by Juanita | Jan 9, 2024 | Coffee End Table, customer experience, Customization, George's Furniture, Hutch, Tables
The search for quality hardwood furniture is hard in the culture we live in. A lot of furniture is manufactured in other countries with cheap materials and labor, made to mimic quality and advertised as quality solid wood furniture. “Solid wood?” Furniture is often made from ground up wood and glued together, covered by a thin veneer to show the grain, and considered a “solid wood”. Solid wood is wood, cut into thick boards straight from the tree, dried properly which, in the end, will allow the wood to have a slow expansion and contraction as it adjusts to the air around it.
Beautiful Wood Grain
Joanne first saw the beautiful grain of black walnut at the Kutztown Folk Festival in 2017 and fell in love with the natural grain and quality of constructed extension tables, handcrafted by Georges Furniture. She worked with Chris to design a dropleaf coffee table and two nesting end tables to complete her living room.
Where it is made
Later, she made the drive to Lancaster County and visited our woodshop where she met the craftsman who made her coffee table. We gave her a tour of our woodshop, where she learned how the craftsmen build the furniture from start to finish, even picking out the wood to create masterful grain pictures. In the end, the craftsman signs the finished piece of furniture which is also dated and stamped with our business name. She loved the furniture even more after understanding the building process and craftsman’s attention to detail. She understood the importance of drying the wood during a previous experience with refinishing the wood flooring in her house.
“I saw the dining room table and was amazed at the quality and craftsmanship. Once I saw the table in action, I was convinced that I found my table.” -Joanne
Joanne couldn’t forget the quality she found and gathered her friends together to visit George’s Furniture at the Sugarloaf Craft festival in Edison, NJ in 2018. She loved the walnut blend grain (a combination of the light blond sapwood and the dark brown heartwood) so much she ordered a 60×42 extension table with 6 chairs and the leaf storage cabinet next. Each Thanksgiving Joanne gathers the relatives together and fills the table. She often swaps around the table leaves so that she can enjoy the different designs using the natural wood grain.
Craft Show Following
Whether it is in Edison, NJ, Kutztown or Marietta, PA, Joanne loves seeing George’s furniture and dreaming of the next piece for her home. She keeps track of where we will be showing our furniture next in our monthly newsletters and on the events page of our website. Come and discover what Joanne found and where her dream began. Visit our two showrooms and tour the woodshop where the magic happens where quality heirlooms are signed, dated, and delivered to your home
by Juanita | Dec 2, 2023 | bedroom, Coffee End Table, Entertainment Centers, Furniture Care, Georges Difference, Hutch, RV accessories, RV Furniture, Tables, Wedding Registry
You’ve surfed the web hours on end, looking for quality handcrafted solid wood furniture. Countless articles and pages from numerous furniture companies across the country use similar terms such as handcrafted furniture, hardwood construction, and custom build. Companies make bold claims that their furniture is the best. But it begs the question.
- What makes their furniture the best?
- How does their furniture differ from competitors’
- What makes high quality Furniture?
These are excellent questions. There are many aspects portraying the world of furniture that contribute to a piece being truly outstanding.
We strive to rise above and beyond in our manufacture of excellence and quality.
In the following paragraphs, you will learn about the numerous ways we take our game to the next level.
Dining Table to Fit any number of parties
If you have a large family, extension tables are a familiar term. As the name insinuates, it extends, allowing you to seat more members of the family so everyone can partake in a wonderful meal. Many tables extend to fit two or three leaves, but this limitation leaves much to be desired. That’s why we make our tables to extend to fit anywhere from six to sixteen leaves to accommodate even the largest dining rooms.
Where to store all those solid wood leaves
Now, it is common knowledge to those who own extensions tables that storage for these wooden table leaves is a necessity. Many resort to slipping them beneath beds or stuffing them into cramped closets, but for solid hardwood table leaves, these conditions are not ideal. What is uncommon knowledge is that wooden boards need to breath. Wooden leaves breath to regulate their moisture levels and prevent mold from setting into the grain. As an added layer of protection against excess moisture, we always coat both sides of the leave with a catalyzed conversion varnish.
Upright is Best – prevent bowing and warping from gravity’s pull.
- Leaf Storage Solution – Read about table leaf storage. In the early stages of extension table development, the issue of leaf storage quickly rose to the forefront of our minds. Some manufacturers even built storage areas within the table itself, but that kind of storage is limited. Instead, we took what we knew about proper leaf care and, after testing different prototypes, landed on a revolutionary piece of furniture so unique that it created a category of its own. The leaf storage. We designed this new piece of furniture to meet every requirement set in front of us. See the storage options.
No More Water Marks
If you’ve ever accidently left your glass of water on your coffee table without a coaster, you understand the frustration of lifting the glass and finding a white watermark stained on the wooden surface. You promise you won’t forget the coaster next time, but what if I told you remembering a coaster wasn’t necessary? With our furniture, it isn’t. We finish every piece of furniture with a water-resistant catalyzed conversion varnish to protect the grain from the marring effects of watermarks. Inside and out, front and back, even the parts unseen are protected against hard use and floods of water.
100% Solid Hardwood – No waste
Are you tired of searching for quality furniture, only to find most pieces include particle board or plywood in their construction? With our furniture, this is never an issue. We use solid hardwood in every inch of our furniture. Even scraps left over from the furniture making process are chopped up and fed into our furnace to heat our slow, air-drying kiln, enabling us to preserve the richness of our Black Walnut wood. The furnace also heats the woodshop, providing a comfortable atmosphere for our craftsmen.
“Chairs Under Stress”
Chairs take the prize for being the most used piece of furniture in your household. Whether you’re enjoying a meal around the kitchen table, working on math homework, or reaching for the cookie jar on the top shelf, the first thing you search for to aid your plight is a sturdy chair. No matter what your daily lifestyle looks like, you depend on chairs more than you realize. To ensure our chairs meet expectations, we make our chair rungs with eight sides. The eight-sided rung design is stronger and lasts longer than the more commonly available turned rungs. Each rung is precision sanded and properly sized to fit into a thick seat. So, the next time your guest leans back in their chair, you can enjoy the meal knowing you won’t be reaching for the wood glue for unexpected repairs. We even designed stackable chairs for ease of storage.
Guaranteed Quality – Craftsmanship Signed and Dated
We’ve talked a lot about quality, but how can we guarantee it? Many companies nowadays make use of assembly lines to manufacture their product at the fastest rate possible. While this assembly lines are great for efficiency, it often has its drawbacks. One of which is the downgrade of quality. We don’t believe in assembly lines where every person has one job and one job only. Each of our expert craftsman construct a piece from start to finish, paying close attention to every detail. Once finished, they pen their signature and the date of completion on a concealed section of the piece. You can rest assured that the piece you commissioned from us is of the highest quality possible.
Space Saving Extension Drawers
Drawers are a necessity included in nearly every piece of solid wood furniture, but have you ever pulled the drawer out to find an abundance of space behind it, unused and empty? That space is prime real-estate that you could be using, plus it quickly becomes a black hole, stealing your clothing to be lost for an eternity behind your drawers.
At Georges, you’ll never have to worry about unused space. Every drawer we make fills the space perfectly, giving you the most storage possible for that extra blanket, another pair of socks, or maybe even that candy you’ve been hiding from the kids since Easter. Even the bottoms of the drawers are 100% solid hardwood matching the outside of the cabinet. Whether drawers are in a dresser, nightstand, armoire, hall table, hutch or chest of drawers, the drawers will serve with strong heavy-duty full extension hardware for decades to come.
No Creaky Beds – Solid Headboard to Side Joints
Looking for a bed that’s truly one of a kind? Our custom designed handmade bed rooms are just what you need to take your sleep to the next level! Made from the finest solid hardwood and featuring strong hardware and bed slats, these beds are built to last a lifetime.
Remember those creaky sounds of the bed rails and floor boards as you try to quietly sneak out to the bathroom at midnight. How about that new king or queen mattress that requires extra support for their warranty to be maintained. Georges uses strong bed rail hardware to secure the solid wood side rails into the headboard and footboard. Two strong metal hooks feed into a metal plate giving the bed rail a secure fit. Each of the under bed slats are made out of strong oak 1 inch thick boards. The king and queen beds slats have a center support leg to hold the weight of a large mattresses. Explore our bedroom gallery.
Custom Design
We take pride in creating unique and beautiful furniture pieces that are tailored to your individual style and needs. Our skilled designers work closely with you to design and craft custom solid wood furniture. From rustic to modern styles, we bring your vision to life with exceptional attention to detail and craftsmanship. Our custom handcrafted furniture is not only beautiful but also functional, practical, and long-lasting. Whether you’re looking for a statement piece for your living room, entertainment suite or a custom dining table for your home, our team is dedicated to delivering a personalized experience that exceeds your expectations.
Choosing the Right Office Furniture
The shift from going to work or working from home has changed over the years. What are some items to consider when creating a functional space for home office or an executive suite. First measure your space. What size will best fit your space to move around. Will you entertain clients or small meetings? Each piece of office furniture is designed to fit the space and style while enduring years of hard use.
How to Clean & Care for Your Solid Wood Furniture
The finish used on all of Georges Furniture is a durable, catalyzed conversion varnish and the best we have found. No need for Coasters and a complete table cloth to cover and protect the table.
- Weekly Care – Use a damp cloth to wipe off the furniture. Use of duster spray is ok: however,
avoid sprays that contain wax because they may cause undesirable build-up to form on the finish.- Occasional Special Care – When you polish your solid wood furniture, or want to remove fingerprints, use a good grade furniture polish. We use Old English Lemon Oil. Guardsman is also good.
- See what things to avoid and what to do for dents and scratches. Here.
Come See for Yourself – Take our Wood Shop Tour
Come and explore a wood shop tour where solid wood furniture is made the old fashion way by hand, crafted by one craftsman. The furniture is custom made to your specifications, with 100% solid hard wood. Be amazed by the ability to share your unique ideas with talented designers and see your dreams come true. Enjoy years of quality as the natural grains of walnut, cherry oak and maple hardwood furniture serve and endure the rigors of home life. Our showrooms and woodworking shop display solid handmade heirlooms for browsing. Explore George’s difference in construction and protection of natural hardwood furniture. In the meantime, see for yourself by watching our wood shop in action. YouTube channel Our customer reviews.
by Juanita | Nov 8, 2023 | customer experience, George's Furniture, RV accessories, Tables
Where in the world is George’s Furniture? Over the 50+ years the handcrafted furniture made by George’s craftsmen have traveled all over the United States. From Maryland, New Jersey, and Virginia to Massachusetts, Maine and Ohio, even as far as Texas, California and Alaska. All the states, except some Rocky Mountain states have customers that are enjoying the quality of Georges for their homes.
Small furniture store discovered
Otto and Emily found George’s Furniture handmade furniture in Lancaster while searching on the Internet. They were looking for a small business for their furniture purchase instead of the large furniture stores with less quality furniture. While exploring their website gerogesfurniturepa.com they were convinced that the short drive to the showroom was worth their time, Emily and Otto took a trip. What greeted Otto and Emily was impressive.
“I really loved our table,” commented Otto as he lovingly stroked
the table that looked just like their table at home.
Two showrooms full of custom-made solid hardwood furniture. Even the wood working shop, where the furniture made one piece at a time is located. A cherry Windsor style table caught their attention and was their first purchase. A wonderful feature of the table is its ability to extend 14 feet. Even though their dining room could not hold that length now, in the future if the need changes the table can hold up to eight leaves.
Across the Ocean
The family moved to Belgium for Otto’s employment and the table with its leaves traveled across the ocean with the other furniture. During their 5 years in Belgium the table enjoyed the company of guests from Italy, Greece, Poland, Estonia, Britain, and Hungary. Otto and Emily loved opening their table and sharing the beauty of solid hardwood, made in America. The extension table impressed their Belgium friends so much that they had one made for them. The Belgium house with its wooden ceilings and brick and slate roof, complimented the table very well.
Return to America
Later when the family moved back to America, the extension table influenced the design of their next house. The house needed to have a large open area for the table and 4 leaves to open to its full 10 foot length. Recently Otto and Emily came back to upgrade their table leaf storage from a leaf holder designed for the closet to a deluxe 4 leaf storage along with a same size and style cabinet with adjustable shelves to add to their dining set. In the future, chairs will complete their dining room set. Originally Otto thought that George’s chairs had thin spindly rungs and was pleasantly surprised when he sat in the strong 8-sided rung dining chair during his last visit.
Join Otto, his wife Emily and many other satisfied customers as they create their living space furnished with custom handmade heirlooms, individually made by one of George’s craftsmen. Visit the showroom and wood shop in Lancaster County, PA and watch your dreams turn into realities.
by Juanita | Jun 3, 2023 | bedroom, Customization, George's Furniture, Georges Difference
Looking for a bed that’s truly one of a kind? Our custom designed handmade bed rooms are just what you need to take your sleep to the next level! Made from the finest solid hardwood and featuring strong hardware and bed slats, these beds are built to last a lifetime.
Sleek, Modern, Classic
Whether you’re looking for a sleek and modern design or something more classic and traditional, we’ve got you covered. Our expert craftsmen will work with you to create the perfect bed for your style and needs. And with our attention to detail, you can be sure that every element of your bed will be perfectly crafted and flawlessly finished.
Maximum support
Each piece of furniture is crafted with precision and care, using only the finest quality hardwood and strong hardware to ensure durability. Our footed bed slats are also carefully engineered to provide maximum support to your mattress.
Under-the-bed Storage
Are you tired of clutter taking over your bedroom? Our custom designed under bed storage solution is the perfect solution. Crafted from solid hardwood and featuring deep drawers with strong hardware, our storage options are built to last. Say goodbye to flimsy plastic containers and hello to a more organized and stylish space. Don’t let valuable space go to waste.
Signed and Dated
Choose from cherry, walnut, or oak to match your style and decor. Each piece is signed and dated by our skilled craftsmen, ensuring a unique and timeless addition to your home. Whether you’re looking for a classic or contemporary design, our furniture is made to last and will add character and warmth to any bedroom.
One-of-a-kind
So why settle for a mass-produced bed when you can have a one-of-a-kind masterpiece that’s made just for you? Tour our showrooms and woodshop where your dreams come true or order your custom handmade hardwood bedroom suite today and get ready to sleep like royalty!
by Juanita | Mar 21, 2023 | Furniture Care, Georges Difference, Tables
Make traditions
Picture this. The air is filled with lively conversations. Relatives from far and wide congregate to celebrate the holidays. Ladies work in the kitchen to prepare a meal worthy of kings, while the men argue whether the refs made a fair call. Whatever the tradition in your family household, one thing is crucial. Having a table capable of seating everyone. Not only that, but also having table leaves to ensure each person will have a place to set their plate.
Where to storage table leaves
Now, it is common knowledge to those who own extensions tables that storage for these wooden leaves is a necessity. Many resort to slipping them beneath beds or stuffing them into cramped closets, but for solid hardwood leaves, these conditions are not ideal. What is more uncommon knowledge is that wooden boards need to breath, sort of like living creatures do, but not in the same capacity. People and animals breath air to oxygenate their blood and keep their body functioning. Wooden leaves, on the other hand, breath to regulate their moisture levels and prevent mold from setting into the grain. As an added layer of protection against excess moisture, we always coat both sides of the leave with a catalyzed conversion varnish. Furthermore, leaves should be stored upright to prevent bowing and warping from gravity’s pull. You may be thinking, no-where in my house would meet those parameters. Should you simply give up and compromise with the previously explained methods? Luckily for you, we’ve already come up with the solution so you don’t have to.
Table leaf storage solution
In the early stages of extension table development, the issue of leaf storage quickly rose to the forefront of our minds. We knew the methods people had employed in the past. Some manufacturers even built storage areas within the table itself, but that kind of storage is limited. Instead, we took what we knew about proper leaf care and, after testing different prototypes, landed on a revolutionary piece of furniture so unique that it created a category of its own. The leaf storage. We designed this new piece of furniture to meet every requirement set in front of us. The leaf storage is built with grooves at the top and bottom to hold the boards in a vertical position and space them out an inch apart to allow air to flow freely. Where might you put these storage boxes, you may ask? Well, we have three designs, each one tailored to fit the needs of your household.
Georges leaf storage options
- Our standard design is a Finished Leaf Storage with solid panels on each side. The front and back are left open so you can show your beautiful leaves off to your friends even when not in use
- Perhaps you don’t favor seeing your tables leaves twenty-four seven and would rather have a piece of furniture that fits in perfectly with your buffet, server, or hutch? That’s where our Deluxe Leaf Storage Cabinet comes into play. Aside from its fancier design, it incorporates a wooden raised panel door that hides your leaves for a clean, organized look.
- No room in your dining room for a deluxe leaf storage cabinet or finished leaf storage, we’ve got you covered. At no extra charge, we’ll send an unfinished leaf storage frame along with your table set purchase that functions identically to the previous two, but is meant to be kept hidden from sight.
As you are pondering your next table with leaves purchase, always remember the importance of proper leaf storage to maintain them for generations to come. It’s quite simple. Our solution for leaf storage will relieve your mind as you relax knowing your leaves are receiving the best treatment possible. Whatever design you choose, you’re certain to love your new piece of furniture.
