by Juanita | Nov 1, 2024 | Ava Lee's History Corner, buffet, Chair, customer experience, Customization, George's Furniture, Georges Difference, Tables, Wedding Registry
We never know how our customers first discover the exceptional quality at Georges Furniture. Is it through a friend, craft shows, website, picking up a brochure in Lancaster County or PA visitor centers?
“Tripped” over a Table”
Tom and Teresa will not forget their experience for a long time. They were attending a craft show at Gaithersburg, Maryland. The fairgrounds included multiple buildings and outside horse stalls and barns. Tom recalls walking through the various craft vendors, distracted by the individual crafts. In one crowded building, the crowds parted slightly, and he “tripped” over a small dining table extending to a massively long table that could hold his ENTIRE family. And what beauty. The grain lured him in, and he had to touch it to see the authenticity.
Extendibility
Tom and Teresa were looking for a long table that could hold their growing family. Until finding the exceptional quality and versatility of this extension table, they did not know if their desired table style even existed. Here was a table designed to fit whatever length they needed. The excitement mounted. Custom made Furniture with such outstanding craftsmanship.
Impressive Craftsmanship
They were so impressed with the quality of craftsmanship, length adjustability and the customization, that they ordered it right on the spot. After spending some time on all the details- leg style, edge style, wood, size, number of leaves, deluxe leaf storage cabinet and 4 chairs-they placed a deposit, and the anticipation began. Several months later, a beautiful dining set arrived. The dining table serves the family very well after all these years.
Wood Shop Visit
6 years later, they made the 2-hour trip to see the woodshop in Lancaster County. Their perception of quality grew as they saw the precision and detail each craftsman puts into each piece they make. From picking the wood to building the furniture, putting on hardware, to signing and dating, the craftsmanship exceeds expectations.
I fell in love with the table. Every time I see the table in my house, I fall in love all over again. – Teresa.
Tom remodels houses for a living and understands woodworking and the skill of making solid hardwood furniture. He respects the craftsmanship.
Future Plans
This time they have their eyes on a long buffet and console hall table. The black stain coupled with the walnut blend, use of natural dark and light color of walnut, captures the desire for natural beauty. In the future a bedroom suite is next.
It is dangerous to find such quality handcrafted furniture.
You look at furniture a whole new way.
Visit our showroom and woodworking shop to see the quality found by so many satisfied customers.
by Juanita | Jul 16, 2024 | Ava Lee's History Corner, customer experience, Customization, George's Furniture, Georges Difference, Hutch, Tables
Jim and Barb had some large walnut trees on their property. They were covered with wild grape vines stunting their growth and yielded less light sap wood. The trees needed to be taken down to clear the brush for their new house. Jim decided to have the trees cut into boards in hope to have some furniture made in the future. He put sticks between the layers of wood so that the boards could dry and stored the boards in barn.
Natural Grain Catches the Eye
During Labor Day weekend, Jim and Barb were browsing some local artists at a craft show, Heart of Lancaster, in Manheim at Roots Country Market. Something caught their eye -what beautiful grain. Immediately they recognized the black walnut grain, however instead of using just the typical brown heart wood, this artist was using the lighter blond sap wood as well. The beauty drew them in. They just had to touch it. The table was not just beautiful, but it also had real water sitting on top of it. What? Why would someone leave a wet glass of water on the table. Something was wrong.
NO More Water Marks
Walnut Blend on Table with clear water resistant finish repelling water.
Nothing was wrong. This was a water demonstration showing how the catalyzed finish was preventing the water from being trapped under the finish. But that was not all that caught their attention. This small almost square table could extend to hold all their family for the holiday gatherings. No one had to sit at the “kids” table anymore.
Made from Customers Wood
They were sold. The wheels started turning in Jim’s head. He had some dried walnut lumber stored in the barn. “I wonder if I could use my wood to have my dining room set made. -Jim He had considered using the wood for a grandfather’s clock but when he saw this extending table he knew a dining table set was a much better use for the wood. George used Jim’s wood and supplemented with the missing thicknesses of wood needed to complete the table.
Personal Attention to detail
They worked with the design team at Georges to finalize all the unique details for their dining table set including a hutch. What leg style, edge, shape, color combination- black stain and natural walnut- hardware and table/ hutch size. The craftsmen used as much of Jim’s dried lumber and supplemented with wood thicknesses not available in his wood. What a blessing to know that the wood from their property was preserved in their new dining table, chairs and hutch.
Each holiday the Landis’ enjoy gathering the family around their walnut table, knowing that they don’t need to worry about water ruining their table. When the family goes home, the table leaves return to the beautiful leaf storage cabinet and the table is a nice size for two or four people.
See for yourself!
We invite you to visit our showroom and wood shop, browse the quality furniture and let the imagine run to see what new piece meets your needs like the Landis family experienced. Or come to a craft show near you. See our upcoming show schedule listed on our website.
by Juanita | Jul 26, 2022 | Accessories, customer experience, Rocking Chairs, Wedding Registry
Commemorate special events
A great way to commemorate special events like anniversaries, birthday, graduation, baby firsts, marriage is to purchase a unique item that endure for remembrance. This is the custom of Don and Sandy Sickler. They were first introduced to Georges on their journey to Nissley’s Vineyard in 1989. Nissley’s Vineyard shares the same road and Georges hand engraved sign peaked the Sickler’s interest. They stopped and enjoyed a personal tour of the wood working shop with George as he shared his abundant knowledge of woodworking with them. After the tour the Sickler’s looked at furniture with fresh eyes.
Son’s Birth – Rocker
During their firsts visit, they began their tradition of small remembrance items by purchasing a small step stool. Meeting George was a gift they will cherished for years. He treated each customer like one of his family and spent hours talking about his love to the natural wood grain. They remember the non-tipping rocking chair demo where Georges leaned way back and did not tip over. It sold them. In 1995 they purchased a rocker to commemorate the birth of the first son.
“George was not a salesperson, He just wanted to share his love for furniture and quality.” -Don
Diploma, Wedding, Crosses
Later wooden crosses were purchased for each of the children’s bedrooms and a large cross for the master bedroom. A small mirror hangs over the fireplace commemorating (What). Pictures frames commemorate wedding pictures at St Peters Church, College diplomas and college campus pictures for their sons. Their 15th wedding anniversary added a walnut wall curio for the (which room).
Feels like home
“It is comforting that things haven’t changed much over the years. It feels like home which is the soul of George’s Furniture. The craftsmen invest their time and skills into each piece of furniture. They care so much about their furniture that they sign each one.
– Sandy
80th Birthday
The Sickler family brought their mother the last time they visited. It carried many memories for her because her husband was a union carpenter and would love to see the wood working shop. The family celebrated their mothers 80th birthday by purchasing a small cross. She selected the wood and color.
What a way to celebrate special occasions with a piece from Georges Furniture. Handcrafted specially to meet specific needs. George’s wedding registry coordinates families and friends in giving a gift of unique quality that lasts a lifetime. See what awaits at Georges. Explore the possibilities. Where dreams come true.
To help you begin the process to high-quality handcrafted furniture, we created a handy checklist to spot high-quality furniture. Download the check list Here so you know what to avoid in your furniture shopping. Call us when you are ready to design your own custom furniture built your way. Two large showroom await to assist you in the many options to create a masterpiece to cherish for decades to come.
“Download your guide to high-quality furniture”
by Juanita | Jan 17, 2020 | Ava Lee's History Corner, Coffee End Table, Customization
Birth of quality furniture
George first began his business in 1972. He made furniture in an old dairy barn wood shop and marketed it at a small stand in Lancaster County. The Gurnsey Barn, was a local venue for country music and local theater nestled along the tourist stretch of Route 30. It was there that George met many tourists and his customer based expanded throughout the east coast.
Wood Shop Tour began
While the customers loved the quality they also wanted to watch the furniture building process. So, in the late 1980’s, George transformed on old 5 car garage, on the farm, into a showroom. The wood shop and showroom together invites the public to watch the craftsman building wooden heirlooms. Tour the wood shop and discover the thought and the skilled design each piece of furniture receives. The craftsman signs and dates his carefully created heirlooms.
Bus, motorcycle, airplane
Many people visiting Lancaster County enjoy the excursion through the rolling farmland of western Lancaster County. They tour the wood shop and purchase solid wood furniture created to their specifications. Although customers often come by car, motorcycle or tour bus, some more adventuresome ones have arrived by bike. They follow the many historical bike routes throughout the county. One couple even landed their small plane at a local airport 5 minutes from George’s Furniture to place their order for furniture.
So with access to the internet, Georgesfurniturepa.com contains videos about how our furniture
is made. Explore the many samples of quality furniture, to inspire new furniture design. Although the website contains a lot of pictures to view, it is only a small sampling of the furniture we make. Each piece of furniture is carefully designed, allowing for the natural wood to adjust to moisture changes. Then it is assigned a skilled craftsman to build. The final step is the application of the craftsman’s signature and dated. Bring in your own ideas and George’s craftsmen will bring those dreams to a reality.
by Juanita | Jul 25, 2018 | Customization, George's Furniture
We pride ourselves on our efficient and quality crafting process, bringing an artisan touch to every single piece that goes through our shop. We provide an unwavering commitment to delivering superior quality to all of our customers. Let’s walk through our crafting process to see how our talented craftsmen achieve those elegant styles for each piece.
Drying the Lumber
We slow dry the rough-sawn lumber in our kiln video (which is heated using wood trimmings from projects) to reduce stress cracks that may occur in the grain if it dries too quickly. Over time, the moisture in the wood can lead to loose joints, splits and even warping. Some lumber will even dry for several years before it is ready to be crafted into furniture. Our lumber is then stored in a climate-controlled building until it is needed to retain the integrity of the lumber.
Construction
Each and every piece has a craftsman that is chosen to handcraft that piece from start to finish. Our craftsman will review the plans, select the boards and processes the boards (Video) through our joiners, planers and table saws until the pieces are ready to be glued. The craftsman will then carefully cut, turn and sand each piece to the exact customer specifications. Each table leg and bed finial is then individually hand turned on a lathe. Precise hand sanding throughout the assembly process ensures proper fit and finish.
Finishing
After the piece of furniture is assembled, it is taken to the staining station where the craftsmen will hand rub the color-specified stain into the wood. After the stain has thoroughly dried, the piece will be taken into the dust-filtering spray booth where two coats of a premium-quality clear, water-resistant finish are applied (video) to the entire piece to protect it from moisture. The first coat of finish is dried and sanded and after the second coat, the piece is closely inspected for smoothness and coverage.
Final Inspection
Each piece is very carefully inspected to make sure it exceeds George’s Furniture quality standards. The furniture is then dated and signed by the craftsmen to show pride in the artisanship of the piece.
