Handmade Furniture: Top Ten Reasons To Buy It

Why should you purchase handmade/handcrafted furniture? I asked myself that same question after having just moved from Florida and moved into my new place in Vermont, and having NO furniture since I had sold it all before the move. After all, I hadn't purchased nice furniture in the last few years because I knew I was moving. So nothing I had would be what I would call....worth keeping. So, now I have a whole new outlook on buying nice furniture instead of running around to yardsales, not that there are any here this time of year, but now I want pieces that are going to last me for a long time. That may mean spending more but in the long run I will be saving money since the nicer pieces will last longer. I cannot tell you how many bookshelves I have bought from Walmart and they fall apart in the next year! Ugh! No more cheap stuff.

1. Handcrafted does not always mean expensive. I have seen some furniture pieces that are mass produced and they are not that much less then the handcrafted!
2. A lot of handcrafted/handmade furniture can be adjusted/custom made to fit YOUR specifications. Try asking Ikea to make your dining table the size you want.
3. Most classic furniture makers use "REAL" wood for their furniture. Tons of mass produced furniture is made from different types of particle boards.
4. When you are talking about handcrafting furniture, there are quality standards that tend to be upheld with the furniture artisan. Meaning they take tons of pride in their craft.
5. So, when talking quality furniture - one of those things is the mortise and tennon joinery used in making the furniture.
6. Also, when talking quality furniture - the furniture makers use true dovetails when making their drawers - this is a sign of quality.
7. Using high end hardware, for drawers and pulls.
8. Using real wood, preferably sustainable wood, instead of particle boards.
9. I think using natural, non-toxic furniture finishes are also a mark of quality.
10. And, I think the most important thing, these pieces last FOREVER if taken care of. These are furniture desks, beds, chests, hutches that you pass down to your children....or if you dont have children your family members fight over once you are gone. :)

So, when you are in need of a new piece of furniture, think of what I've said above and buy a true piece of handcrafted furniture. You won't regret it.

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Heart Shaped Valentine Chairs | Rebecca's Pick

Check out Vermont Woods Studio's red Heart Shaped Valentine Chairs just in time for Valentine's Day!  Give your honey his/her hearts desire with something unique and eclectic for your home.  Great conversation pieces to be placed in a foyer, hallway or as an accent to any room.  Handcrafted of figured maple hardwood with vervety red upholstery with painted red accents.  You can pick your choice of wood and the color of your upholstery.  Created by Vermont furniture maker Steve Holman.

For the luxury home with fabulous, funky style!

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Modern Shaker Style Furniture | Beautiful In It's Simplicity

If you like curves and ornate decoration on your furniture then the Shaker style is not for you.  Known for it's clean, straight lines and simplistic functionality, modest yet beautiful, Shaker furniture is unlike other furniture styles. 

Shaker Furniture: History

The Shakers were a Christian denomination that came to America from Europe in the 1700's to practice religious freedom.  They are called shakers because of the way they would "shake" during religious services.  Practicing modesty simplicity and efficiency.  The Shaker community has actually almost died out.  There are only four Shakers left in the country since the Shakers practiced celibacy.   Their numbers only increased due to taking in and adopting children, which was declaired unlawful in the 60's, making their numbers dwindle. But, because of their celibate lifestyle, the Shakers kept their hands and minds free from sin by practicing manual skills like carpentry.  This led to a high degree of craft and dexterity, and it shows in their furniture. They are especially known for their simplistic furniture style.

Shaker Furniture:  Modern Styling

Shaker furniture has had a huge impact on the modern furniture movement, and it's influences can be seen through many contemporary designers today.  Keeping in the Shaker tradition and the modern furniture look, the furniture is simple, straight lines, minimalistic style.  Modern furniture makers are keeping up the tradition of the Shakers with handmade, fine furniture made with hardwoods. 

Like other fine wood furniture, shaker furniture uses the traditional tenon and mortise joinery, dovetailing, and fitting pieces of wood together. There will not find screws, nails, or braces anywhere on a well built piece of Shaker furniture. Actually,  shaker chairs are not known for their wood frames, but for their carefully woven seats. It's a unique trait that sets Shaker style chairs and Shaker dining sets apart from many other custom furniture building styles.


Vermont Woods Studios keeps up the Shaker tradition with wonderful handmade Shaker Style Furniture.  With four Shaker furniture collections to choose from you are sure to find the perfect furniture addition to your home.  

Choose from:

American Shaker Furniture
Vermont Shaker Furniture
Classic Shaker Furniture
New England Shaker Furniture

Shaker Style furniture is considered by many a the only American Style furniture.  Our furniture is made from sustainable hardwoods in and from Vermont by Vermont fine furniture makers, keeping with the Shaker furniture making tradition, everything made by hand and made to exacting detail and standards.  Which just happens to be a New England standard as well.

Enjoy!

Rebecca




 

Reasons To Buy American Made Furniture From Vermont

In this day and age, as Americans we really all need to take a look at what we are doing when it comes to how and where we spend our money! A lot of us are struggling to make ends meet, and we are picky where we spend our money, and usually it's whatever is cheapest. But, we all need to take a look at that! Now look, I'm all for saving money, but we have millions of people out of work in this country and families are ending up on the streets. What kind of America is that? So, I know I am starting to sound like one of those wacko people who spouts "down" with everyone else and "up" with us, but it's not like that. I just want to make you think of a few things the next time you reach for your wallet to purchase something, for example furniture:

1. You are buying a quality piece of furniture that will last generations. Imagine purchasing your last dresser in your lifetime, and then being able to pass it along to a family member, and it lasting for their lifetime.
   
2. If you purchase from Vermont Woods Studios, you are purchasing a piece of furniture that is custom handmade in Vermont by artisan furniture makers in small studios, usually just one person with maybe an apprentice or family member helping them.
   
3. Our furniture makers only use non-toxic finishes.
4. If you have a problem with an imported piece of furniture, just try calling them to get help. There is sometimes a language barrier that makes these things more difficult.
5. All the furniture our artisans produce is from either reclaimed wood or wood from sustainable wood from managed forests.
6. We have a community of eco- friendly artisan furniture makers and environmentalists dedicated not only to beauty and quality in our craft, but also to the preservation of our natural environment, which is Vermont Woods Studios Mission.
7. Our furniture is amazingly affordable considering the high quality.
8. Once a job goes overseas it rarely comes back, so you are keeping more jobs local then sending them out of the country.
9. The more US manufacturing fades, future generations of Americans will not be able to find jobs at a livable wage.
10. So just remember...when you are purchasing from a family in America and not China, it means that this family in America might just be supporting where you work, or a product you produce....making it possible for you to keep your job.

Enjoy!

Rebecca

Top Ten History And Facts About Cherry Wood Furniture

When I started working here at Vermont Woods Studios, I really had not put much thought into fine wood furniture. I was into fashion and shoes more than the cherry wood bed I slept in. So, as time went on, and I started listening to Peggy and learned more about the Vermont Woods Studios' Mission, I got hooked! So, I will be talking about the sustainably harvested wood that our Vermont fine furniture makers use, and the things I find interesting about them, and what makes what we do here so special. Today is about cherry wood furniture. All I can hope for is that you find them interesting too. Feel free to add what you like for a comment!

1. Cherry wood has been used for furniture as early as 400 BC by the Greeks and Romans.
2. Early Colonial furniture makers called cherry "New England Mohogany" due to it's darkening color with age, similar to mahogany.
3. The heartwood of the cherry tree varies in color from pinkish, when first cut, to rich red to reddish brown and darkens with age.
4. The sapwood of the cherry tree, in contrast, is creamy white in color.
5. Black cherry is called a variety of names - rum cherry, choke cherry, whiskey cherry and wild cherry.
6. Small natural mineral deposits in cherry furniture can often be desirable, giving each piece it's uniqueness.
7. The grain of the cherry tree is desired by furniture makers because it has unique ripple figures, is straight and satiny, it takes a finish well and is easy to work with.
8. Cherry wood furniture has a beautiful, lustrous finish and is actually satiny to the touch.
9. Cherry has characteristics that make it perfect for fine furniture, it's strong, moderately hard and has excellent shock resistance. Early printmakers even used cherry wood for their printing blocks!
10. Black cherry trees grow throughout the Midwest to Eastern U.S. - average tree height is 60-80 feet and extreme ages of trees can reach 150 to 200 years.

All the cherry wood used by Vermont Woods Studios artisan furniture makers is harvested from forests that use sustainable practices, so we are not contributing to decimating forests for our furniture.

I had so much fun writing this post! I found so many fascinating facts about cherry wood that I will have to do another posting soon to include all the cool cherry wood facts I didn't include in this post.

Enjoy!

Rebecca

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