by Juanita | Aug 9, 2019 | Ava Lee's History Corner, Furniture Care, Rocking Chairs, Tables
What do you love about your antique furniture? Sentimentality & nostalgia. Those nostalgic feelings probably trigger wonderful memories with your family. Maybe it reminds you of visiting for Christmas as a child or bringing your children over to play baseball in the yard with their grandparents. That is why it is so important to craft furniture that can withstand the years, the memories, the horseplay so you & your families can have visible mementos of those experiences. (Plus, it helps that our furniture is also super comfortable & durable!)
Even though antique furniture lasts longer than low quality furniture it also deteriorates. Some of the biggest causes of weakness in antique furniture include poor adjustability to extremes in humidity, weak joints or low-quality workmanship. In fact, today I want to share with you 3 of the biggest issues we see in antique furniture & how we design our furniture differently to avoid those problems.
Humidity
One of the most common issues you may see in wood antique furniture is wear & tear due to changing humidity. Dry Forced Air heat will dry out furniture in the winter while damp summer weather provides extra moisture. Considering these two extremes, all joints are constructed with movement in mind. Wood is dried in George’s kilns and furniture is constructed in a humidity-controlled environment similar to most homes. This helps the furniture expand and contract as one unit. When the furniture can respond to humidity as one unit, it is more protected from warping or weakness.
Weak joints
Let’s talk about rung joints. Maybe not a typical topic of conversation until you sit in a chair and the rung pops out leaving your chair in pieces. Aside from the frustration & inconvenience, this can become an expensive situation when your only solution is gluing the rungs for the rest of its life or replacing the chair. We avoid this situation from the beginning with our method of attaching rung joints. We give special attention to our sanding for each rung joint. When completed, the glued wood joint is stronger than the wood itself. George’s chairs have held up over years of hard use. It also saves us wasting time repairing older chairs.
Warped or Stressed Wood
This is caused by wood that is not properly dried before it is protected completely by a finish to slow the change in moisture content during the life of the furniture. The wood needs to be dried to 8% moisture content. Through the planing and sanding process, the wood is ready to be used to build the furniture.
George’s understands that natural wood furniture will continue to breath causing slight expansion and contraction throughout its lifetime. All joints are assembled to allow for this movement in the wood, removing the possibility of loosening of joints and even cracks in the wood itself. Our custom sprayed finish allows wood movement to occur over the complete unit evenly throughout its life.
How Strong Your Table will Be
Our unique way to demonstration table strength. One year we took all our craftsmen along with their families into our showroom and extended one of our tables. We started having 2 people at a time climb up and stand on the table. We continued 2 by 2, the younger kids started laughing, until all 14 people stood on the table, totaling 1,900 pounds in weight, almost a ton. The center legs prevailed.
Non-Tip Rocker
You can especially see the strength of high-quality wood in our non-tip rockers. When George was small, he was having so much fun rocking in his rocking chair that he tipped it right over. After recovering from the fall, he promised his mother that he would build a rocker that would not tip over. George built that rocker and now there are 7 different sizes from a child’s rocker to a rocker for the large people (300-400 lbs.) Large or small, tall or short, there is a rocker designed for you that does not tip over.
Ready for strong, heirloom furniture that does not wear with age or bad construction?
George’s unwavering commitment to building strong, hardwood, heirloom furniture continues with each new design. Each piece is signed and dated by its maker and finished with a water-resistant finish. Bring your ideas and desires for functional furniture and George’s craftsmen will make those dreams come true. Call us or request a consult as soon as you are ready to jump in to designing your own high-quality furniture.
by Juanita | Jul 5, 2019 | bedroom, Customization, George's Furniture
The bedroom is the sanctuary of the home. The bedroom is a place for rest and relaxation, an escape from the pressures and busyness of day-to-day obligations. Of course, the centerpiece of the bedroom is the bed, and rightly so.
The bed sets the stage for the aura, décor, and the other furniture pieces placed in the room because it is the focal point of the room. Thankfully, solid wood beds enable the room to be customized to its owner’s tastes.
Craftsmanship is Reassuring
It is reassuring to buy a new bed created by a skilled craftsman, especially one that has been trained with expertise passed down from generation to generation. Just as in days gone by, traditional design is becoming desirable again. Trends that don’t go out of style are sought after because they can be passed on to a new generation.
Hand-crafted, solid wood furniture is reminiscent of times gone by. Craftsmen of the past were accountable to producing a high caliber, durable, finished product. When a person, rather than a machine, brings skill, values, and excellence to furniture-making, there is an assurance that the final product will stand the test of time.
Of course, solid wood, hand-crafted, custom bedroom furniture is long lasting and can be trusted to endure years of use. Knowing that the piece was intentionally designed gives the piece a personal touch. Naturally, this personalization can quickly become sentimental to the next generation. While the convenience and price of mass-produced furniture are attractive in the moment, personalized items are cared for and kept around. A legacy can begin and endure when a home is outfitted with custom furniture.
How Do I Begin a Legacy?
It’s easy to begin a legacy by purchasing a classic and quality bed! Getting to pick a stain color is a perk that comes along with custom furniture. Stain is a great way to personalize furniture! Solid wood furniture can be both stunning and personalized because of the wide range of stain hues available. Solid wood furniture fits right in, regardless of preferences to a specific look and feel for bedroom decor.
Choosing a Look That is Right For You
Like the minimalist look? A solid wood Shaker pencil poster bed is striking in all of its simplicity.
Like vibrant patterns on comforters and pillows? Fearlessly place those patterns on a raised-panel bed!
Partial to pastels? Sweetly dream on a Queen Anne!
Naturally neutral? Keep that natural look with a Mission bed.
Texture driven? Add those tassels, pom-poms, fringe or mixed fabrics to a slatted sleigh bed with a Hollywood foot board!
Go one step further and add convenient, inconspicuous storage. Under bed storage saves floor space and can free up a portion of the closet. Bookcase beds store well-loved books, magazines, the alarm clock, and more. Stow small items in the center drawers.
Buy From George’s and Begin Your Legacy
Authentic craftsmanship requires expertise, high-quality materials, and calculated execution. You can find authentic craftsmanship at George’s! Using solid wood with proven techniques ensures a durable bed that not only be the showpiece of the bedroom, but a bed that will last for generations to come.
We’d like to help you design the bed that is right for you. Please contact us to schedule a time to meet or take a tour to get to know us better!
by Juanita | Jun 7, 2019 | Chair, George's Furniture, Tables
Incredibly photogenic and often space-saving, benches have, over time, earned their place at the dining room table. But while benches can look cool, are benches well-received by guests? Dining chairs are common, durable and comfortable, however with a table to seats up to 14-21 people, where do you put all those chairs when the guest have left? In the corner? At a desk? Along the wall? Just how practical is bench seating at a dining table? How about an extending bench? What are the pros and cons to different types of seating around a table?
We’ve made a short list:
Pros
• Casual look to your living space.
If you are going for a relaxed look in your dining area, benches can contribute to that easy-going feeling.
• Space saving.
Benches are ideal for small spaces and walkways to ensure easy traffic flow. For maximum space saving, a bench placed along a wall, provides just enough space for your guests. They don’t need to move their chair in or out. Each guest simply slides along the bench to their dining place.
• Fit extra people.
A bench is great for children and smaller people. The space needed for two chairs could serve three smaller people on a bench. How about an extending bench that adjusts to the number of guest at your table.
• Extending Bench.
Love the bench idea? Here is a bench that starts at 48 inches and utilizes 4 “boards” to extend the bench 4 more feet, allowing the bench to adjust from 2 to 4 people. Customize the bench to meet your seating needs. See VIDEO of extending bench in action.
• Easy to clean.
Simply wipe the top surface down and you are done! The furniture is protected with a water resistant catalyzed clear finish that prevents those ugly water marks while allowing the natural grain to shine.
• A Safer option.
For children, benches can be a safer option as they are less likely to tip over.
Cons
• Lacks comfort and back support.
Obviously, there is no back support. Benches often have less seating surface and are not contoured which can result in discomfort over longer time periods.
• Heavier and longer to move around.
Although only slightly heavier, benches are longer and cumbersome to maneuver around the room. While children gravitate towards benches, adults naturally choose the comfort of a chair as their first choice of seating.
The Dual-Purpose Extension Table
With the rise of the open floor plan in home building, formal dining rooms are less common. Many homeowners find their kitchen table serving as their dining room table. The need to save space clashes with the need for seating, making a bench or two an appealing option. Aesthetically, benches contribute to the “open space” feeling because they can be tucked under the table, with no backs to visually block the room. Extension table accommodate any size of gathering large and small. Simply decide your desired smallest size and add up to 16 leaves for your room size and maximum seating. See VIDEO of extension table in action or come to the showroom and experience the easy of extension. The table leaves are conveniently stored in a leaf storage cabinet in the same room for easy access for your next gathering.
Is There a Solution?
Ultimately, the answer to the question of whether bench seating is practical depends on you. Ask yourself questions like:
1. Do I have children or grandchildren dining at my table regularly?
Would they benefit from the ease and safety of a bench? Would I appreciate the ease of cleanup that a bench can provide?
2. Do I entertain mostly adults who would prefer the comfort of a chair at my table?
If I walked into my friend or family member’s dining room for the first time and saw a bench on one side of the table, would I avoid sitting on the bench if possible?
3. Do I need more seating than my space allows?
Try the stackable chairs that store in a closet for the next dinner party.
4. What is the look and feel of the living space?
Do I want a formal or informal room? Will it fit with the look of my living space?
Solution:
From these questions, you should be able to determine if benches, chairs, or both are right for you! Visit George’s showroom and explore the seating options as well as other solid hardwood, custom handcrafted furniture designed your way. Explore what makes George’s furniture last for decades. If you have questions, please contact George’s Furniture. We will be happy to discuss what table and seating options will work best for you.
by Juanita | May 24, 2019 | Events
Does Buying American-made Products Really Matter?
According to Consumer Reports, 8 in 10 American consumers say they would rather buy an American-made product than an imported one. Additionally, more than 60 percent say they’re even willing to pay 10 percent more for it.
On top of that, many consumers are aware that buying American-made items supports the economy. In fact, American perception of the Made in America label speaks of American quality, American creativity, American excellence, and high standards in American manufacturing . This means that Americans are producing a superior product and ensuring the health and safety of the laborer. Durable products, job creation, low environmental impact, and economic benefits are all encased in those three words, Made in America.
Made In America Event in June!
This month, the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau will host its annual “Made In America” event. The event will run from June 12-15 and showcases local businesses. Each business will show you how it’s made using educational demonstrations and interactive presentations. Additionally, you’ll get to meet the makers themselves! There are 42 locations participating this year. George’s Furniture is one of them! Before you go, you’ll want to visit the Made In America event website to view the Schedule of Events. The schedule will help you to make it to all of your favorite destinations! Don’t forget to download your own copy of the 2019 passport. If you return your passport to the York County Convention & Visitors Bureau with 5 or more stamps, you’ll be entered to win awesome prizes!
So, be sure to stop in at George’s Furniture while you are out on your tour! We open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12, and Thursday, June 13. Additionally, we are open Friday, June 14, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Made In America. These three powerful words can make a huge difference! At George’s, we believe these words are the difference between heirloom furniture and furniture that falls apart. In short, George’s Furniture holds timeless quality. You are getting everything the words Made In America stand for: excellence, quality, integrity, and superior, lifetime-guaranteed furniture.
by Juanita | May 10, 2019 | Customization, George's Furniture, Gifts, Tables, Wedding Registry
Wedding Registry
Wedding season is almost here! The months of June through September are the peak of this exciting event. You probably received an invitation or two to an upcoming wedding celebration. Tucked neatly inside the invitation, is a meaningful piece of information—the wedding registry.
The wedding registry is a very exciting endeavor for the bride and groom alike. However, many couples only think about registering for items they need right now. The truth is, over time, the household needs change and the items on a registry should be just as practical today as they are in the future. Many couples opt to have children, and open their home for the holidays. Perhaps, an aging parent or family member will need to move in.
Ultimately, couples find they entertain more and more in the years to come. So, the items on the wedding registry should recognize the changes life brings and accommodate those changes. Therefore, a balanced wedding registry is crucial. Include plenty of options reflecting a wide-range of prices. A good rule of thumb is to register for more gifts than guests. Guests want to choose the gift they like to give.
Furniture Overlooked
When preparing a wedding registry, you think of things like measuring cups and spoons, flatware, dinnerware, a Kitchen-Aid mixer, laundry baskets, and other necessary household items. Although these items are important and certainly necessary, a crucial, overlooked category on the wedding registry is furniture.
Many couples hesitate to ask for larger-ticket items such as a bed, a desk, bookshelves, sideboard, or a dining room table.
They don’t realize that friends and family want to “pool” their funds to provide the newlyweds with a larger, long-lasting and more exciting gift. While bowls break and spoons are lost, furniture typically stays with a couple for many, many years. High quality furniture built right, will become a heirloom!
Register at George’s
Did you know that George’s Furniture offers wedding registries? Brides and grooms can create their registry together at George’s! Couples design their own piece of solid wood furniture while creating their dream living space for their new home! George’s offers a variety of pieces and sets in various styles and stain colors.
Imagine a specially-designed piece of furniture!
When you inform the guests of your registry about George’s, they can call in or mail their gift and the gifts will be placed on your account. Come and create your own unique piece of furniture made your way!
At George’s Furniture, we believe in crafting handcrafted solid wood furniture that will stand the test of time. Please contact us to set up your registry.
Also, remember that registries are not to be limited to weddings! A new baby coming or a special anniversary? Contact George’s to set up a registry to bless the new arrival (think rocking chairs, dressers, and twin beds) or to celebrate landmark anniversary!
