Small Town Offers Quality

Small Town Offers Quality

We first discovered quality furniture in the small town of Elizabethtown in the early 1970’s.  We met Mahlon, the salesperson who showed us a beautiful trestle table made from air dried black walnut. The grain was stunning. We bought a walnut trestle table with two chairs and a bench. George even signed the table for us. The furniture was made and signed by one craftsman.

Years later when the showroom moved to Marietta, PA, we visited the woodshop, where we could see the craftsmen making the furniture.  We were looking for a small plate rack for my wife. After learning what we wanted, George got permission from his wife come into their private house and see the plate rack he made for her. His wife agreed to allow us to have a plate rack identical to his wife’s made for us. This was a gift for our wedding anniversary. George only made two plate racks. One for Ava Lee and the second for us.  We felt special to have such customized attention.

Meadow Brook Farmers Market

Later we found Georges at Meadow Brook Farmers Market, Leola, PA.  Mahlon again greeted us and we ordered their amazing 5 legged extension table, 6 chairs in Walnut along with 4 extra table leaves. Much later, we ordered 4 more chairs as our family grew.

We visited George’s Furniture many times over the numerous years.  They keep adding new furniture and styles. We have so many good memories of visiting with Mahlon and ordering from George’s Furniture. We feel like family and have furniture that reminds us daily of the quality we found so many years ago.

care for solid wood furnitureQuality lasts forever

Even though we were only in our early twenties and recently married when we began our wonderful journey, we still love our furniture. It is quality that keeps on giving. Now we have been married 52 years and still enjoy all the pieces of furniture we have bought thru the years.  Keep the quality coming Georges.

Discover amazing quality

Come and discover the quality that Joy and her husband found so many years ago. Over 53 years of building quality custom handcrafted furniture. Tour the showrooms and woodshop and begin to create your new living space furnished with quality furniture that keeps on giving.

Return for More Quality

Return for More Quality

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.each custom furniture is signed by craftsman who made it from start to finish craftsman's signature constructed in lancaster county furniture store

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

Forgotten Hammers wood scars

Forgotten Hammers wood scars

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 pilewooden woven basket plaque engraving

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 qualitychild's high chair handcrafted in walnut

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
Commemorate Special Events

Commemorate Special Events

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 – Rockernon tip rocking chair, rocker oak

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

cabinet stores treasures Georges FurnitureThe 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”

5 Reasons High Quality Wood Furniture Lasts You Forever

5 Reasons High Quality Wood Furniture Lasts You Forever

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.