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 | 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.
by Juanita | Aug 27, 2022 | Ava Lee's History Corner, Coffee End Table, customer experience, Forestry Management
Recently Carl and Chris Geeseman returned to our showroom after three decades of enjoying the furniture built by George. Like so many of our customers, they wanted to share the memories of George. The memories started back in the 1970’s. Carl worked for Highspire lumber yard. Lumber yard typically cut the trees in the forest and transport them to a sawmill. They are looking for straight long trees. A good veneer log needs to be clear of bark, metal, knots, and blemishes.
Forgotten hammer
Metal is a big concern for logs that come from a residential area where metal hardware, bullets or even a forgotten metal screwdriver, hammer or animal trap discarded in the fork of a tree. Each year the tree grows a metal object will become embedded into the wood and unable to be withdrawn. The metal object will leave a scar and their minerals will seep into the wood. Not only does metal scar the wood it destroys.
Scars and destroys
Along comes a saw blade, cuts through the metal, or goes around the hook and the expensive blade loses its teeth or even destroyed. Metal can shut down a sawmill resulting a loss of time and money. Bandsaw blades are 12 feet long and 1 ft wide. They are razor thin and thousands of dollars. Lumber jacks look at the outside bark for marks or scars that shows healing from metal objects or use metal detectors to find metal. Think twice before hooking a wash line, swing, or sign to a tree. They are alive and growing.
George’s treasure pile
Highspire lumber piled their cut offs like bark, knots, rotten wood etc. aside and sold the straight boards to their customers. George loved to come and rummage through the cut off pile looking for unique knots, grain twists, chain saw wedges, rotten tree butts and odd shaped pieces of wood for his next project. Walnut and cherry were his favorite. Some cross cuts turned into coffee tables, end tables, Lamp bases, or even crosscut critters (a crosscut with a hole in the middle from where the hollow tree healed itself.)
Filling the House
Carl and Chris Geeseman started their furniture collection in 1980’s with a table set, dry sink and hutch. Next a bedroom set. Later as the family grew it was time for the kids’ room, a single bed, dresser and child’s play table and chairs. Then another bed, chest of drawers and nightstands. Next it was dad’s turn with a nice rolltop desk with finished back and swivel desk chair. As the family grew so did the table. Time to order more table leaves.
Resourceful Brothers
During family get togethers Carl and his brother would haul their table leaves to the other’s house. Since both brothers had tables from George’s, the table leaves fit together nicely. A curious situation happened. I discovered a leaf storage box with two different colored table leaves in our shop. The two brothers completed their 8-leaf table set by ordering 4 leaves each. Now the hassle of loading up the table leaves in the car was no longer needed. All 29 people crowd around the table and enjoy the comfort of family. A fun game the Geeseman children play is lining up the little child’s chairs and playing school bus.
Sharing the quality
That is not all the furniture in the Geeseman household. 2 high chairs served the growing family. Chris said that their kids sat in the high chairs so long until they no longer fit in between the arms. Chris stopped using the high chairs when she got tired explaining to the kid’s friends why the kids still sat in high chairs. The high chairs have endured 3 kids, and 5 grandchildren. Other items like rocking chairs (child and adult), quilt rack, cradle, Jewelry box, benches and round end table found their way into the home. There is room for more. Maybe a new bed.
Explore, Watch and Design
Join the Geeseman family and many customers over the 50+ years in their experience with Georges fine craftsmen and quality handcrafted furniture. Everyone worked with our designers to create the perfect piece that meets every need and endures hard use of family and friends. Begin creating your unique living space, designed, and built right in Lancaster County, PA. Explore ideas on our website, watch the wood shop in action (YouTube) and see what possibilities await discovery.
In the mean time, we have created this handy checklist on how to spot high-quality furniture. Down the checklist here so you know what to avoid in your furniture shopping. An informed mind will bring great results.
Download your Guide to High-Quality Furniture
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, RV accessories, RV Furniture
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
