by Juanita | Jun 2, 2022 | Ava Lee's History Corner, customer experience, Customization, George's Furniture, Tables
Our customers discover Georges Furniture by many different ways. Whether they find a brochure In Lancaster County, searched for quality furniture maker online, see the handmade furniture in a friend’s home or listened to the excited story of a satisfied customer, the furniture amazes them each time they enter the showrooms. What beautiful furniture, wonderful craftsmanship!
Explore handmade furniture
The Amsterdam family was no different. They came to see the wood shop tour and discovered the unique features of handcrafted, custom, and signed by one craftsman furniture all in one place. At the end of the tour they responded,
“Our house is full of furniture, however if we ever need furniture we know where we will come.”
Flooding Devastation
Two years after their visit, Hurricane Sandy hit the Eastern seaboard of the United. The family watched in terror as the water arose, filling the first floor and proceeded up the stairs to the next floor. Their furniture did not survive the flooding. Once the hurricane moved northward, the cleanup began.
Return to George’s
Once the clean up finished and their house ordered, it was time to look for furniture. As promised, the Amsterdam family came to the showroom with a unique request. “Will you help us fill our house with furniture?” I never thought I would be an interior designer, but they spread out the floor plan on our dining table and we proceeded through each room. First was the dining room then the master bedroom. I worked with each family member deciding the perfect design and options.
Which furniture to make first
Several hours later came the challenging part. Which room to make first. Dinning, master bedroom, teens bedroom, living room or den. Out of necessary, the dining table and chairs won along with the bedroom furniture. We updated each other as the house neared completion and ready for delivery.
Home restored
Over the next couple of years, we filled their house with custom handmade furniture designed to their desires. The furniture will serve the family for decades to come. Want to join in the discovery of quality craftsmanship, visit Georgesfurniturepa.com or visit our showroom and wood shop.
How to detect Quality
To help you start the process to high-quality, handcrafted furniture, we created this handy checklist to spot high-quality furniture. Download the checklist here so you know what to avoid in your furniture shopping. Then call us when you are ready to design your own customer, handcrafted piece.
Download you Guide to High-quality Furniture
by Juanita | Apr 2, 2022 | bedroom, customer experience, George's Furniture, Hutch
Dear George’s Furniture
I am writing this appreciation letter to express the feelings of my wife, Linda, and I have regarding the bedroom furniture you have produced for us.
Some of our special moments involve all of you. We got a good feeling from the first time we came to see your shop, June 6, 1995, our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The brochure, we found at the Lancaster Visitor’s Center caused us to come see you that first time. Over a period of several years, we had been looking for something special in bedroom furniture.
Attention to detail
In June, we spent a lot of time looking at the showroom, taking the tour of the drying room and wood shop, reviewing virtually all the photographs, and making lots of notes on details of the furniture we saw. We knew then that if we ever got to the point that we could afford to have the bedroom furniture we really wanted; your shop would be given a lot of consideration.
Exploring furniture stores
In the summer of 2000, we took a drive tour of North Carolina, stopping at various furniture shops and outlets. Some were very nice, but none seemed to capture the feel for quality and detail that we knew existed in the furniture you had on display. None of the places we visited had the feel of friendliness and welcome we experienced from everyone we met in our visits to your shop. By the fall of 2000, improved finances brought us back to you.
Grateful for Design Team
Anthony was wonderful to deal with during entire time and the many times we had discussions by telephone since then. Georges was just where it seemed appropriate when we finished our discussion with Anthony that day –sitting in one of the reclining rockers, talking furniture with some folks.
Delivery with a smile
On Tuesday, February 6, we took delivery of the furniture. Roy and his wife were so nice. I imagine nearly everyone has had the experience of having a delivery made by individuals who are hard to get along with. It is hard to imagine George hiring anyone to make deliveries who would not fit the personality of George’s Furniture. I was very pleased to meet and work with Roy and his Wife.
Friendly craftsmanship atmosphere
Your craftsmanship is superb and having your furniture in our home had nothing to do with commercialism. The product you make results from treating a natural product with the skill held only by true craftsmen.
It is not just the furniture; it is the feeling that you all appreciate what you do and what you produce.
To me, craftsmanship of this kind produces a product that is so likely to survive for so many years. After that we hope to pass it onto others who will appreciate it, care for it and likewise pass it on through generations.
Sincerely,
Michael & Linda Burkey
Come and experience what Michael and Linda experience while working with George’s Furniture. From working with the design team to seeing the craftsmen work, you will understand the difference of quality, handcrafted furniture made by George’s craftsmen.
How to Spot Quality
To help you start the process to high quality, handcrafted furniture, we have created this handy checklist on how to spot high-quality furniture. Download the checklist here so you know what to avoid in your furniture shopping. When you are ready to design your own custom furniture, call and our designers will be eager to assist you in creating that one of a kind cherished piece of quality furniture.
Download your Guide to High-Quality Furniture
by Juanita | Feb 24, 2022 | Accessories, bedroom, customer experience, Customization, George's Furniture, Georges Difference, Gifts
5 Reasons High Quality Wood Furniture Lasts You Forever
Investing in high-quality wood furniture might feel out of reach until you realize that it is not just an investment in value but in time & in family memories. Plus, with the way we do it at George’s Furniture, you have control & input on every step of the process.
Yes, we always start with an initial consult when you can share your biggest dreams with us & we craft a design that brings your desire to life. Then, you can actually visit our woodshop in Lancaster PA while our expert craftsmen assemble, plane & stain the wood. Within weeks, after construction begins, you have your brand new, expertly crafted solid wood kitchen table or bedroom suite to enjoy in your own home for years. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Starting with our choice of lumber, today you will learn 5 reasons high quality wood furniture can last your family forever.
#1. Start with premium wood.
Choosing a premium hardwood gives you strong material when designing your custom handcrafted piece. We have worked with Bingaman Lumber for years. We love working with them to get our customers premium Pennsylvania hardwoods like black walnut, cherry, & red oak. Maple hardwood is also a popular choice.
#2. Use it in any room.
You might find this hard to believe but every room in your home could use a custom handcrafted piece of solid wood furniture. Of course, there are the obvious choices like a solid wood kitchen table or a bedroom set of a dresser, nightstand & chest of drawers. But George actually started our company when he built the first non-tipping rocking chair. Yes, he tipped over in a rocking chair when he was young. That inspired him to build a rocking chair with enough support & balance that it would not tip over.
Even for professional use, we have constructed office furniture, executive desks & conference tables (Did you read about the time we constructed a table for the Pentagon?). We also assemble bed frames & headboards, even such creative & unexpected pieces as dog kennels, instrument cases, & marble tracks. Whatever your creative vision is, we can bring it to life (because there is a good chance we already have)!
#3. Protect it from the elements (& fingerprints).
We actually take great care to seal & finish each of our solid wood pieces with a durable, high-quality finish. This brings out the beautiful color & grain of the wood & makes it so much easier for you to care for it. The finish is actually heat and water-resistant. If you must polish your furniture, for example to remove fingerprints, we recommend a polish like Old English Lemon Oil. Ultimately, investing in our high-quality process protects your furniture from the wear & tear which often strains lesser quality furniture.
#4. Make memories with your family.
Cyrus & Florence Keefer came to us looking for a solid wood kitchen table that could fit their family for dinners, game nights & family meetings. One of the most beautiful parts of their story is how Lori, their daughter, brought the kitchen table into her home with all the cherished memories of her childhood. Ultimately, Lori & her husband passed on the table to her daughter Karly, who gave the table a cherished place in her townhome.
And this is only one story! We have so many more from so many beloved customers & their families! Read more at George’s Furniture Reviews
#5. Endure heavy-duty wear & tear for years.
Truth be told, our customers seem to love this feature the most… that their pieces still hold up over years of wear & tear. Once customers find George’s furniture, they never want to let us go. The quality and craftsmanship outshine all other furniture available.
In fact, as one of our repeat customers, Ches, who first came to us over 20 years ago, has given us raving reviews every time.
“I have done A LOT of business with George’s Woodcrafts in the past, and always used you for any projects that I have. I would match your workmanship 1:1 against anyone.
I truly believe that you are the ELITE of all wood craftsmen and women in the USA.
I have always had an eye for detail, as I must in my business and was overwhelmed with beauty when I first saw George’s workmanship and perfectionistic approaches to everything.
Your craftsmanship has caught my eye over 20 years ago when placing my 1st order, and still is just as beautiful to me now as it was then. I have had a few custom jobs, along with fully furnishing 2 houses with all your items.
George delivered a truckload of furniture to me in Media PA himself. At that time, he said that it was the largest delivery that he has ever made. It was my 1st house in Media, PA (in Broomall township). I bought EVERYTHING from Georges Woodcrafts.
We took a ride to visit the following weekend after knowing that we would NEVER see anything to match the quality we just saw at George’s. We placed orders for EVERY single piece of furniture needed.
If it was made from wood, you guys made it for us.
We have a custom TV stand he built from a picture I found in a magazine. It’s a 3 piece unit. It was extremely heavy. George and I unloaded EVERYTHING together. I had a few helpers, as some of the pieces were extremely large.”
Whether it is a minor job or filling a home, George’s designers and craftsmen are ready to listen and build furniture you will cherish for a lifetime. Visit today in Marietta, PA or explore Georgesfurniturepa.com and begin your life living with quality handcrafted furniture, made your way.
How to spot Quality Furniture
To help you in your designing brainstorm, we have created a handy checklist on how to spot high-quality furniture. Download the checklist here so you know what to avoid in your furniture shopping. Then give us a call when you are ready to design your next custom, handcrafted piece of solid wood furniture.
by Juanita | Jul 5, 2019 | 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 | Feb 15, 2018 | George's Furniture, Team Bio
Meet the President
Before becoming the President of George’s Furniture, Chris Horst spent ten years in the automotive engineering industry in the 90s and early 2000s. He has now been working for George’s for 12 years. Chris married George’s daughter, Juanita, in July of 2000 and became part of the family business. In 2008, Chris and Juanita decided to take over the family business causing a change in careers for Chris.
Learning Woodworking
During the first three years, Chris learned the craft itself. He trained directly with a master craftsman and developed a passion for woodworking and the beauty of hardwood furniture.
Chris says, “Knowing what goes into each piece gives you an appreciation for the skill and craftsmanship that is needed to design and craft a dream piece of furniture for our customers. Our customers become part of the business and a part of our family.”
Chris loves to see the customers’ reactions when they see their handcrafted furniture for the first time. It makes all the hard work that goes into each individual piece well worth it.
Favorite Design
The project Chris enjoyed the most was designing and building a special bookcase for a small apartment which allowed cables to run through the unit, hidden by the woodwork and attached to the apartment wall for stability.
In His Free Time
In his free time, Chris teaches a homeschooled Physics class once a week. He also enjoys reading and taking trips in the outdoors—including camping, biking, and hiking.
