and they have not ever recovered. When I first started this post, I never knew that I would also be talking about a reason for good forestry and sustainable practices for trees. This definitely shows a good reason for us to make sure these practices are followed in the future.

Rebecca

PS. The walnut slabs pictured here are from one of our Vermont artisans. For more, take a look at this artisans Large Live Edge Table.  To view more of our talented furniture makers, visit our Custom Walnut Furniture section.

Treehugger.com | Send Them Your Fall Foliage Pics!

To all you Leaf Peepers out there! You know who you are. Treehugger.com is asking their readers to send it some great fall foliage pics. Since this is my first foliage in 9 years I have been enjoying the scenery immensly. So I asked Peggy to take some pics and send them in to see if they will get on the Treehugger website. They have some really great foliage pictures on the site already. So we will see if Peggy's pictures get to be published and I will blog about it to let you know how she does. We love trees here at Vermont Woods Studios....we need to change our motto to "Trees Are Us". What do you think? :)

Have Eco Fun!

Rebecca

What is Sustainable Wood Furniture?

Since we are in the furniture business "sustainable wood" is a very important term for us. Vermont Woods Studios was created under the premis that we wanted to make an eco friendly difference, but we wanted to make it locally too. According to Peggy Farabaugh...

"Together we have created a community of eco friendly luxury furniture makers and environmentalists dedicated not only to beauty and quality in our craft, but also to the preservation of our natural environment."

So, with this in mind we only use wood that are from forests that use management principles supported and regulated by the FSC, the Forest Stewardship Council. Sustainable wood is wood that is harvested from carefull managed forests or reclaimed from old buildings or furniture. We also have furniture makers that use reclaimed wood or barnwood for their furniture pieces. One of them is pictured above. These are beautiful high-end furniture pieces where the attention to detail is amazing. If you want to see more of these types of furniture visit our Barnwood Furniture section on our website. You will not be disappointed.

Have eco fun!

Rebecca

PS. For more great eco friendly information and advice...check out Peggy's Blog.

Brad Pitt Unveils a Floating House | Make It Right Foundation

Yes, I know, I am blogging about Brad Pitt again but you have GOT to read this story. Brad Pitt's Make is Right Foundation has built a floating house, YES, you heard me right, a floating house in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans. This is all according to a great blog about it on Inhabitat.com. The house will float on two posts up to 12 feet to ensure it doesnt get flooded. The floating house also has a battery supply that will help the family within to survive for up to three days. It really is a cool idea. I went through Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Wilma while living in South Florida and was wondering what would happen if the storm surge ever reached the status of what happened in New Orleans. This is a great answer to the issue in New Orleans. Good job again Brad! Hey, now how about using sustainable furniture from Vermont Woods Studio (shamless plug, yes, I know) inside these houses? I really need Brads phone number to have a talk with him about this. :)

Have Eco Fun!

Rebecca

Great Holiday Gift Idea | Drip Groove Cutting Board

I have been wondering what to send my parents for a Christmas gift and here it is. They are not computer people so I am safe blogging about this. Both of my parents are "cooks" and this makes it a great gift for both of them. Vermont Woods Studios has gorgeous cutting boards that are handmade from sustainably harvested wood...so I am doing something good for the environment too. They will both use it too! A perfect idea! Vermont Woods Studios has great wooden kitchen accessories that would also make great gifts for that kitchen connoisseur. So if you have a cook on your holiday list, (or someone who thinks they are a cook), get them one of these gorgeous colorful cutting boards.

Have Eco fun!

Rebecca

Blog Pick | Brad Pitt Receives Honor from US Green Council

Now a lot of us love Brad Pitt for other reasons other than his charitable work in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Lucky Angie! But, he really does seem like the "nice" guy! You hear of other celebrities who sound like they are doing the "right" thing but you can just tell that it is a PR stunt and you never hear from them again. Not so with Brad.  According to Ecorazzi.com Brad received an honor at the Clinton's Global Initiative for his work with his Make It Right foundation. This foundation centers around sustainable building -  and improving the lives of people in New Orleans. 15 out of 150 homes have already been built and one of the homes only used $35 a month in electricity! The sustainable homes also must be storm resilient and have safety in mind for the families that live there.  Way to go Brad! Now how about adding sustainable furniture to those homes....just another thing to add to your list! :)

Have Eco fun!

Rebecca

PS - Hey they are talking about making him Mayor down there....He has our vote!

BLOG PICK | Natural Furniture and America's Best Idea

I found a great blog about a special I saw on tv about Americas National Parks. Peggy from Vermont Woods Studios blogged about it and I thought her blog was very cool and informative. She talks about 3,000 year old trees in the Sequoia National Forest (WOW!) and tells you how you can help protect the forests at Save America's Forests. Take a look for yourself!

Rebecca

Super Price! Modern Dining Table

Check out this gorgeous modern cherry dining table! Vermont Woods Studios does not usually stock furniture but this dining table was ordered by a client and she wanted it BIGGER then what she initially ordered. So we got this one back. (There is NOTHING wrong with this table, she just wanted bigger). This table is 42" by 72" so it is a great size, but oh well.....what can you do? The customer is always right! Natural cherry dining tables are a great seller for us and they go QUICK! So, this makes a great opportunity for YOU to get in on a great price for this handmade natural cherry table as well as getting it in your home right away. Can't you just picture your family around this table for the holidays? I can!
Rebecca

Rebecca's Pick | Cherry Moon Gent's Chest

I have fallen in LOVE with this Cherry Moon Gent's Chest! My boyfriend and I went out to enjoy the wonderful New England weather....rare, yes I know, but the weather was fabulous, sunny and warm.

We happened upon a furniture store that carried some great pieces and one of them was this Gent's Chest, that we sell at Vermont Woods Studios also. I am always amazed when I see these items in person. I was raised in Vermont but had made my home in South Florida for the last 9 years, so the "city girl" in me tends to classify these pieces as too "country" when looking at pictures. But when you see them in person they are NOT! The pictures that I have seen do not do them justice at all. The detail and finish are so truly wonderful and smooth to the touch that the wood seems to come to life under your fingertips. I cannot stop touching them when I see them, and this Gent's Chest was so big, beautiful and solid that I was amazed and fell in love.  Guess I will just have to get it!

Rebecca

What's in a name?

I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out what to name this blog. Then it was shouted across the room at me and "get in the milk crate" worked! It is an old Vermont term about a mother, a milk crate and a bike, that means "okay kids, lets get going"! So we feel that it's a perfect name for this blog.

We want to be a part of the education and discussion of sustainable wood furniture and what it all means. We also want as many people as possible to join us in that discussion. This all started with Peggy.

Peggy is an owner of Vermont Woods Studios in Vernon, Vermont. For the majority of her life Peggy participated in various efforts to limit her own "footprint" and to participate in the education of young people about environmental issues. She decided to use Vermont's beautiful, handmade custom artisan wood furniture as a way to grab attention for her cause: stewardship of the earth's forests.

Her company is Vermont-based and specializes in providing eco-friendly luxury furniture designed and built to exacting quality standards by independent Vermont furniture makers. Each piece is created from sustainably-harvested hardwood from well managed forests. The furniture is designed to last for at least as long as it took to grow the tree it was built from, in other words, generations. For more information about Vermont Woods Studios check out their about us page.

So there you have it. I want to be a part of the discussion about sustainable forests, eco-friendly furniture and how that affects us all in the long run. The ideas, myths and what it's all about.

There will be multiple writers to this blog and I welcome all comments and ideas. Like I said, let's all get in the milkcrate!

Rebecca