by Juanita | Dec 1, 2018 | Ava Lee's History Corner, Events, George's Furniture
Small Beginning
In November of 1968, I married George, a farmer with woodworking interests. Our beginning year was spent in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. A veneer factory, that gave away their scraps of veneer, provided material for making baskets and lampshades. George walked the forests looking for interesting shapes of wood for making live edge lamp bases. A year later, back in Pennsylvania, George worked in a sawmill. In his spare time, George cut his own trees, drying the lumber and making crosscut stools and log benches.
First large item designed
In 1970, after a discouraging search for a quality high chair for his daughter, he decided to build his first chair. This chair was the beginning of hand crafting solid hardwood furniture. He built a portable building for a showroom and moved it to a prime tourist area in Lancaster for the summertime. He sold hand-turned lamps, stools and nameplates, made while the customer waited.
Family grows
As the family began grew, he made side chairs and later a table. Remembering his experience of tipping over his Mother’s rocking chair, he proceeded to design one that doesn’t tip over. I recall his excitement when he came home that day and said,
“I know that God guided my hand when I designed that rocking chair”.
Hobby turns business
So a hobby transformed into a business. He found talented employees and the news of quality furniture spread across the country. Loyal customers continued to share their love for furniture. Looking back at the steps we took and the opportunities that came our way, our engagement motto couldn’t be more true, “Looking unto Jesus, We Follow”.
by Juanita | Nov 21, 2018 | Forestry Management, George's Furniture
Earth Friendly Handcrafted Furniture
At George’s Furniture, we believe that incorporating earth-friendly processes into our furniture-making and doing our part in preserving our natural resources ensures the success of future generations.
Forest Increases
According to Dan Meyer, editor of the Hardwood Weekly Review, hardwood growing stock inventories were 3 to 12% higher in 2017 than 10 years earlier in each of the four subregions of the East. Additionally, East-wide volumes were up 7%. What does this mean to us and to you, our valuable clients?
It simply means that despite a 10-year depression in global demand, as a nation we are turning that depression around by increasing active management of our hardwood forests to ensure their health, productivity, and sustainability.
Ultimate Quality, Little Waste
At George’s, we are very conscious of our natural resources. Our shop is set up to make the most of each slab of wood that comes through our door. Each piece of custom furniture is built with ultimate quality and little waste. We utilize our wood for multiple purposes to reduce our waste output. The wood cutoffs from our table saws are used for the construction of our drawer interiors. The unusable wood is chipped up and used to dry the walnut wood in our wood drying kiln and heat our woodshop. Our mission is to have each piece be hand-crafted to your exact specifications all the while being conscious craftsmen.
Native Pennsylvanian hardwood
Using hardwoods native to our region such as Cherry, Red Oak, Maple, and Black Walnut goes a long way in ensuring both quality and low environmental impact. We take extra measures to ensure that our wood is harvested at the right time and to rigid specifications. We slow dry our rough-sawn Black Walnut in our own kiln and moisture check the commercially dried Cherry, Oak and Maple. Why? Because, if not dried properly, the wood may form stress cracks that result in costly waste. Additionally, any moisture that remains in the wood after drying can lead to loose joints and warping. This would be a disservice to you, our client, and to the environment.
Meticulous Attention
Throughout the design process, our craftsmen are conscious of minimizing waste. Our craftsmen thoroughly review the design and carefully select the wood that will be used to create the requested piece. Each board is processed with care, while legs or finials are hand-turned on a lathe. Meticulous attention is paid during the assembly process to ensure a proper fit and finish.
If you would like to learn more about our environmentally-friendly furniture making process, please contact us to schedule your personal tour. We look forward to seeing you soon!
by Juanita | Sep 29, 2018 | Accessories, Events, Gifts
Summer is winding down, and while we LOVE all things summer here at George’s Furniture, we’re ready for cooler days and fall treats. We’re excited for all the great fall festivals and activities happening all over the county. One such fun event is The Best Kept Secret Tour which is scheduled for October 4th – 20th.
What better way to explore Lancaster Country then visiting hidden treasures like jewelers and boutiques to wineries, farmers markets, and creameries!
So while we can’t say who all is participating we’re happy to give you a minuscule hint…. Your favorite handmade furniture store is in the lineup! That’s right, George’s Furniture is excited to be one of over 40 tour stops on The Best Kept Secrets Tour of Lancaster!
Stop by our showroom for a ticket/tour bag to discover the hidden secrets of Lancaster County. Only ticket holders will see the 40 businesses selected. Each tour bag includes a guide and coupons along with many items from the participating shops.
While exploring, each tour-goer will experience a wide range of entertainments, gifts, refreshments, raffles, tours, demos, and games. A Best Kept Secret tour sponsored drawings for over $1,100 in gifts cards is part of the secret! Tour bags are $10 each and limited in quantity. Visit our showroom at Georges Furniture, 9 Reich’s Church Rd, Marietta, PA or reserve your bag by calling 717-426-1004.
Showroom Hours M-Sa 9-5. Wood Shop tour hours M-TH 9-4, F 9-2.
We look forward to seeing you in October!.
by Juanita | Sep 22, 2018 | Accessories, Events, Gifts
George’s Furniture Featured at Sugarloaf
The Sugarloaf craft show season will be here before you know it and George’s Furniture is thrilled to be part of it again this fall. We meet so many wonderful people and we have so much fun showing off all the wonderful pieces we’ve created. See current show/events schedule.
The Festival brings together over 300 talented artists from across America displaying their creations and attracts over 200,000 total shoppers each year. Shoppers enjoy the unique experience of fine craftsmanship all under one roof and can choose to come for one day or all three. Come meet the artists who are excited to share their passion!
Discover Skilled Artists near you!
2018 Schedule:
- October 12-14, Timonium, MD
- October 19-21, Chantilly, VA
- November 2-4, Oaks, PA
- November 9-11, Edison, NJ
- November 16-18, Gaithersburg, MD
- December 7-9, Chantilly, VA
Check current show/event schedule
New items
Some items you can look forward to seeing from George’s Furniture. This year we’ll be showcasing our NEW LED light. The Cascading Lamp features a levered construction with an LED light illuminating the natural wood grain of the levels below. This design is reminiscent of the beautiful style found at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Waters House. Display a favorite picture, medal, or keepsake on the smaller shelf while enjoying the ambient light and natural beauty. The levered design is also available as a modern wall shelf.
Famous Extension Table
Our world famous extension table will be on display, come experience an extension table that begins as a 4 person table for small gatherings but can later extend over 13 ft with ease and gracefulness to accommodate families and friends. Our table is so easy to open, you simply just grab the end of the table and open the table to your desired length. Seating everyone around one table has never been easier and more comfortable. Stop by our booth to see first hand the natural wood grain beauty and craftsmanship characteristic of George’s furniture.
Can’t attend, come see us in Lancaster, PA
If you can’t make it out to the festival this year, don’t worry! We’re happy to meet you in our showroom and show you these lovely items one-on-one.
Hope to see you out at the Festival!
by Juanita | Sep 7, 2018 | Accessories, Customization, RV accessories, RV Furniture
For many adventurous travelers, RVing is a way of life and has proven to be a relaxing and rewarding experience! Whether you’re taking a weekend trip to the beach or an extended drive cross-country, the places you can see and enjoy in an RV are endless.
Storage challenge resolved
So while RVing is a great way to get out on the open road, we’ve heard from many RV owners that they face some challenges while exploring the world. What’s one of the biggest challenges? Believe it or not, it’s STORAGE! Where do you store all the essentials? Especially those big bulky items that don’t fold or bend. From frying pans to kettles, the lack of storage for these awkward items can be frustrating. This is where our new custom RV Butler comes in and is ready to ease your storage woes.
RV Butler designed for your space/needs
A customized butler handmade by our skilled craftsmen at George’s Furniture is designed to meet your specific needs. We’ll work with you to make sure you get the perfect fit. All we need from you are measurements of your largest items you would like hidden away and George’s designers will take it from there, creating a unique one-of-a-kind butler for your RV. 
Increased work space
Not only does the butler help with storage, the top also increases your work space while conveniently storing those large items and essentials keeping them close at hand when you need them. A handy door on both sides of the butler allows for access from either side. And of course, the RV Butler wouldn’t be complete without the adjustable shelf inside that allows for ever-changing storage requirements.
Stored together with RV table in Dining area.
This butler is designed to fit into your unique space and can be accessorized. For example, combine your new piece with a table, and store in your dining area. To save on space, you simply place the table on top of the butler and secure them to the floor.
So as you plan your next great RV adventure, let us take care of those storage woes. Visit our showroom or contact us today and we will design an RV Butler just for you! Want to see our new RV Butler in person? We’ll be debuting this beautiful piece at the PRVCA, America’s Largest RV Show, September 12-16, 2018 in Hershey, PA at the Giant Center.
