Archive for April, 2010

Handcrafted Furniture For Your Home

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

When searching for a furnishing to invest in, there are a few basic factors to consider:
* Is it solid wood?
* Is it handcrafted?
* Is it customizable?

Handcrafted furniture holds a distinct honor in the world of furniture because each piece of handcrafted furniture bears the distinct imprint of its creator. The love and care with which an artisan makes a furnishing is evident and esteems the overall value of the piece.

An Amish dresser exemplifies a furnishing that bears the unique quality of being handcrafted. No two dressers will be exactly alike as each will bear subtle differences in cutting, sanding and finishing.

Browse online furniture catalogs or visit Amish furniture markets to view a variety of handcrafted furniture. Yet while online catalogs offer beautiful pictures and custom options for each furniture piece, nothing compares to visiting a local Amish furniture market and experiencing the beauty of handcrafted furniture up-close.

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How Do You Define “High End Furniture”?

Monday, April 26th, 2010

When visualizing high end furniture, each of us may have a different picture in mind.

  • Is high end furniture defined by its style? Does a luxurious, modern design featuring wood accents and rich hardware define “high end”? Or can a traditional, simple piece also be considered high end?
  • Is high end furniture defined by who makes it? Can assembly-line furniture, even if well-made, be considered high end? Or must it be handcrafted by a trained artisan?
  • Is high end furniture defined by how it is made? Is the distinct impression of a furniture craftsmen what makes a furniture piece great? Can a piece that uses plywood backing and wood veneers be high end?

Each of these question help to define what is high end furniture. Each piece must be considered individually and many factors must be weighed to decide whether it is high end. To gain a better understanding of high quality furniture, browse handcrafted furniture online or plan a trip to a local Amish furniture market to see first-hand the difference between low end and high end furniture.

The Curio Fireplace boasts durable construction and a one-of-a-kind style.

The Curio Fireplace boasts durable construction and a one-of-a-kind style.

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Amish Furniture Outlet

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

One of the great advantages of Amish furniture is the local Amish furniture markets which are open to the public during warm weather. Located primarily in the Midwest, Amish furniture outlets boast huge selections of handcrafted furniture on display as well as woodworking demonstrations and face-to-face interactions with the furniture craftsmen.

Shipshewana (located in Northern Indiana) boasts a thriving furniture market that is busy with foot-traffic each summer giving anyone interested the opportunity to see first-hand what makes Amish furniture so special. Handcrafted Amish furniture must be seen up-close to be fully appreciated. The impressive construction and beautiful wood finishes appear much more vibrant in person than when browsing online.

Plan a trip to a local Amish furniture outlet by quickly browsing online for local Amish communities and experience the finely-crafted furniture and home-style welcome of the Amish community.

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Discvoering Antique Furniture For The Home

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

Handcrafted hardwood furniture not only is a worthy investment when considering your current home furnishings, but the prospect of passing on a beautiful furnishing to future generations makes it all the more worthwhile. Antique oak furniture, like all handcrafted furnishings, has a unique story.

Who first crafted this particular antique oak piece? Each craftsman leaves their distinct impression on each piece. Who first bought this piece? To furniture collectors, the story of who bought a piece and how it was used and cared for is important to a furnishing’s  history. Was it well-cared for and cherished, or did it fall into disuse? Many great furnishings have passed through generations forgotten and uncared for before being recognized for their quality and beauty.

Ultimately, the true test of an antique piece is the quality with which it was crafted and the wood quality with which it was made. When purchasing a handcrafted hardwood furnishing, remember that your investment is worthwhile not only now but also for years to come.

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Amish Country Furniture

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

Noted for its timeless, rustic style that draws inspiration from rural countrysides and beautiful wood selections, Amish country furniture is diverse enough to complement any home decor. Country furniture boasts a distinct blend of elegance and traditional style. Often, country furniture features accents such as raised panels, carved bases as well as beautiful hardware.

The popularity of Amish country furniture has remained steady for generations and continues to branch into new styles while staying true to its roots. Amish country furniture boasts the specific advantage of being crafted by Amish craftsmen who use indigenous hardwoods and hand-construction methods. Each piece bears the specific Amish craftsman’s artistic fingerprint and is backed by his pride in his work.

There is nothing quite like handcrafted hardwood furniture, so be sure to visit an Amish market or browse online to view the complete selection of Amish country furniture.

The Classic Heritage Bedroom Set possesses a country style that is at once elegant and traditional

The Classic Heritage Bedroom Set possesses a country style that is at once elegant and traditional

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Amish Contemporary Bedroom Furniture

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

A brief overview of Amish contemporary bedroom furniture will reveal a wide variety of styles and designs. For those looking for something classic and traditional, there are a wide variety of Shaker styles available. The “Classic Shaker” line features simple, elegant construction . The “Flush Shaker” possesses the same timeless style as the “Classic Shaker” but with a slightly more traditional quality. The “Shaker Collection” and regular “Shaker” lines contain subtle wood accents and a slightly more elegant style.

For a taste of the luxurious, the “Escalade”line features lush brown maple wood, a beveled edge top, raised panel sides and sleek construction. Yet despite its elegant appearance, the Escalade line still possesses many of the traditional, timeless qualities that marks all Amish-made furniture.

In whatever bedroom piece you find, you can know that the pride of an Amish craftsmen is behind each furnishing.

Sleek construction and an elegant style highlight the Escalade Dresser

Sleek construction and an elegant style highlight the Escalade Dresser

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Hardwood Furniture

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

The greatest distinguishing factors in what defines quality furniture are handcrafted and hardwood construction. Hardwood furniture separates itself from the mass produced synthetic furnishings that are affordable, but lack durability, beauty and personal guarantee. Hardwood furniture, especially when handcrafted, carries with it the assurance that it will last for years to come, that it will possess an inherent beauty, and that it personally represents the skills and pride of a craftsman.

Durability comes from the strength of the wood and the skill in construction. Dovetailed drawers and skillful gluing are enough to ensure a piece stays together indefinitely. The inherent beauty of hardwood furniture comes from the quality of the wood species. Often, wood artisans use the highest-quality indigenous hardwoods for their pieces.

Handcrafted hardwood furniture represents the craftsmen who makes it, so there is always a point of pride in creating the best possible furnishing. Whatever type of furnishing you are seeking, consider the best: handcrafted hardwood furniture.

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Wooden Bedroom Furniture

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Handcrafted wooden bedroom furniture holds great potential for stylizing and customizing your home decor. Major lines, including Mission, Shaker and Queen Anne, as well as modern lines such as Escalade, each possess a distinct style that reflects the homeowner.

Wooden bedroom furniture, like most handcrafted furniture, is usually fully customizable. Consider drawer slide options, hardware choices, stain and paint selections, among others to make your piece one of a kind. Buying pieces together also highlights a particular style.

Wooden bedroom furniture boasts such a diverse selection of furnishings, it can be hard to choose which furnishing you need. Mule chests often contain greater storage space that armoires, yet armoires can be more often used to hold televisions. Do you require a nightstand with a door and drawer, or one with an open storage space? How much storage space do you require in your dresser, or chest of drawers?

No matter what or how many bedroom furnishings you settle on purchasing, you can be sure that there will be styles and options that suit you.

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A Brief History of Flat Screen TV Furniture

Monday, April 5th, 2010
Stunning craftsmanship and plenty of storage space meet in the Bridgeport Flat Screen TV Cabinet

Stunning craftsmanship and plenty of storage space meet in the Bridgeport Flat Screen TV Cabinet

With the advent of the home television set in the 1950’s and the successive growth of the market for high definition, flat screen, plasma and LCD televisions, flat screen TV furniture has become a thriving segment of  furniture sales.

Arguably the highest quality flat screen TV furniture is crafted by the Amish. Amish artisans offer a huge selection of home entertainment furniture featuring every custom option you can imagine. Generally, these furnishings possess plenty of storage space to hold DVD and gaming consoles, as well as spaces for DVD’s, games and CD’s. Doors and drawers are optional, as are hutch tops to enclose the television space.

Amish-crafted flat screen TV furniture also boasts solid wood construction (for beauty and durability) as well as a large of amount of styles and designs to choose from. Whether traditional, modern or something else, you can surely find the style that’s right for you.

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What Exactly Is Primitive Furniture?

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Known for its rustic style and choice wood selection, primitive furniture has become a popular alternative for furniture lovers seeking one-of-a-kind pieces. Primitive furniture is notable for its raw wood construction. Often, natural Hickory wood is used, sometimes with bark accents, to add naturalism.

The popularity of primitive furniture, and its rise from “lodge” or “cabin” furniture “home” furniture, may be traced to Gustav Stickley. The Wisconsin-born craftsmen helped create and widely-produce Mission style furniture before turning his sights to “natural” or “primitive” furniture.

Beginning as furnishings for patios, porches and cabins, Stickley’s primitive furniture grew in popularity (which it still enjoys today) until homeowners found ways to incorporate the rustic style into their home decor.

When searching for primitive furniture, inquire about the wood species and construction methods. A little research will help you find a piece that’s perfect for you.

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