by Juanita | Nov 29, 2024 | Ava Lee's History Corner, customer experience, Furniture Care, George's Furniture, Georges Difference, Tables
Solid hardwood will receive dents and scratches over the years of hard use. While the dents can be raised out (see instructions for minimizing dents), the accumulation over time may require refinishing – complete sanding and a new finish. Some people like those “memory marks” on their table while others want to see their old table new again. Not only are Georges Furniture tables protected with a durable water-resistant finish they can be refinished after years of hard use.
Refinished
After 18+ years of enjoying their Georges Furniture table, Rob and Melinda wanted to refinish their beloved table. They also loved the two-tone style, where we used two different stains or a combination of two different woods and stains. While we refinished their table we added a different stain to parts of the table for a two-tone look.
Word of Mouth
How did Rob and Melinda first find out about George’s quality handcrafted furniture. A different way. Yes, word of mouth is a great way to share the discovery of quality handcrafted furniture in Lancaster County, PA. One day a contractor who was doing work at a post office started a conversation with Rob, who drove a truck with the postal service. Rob shared his quest for quality furniture and the contractor said you must check out Georges Furniture in Marietta, PA near Maytown.
Narrow Table Search
Rob and Melinda searched around the furniture stores for a narrow table to fit in their space. 38-inch-wide table is not an easy size to find. They wanted to use some money that their mother gave to them. It is hard to find quality craftsmanship and custom sizes.
Love at first sight
The minute they walked into George’s showroom they knew this was what she was looking for in size and quality. To be able to customize everything was unheard of in normal furniture stores. Rob and Melinda spent hours looking over the many options and decided on a perfect size, wood, leg style and edge. She gets compliments on the long overhang on the ends of her table. This space is great for the ladies who like to cross their legs. The tabletop needed to be wide enough to fit a meat platter and two dinner plates yet still small enough to fit in their dining area.
High Lights
Melinda remembers what impressed her most about Georges Furniture.
- Strength Test – 13 People standing on top of an extension table.
- A table that kept on extending – up to 21 feet.
- Wood shop tour
- Top quality craftsmanship
- Attention to detail
During deliver the delivery man accidentally scratched the table with his watch and took it back to be repaired. Melinda questioned why the table even needed to go back.
Customer Service
“The customer service is top notch.” -Melinda.
From visiting the showroom and wood shop to exploring the details of furniture on the order. We design, build and deliver our furniture. The service exceeds expectations.
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.
Exceptional 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 | 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’, or even what makes good furniture? These are excellent questions. There are many aspects portraying the world of furniture that contribute to a piece being truly outstanding.
At Georges Furniture, we don’t aim to meet the regular standards for constructing furniture. 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 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. Furthermore, it is best to store leaves upright to prevent bowing and warping from gravity’s pull. Read More.
Leaf Storage Solution
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.
Walnut Blend on Table with clear water resistant finish repelling water.
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 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.
Moving Chairs
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 Authentic Quality – 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 technique is 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 Solid Hardwood 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
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 think boards. The king and queen beds slats have a center support leg to hold the weight of a large mattresses. Explore our bedroom gallery.
Functional Cove Crowns
Hutches stand proudly as a signature piece in the dinning room. They often display delicate pieces of fine China or store your fancy plates for special occasions. These mammoths of the furniture community are also known for their noble stature and royal crowns. To most manufacturers, the coved crown, the top rim of the hutch, is simply a novelty. It adds decoration to enhance the furniture’s appearance.
The crown extends above the top of the hutch, leaving a ton of unused space to collect dust. In contrast, George’s crowns are functional. We never leave valuable space vacant. The roofs of our hutches extend all the way to the top of the crown, giving you more functional storage within the piece to use at your pleasure. Read more.
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.
Easy Access Side Doors
Another neat aspect, specific to our curio cabinets, is the inclusion of side doors. While other companies build cabinets with only front facing doors. The side doors incorporated into our builds enable a painless installment of the shelves, relieving you of the awkward battle to insert them from the front. The side doors also make it easier to display your large collectibles that never seem to fit through any opening. As an added bonus, our shelves also come with precut plate grooves, perfect for displaying your favorite platters.
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 best with space to move around. Next plan for growth. Will you entertain clients or small meetings? Ergonomics and budget are valuable considerations. 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.
Lets Review
Why George’s solid wood furniture stands out among other furniture. Each craftsman signs and dates your custom made 100% solid hardwood heirloom furniture. Each is protected with a clear water-resistant conversion varnish. Be mesmerized by the natural grain of the ever growing extension table. Each table is designed to meet your everyday table size, 4-6 people and extends up to 12 feet, even to 21 feet. Store the desired number of table leaves in a leaf storage cabinet for the next dinner party. Lively conversation will continue into the night while sitting on strong comfortable chairs. Our chairs are made to withstand even leaning back in the chair.
Georges hutches, dressers and all cabinets contain solid hardwood drawers – even the bottoms – and strong full extension drawer hardware. The cabinet tops extend all the way to the top of the crown and can have easy access sided doors. Strong bed rails prevent squeaky beds and footed slats support the mattress extending its life.
Desks and office suites provide custom designs with long extension 
file drawers, adjustable shelves and raised paneled sides. Surround your office with natural wood desks, bookcases, conference tables and filing cabinets.
See for Yourself
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 | Feb 2, 2023 | customer experience, Customization, Georges Difference, Tables
Gambinos recently came back to custom design a small server to aid in serving their guests during family gatherings. During their recent visit we asked, “How did you first find out about us and our showroom of handmade furniture.” Frank was eager to share.
Trying to Find Quality
For years as a kid, Frank came with his family to Lancaster County to enjoy the unique experiences the county has to offer. Frank and Louisa began their search for a dining table set around the Staten Island area. All they found was high prices for such poor quality. Frustrated they asked friends and family for suggestions of where else to look. His father remembered Lancaster County and the quality craftsmanship that Lancaster is known to produce.
B&B Inn Keeper Recommendation
Frank and Louisa spent 4 days in Lancaster, exploring the numerous options. At breakfast one morning, the B&B Inn keepers, Ann and Janice of Kings Cottage Inn shared their knowledge of the furniture stores in Lancaster County.
“Looking for furniture? You must go to Georges Furniture. It’s our favorite custom handcrafted furniture maker.”
Thrilled with the recommendation, the Gambinos found Georges Furniture. A small woodshop, nestled in the countryside on the west side of Lancaster County. Ann and Janice are their “go to” resource for recommendations when looking for places to shop in Lancaster County – Best place for quilts, furniture, and antiques, often places away from the busy tourist area in the quiet farmland.
Abundant Options
After discussing the many options Offered at Georges, their heads were spinning with the ability to create a table set made the exact size, quality and look they wanted. Louisa could not wait to receive the table set and seat everyone around one table. The table fit their space, one that started at 6 feet when closed and extended to 14 feet. Today, their family has already exceeded the length of the table. However, the room size is also limited.
Long Rolling Pin
Another unique purchase was a long rolling pin. Louisa enjoys making homemade bread, a recipe that her father brought from Italy and a family tradition. The 32” rolling pin works hard, especially around the holidays when Louisa makes 3 batches of bread for her growing family.
Georges Difference
Frank remembers weighing the differences between another furniture store and George’s. Several positives that sold them on George’s Furniture is that George’s delivers their furniture to their Staten Island home. You can also see where the furniture is made and meet the craftsman at the same location as the furniture store. Chris delivered the large 72×48, 5 leg extension table, 8 table leaves, finished leaf storage and 8 chairs, the legs of the table needed to be removed so that the table could get into the house.
The guests amazed by small details.
As a recent guest helped Frank and Louisa put the 8 table leaves back in the lovely wooden leaf holder, they noticed Georges Furniture’s branding logo, craftsman’s signature, date, and stain number on the top section of the center table leg.
“Wow you don’t see the craftsman’s signature, business logo, and date on furniture.”
Each piece of furniture is made by one craftsman and the signature is found on the inside of the right-side drawer, the back of cabinet, top of center table legs or under the seat of a dining chair.
Take the recommendation from the Gambino’s and explore what quality, handcrafted, made your way furniture looks like in your home. See the craftsmen taking special care to make it the right way. Share your ideas with our expert designers at our showroom in Lancaster County, PA
