All posts by "Beth Rice"

Beth Rice is a content writer for DutchCrafters Amish Furniture. She is the primary author of Timber to Table blog posts and has spent the last several years researching and providing knowledge on wood types, furniture styles, and design trends. As a busy mother of two, Beth understands the value of furniture in helping create a welcoming home for family and friends, and often writes on the ways our furniture can help support that. Beth is a published author with a gift for identifying the special moments in everyday life. Most recently, she had a short story included in Chicken Soup for the Soul's "My Amazing Mom" edition. Since 2012, the DutchCrafters Timber to Table blog has been providing customers and other readers with furniture and interior design tips, information about the Amish, and woodworkers’ stories.

Nursery Furniture Essentials

Beth Rice 12/01/2023

Preparing a nursery for the arrival of a new baby is an exciting time. As you look to equip the room with the comfort and storage needed, follow this helpful guide that will lead you to the top three nursery furniture essentials. Sleep, store and sway. These are the three main goals of your nursery furniture essentials. Your baby needs a comfy, safe place to sleep. You need storage for baby clothes, bedding and supplies,… Nursery Furniture Essentials

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Does Modern Amish Furniture Exist?

Beth Rice 22/12/2022

Modern Amish furniture does exist. Just because it’s made by hand with solid wood and will last from the birth of your child until they have their own children and beyond does not mean it’s limited to one style. In fact, that’s one misconception the vice president of DutchCrafters, Linse Miller, tries hard to dispel, frequently looking for ways to bring Amish made modern furniture center stage. While it’s true the Amish are known for… Does Modern Amish Furniture Exist?

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Three Popular Amish Furniture Wood Stain Colors

Beth Rice 15/12/2022

Wood stain colors can make or break the look of wood furniture, and choosing one is a big decision. Stain colors enhance the beauty of the wood grain pattern, they pull together the color tones of the room, and they transform the look of the wood. Working with solid wood Amish furniture, we are well acquainted with wood stains and their effects on different wood types. We’re often asked what the most popular stain colors… Three Popular Amish Furniture Wood Stain Colors

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Modern Ways to Use a Curio Cabinet

Beth Rice 08/12/2022

Often categorized as an “old-fashioned piece of furniture,” the curio cabinet is loved by some and avoided by others. The news is the curio display cabinet continues to maintain a fan base as it moves into modern design schemes. Unapologetic and versatile, they are used in both old ways and new ones. Modern ways to use curio cabinets have moved beyond just a dish or doll collection, and they’ve branched out throughout the home. A… Modern Ways to Use a Curio Cabinet

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10 Best Amish Made Wooden Toys

Beth Rice 17/11/2022

Amish woodshops bustle with activity, creating strong, durable solid wood creations. Among their many products are wooden toys, the kind that take us back to a different time when things were simpler and technology didn’t dominate the waking hours. These are wooden toys made in the USA. Being made in an Amish woodshop, there are even options to customize these wood toys! Wood type, stain and other options are available on some Amish toys. Wooden… 10 Best Amish Made Wooden Toys

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5 Questions About Log Furniture

Beth Rice 10/11/2022

Let’s face it. Log furniture helps us disconnect. Its natural rugged look represents another time long ago, when things were simpler, and there’s something so appealing in that. While log furniture has been around in the U.S. since the 1800s, its popularity grew in the early 2000s as many fell in love with rustic furniture for both indoors and outside. Log furniture is pretty rustic, with logs wearing knots, colorations, and markings that make it… 5 Questions About Log Furniture

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5 New Ways to Use a Lingerie Chest

Beth Rice 03/11/2022

We’ll call it. A lingerie chest is a little bit of luxury. A narrow chest of drawers made specifically to store and organize women’s undergarments, the lingerie chest originally fell into the category of fancy furniture. Delicate undergarments were organized, stored and protected in its drawers, preventing damage, snags and pulling that could occur in large dresser drawers where there’s a bit of everything mixed in. These days, these small chests of drawers are still… 5 New Ways to Use a Lingerie Chest

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The History of the Daybed

Beth Rice 20/10/2022

While the exact origins of the daybed are not clear, the history of the daybed can be traced throughout ancient cultures. The ancient Egyptians and Romans liked to lounge lazily while socializing and eating. The Egyptians made daybeds from palm sticks bound together to build a unit they both sat on and slept on. Other materials used for early daybeds included stone, marble and cloth. Early daybed styles in ancient Rome featured piles of plush… The History of the Daybed

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Walnut vs. Brown Maple: Which Makes Better Furniture?

Beth Rice 13/10/2022

Walnut and brown maple are two woods that look good in dark stains. They’re easy to work with and both offer reliable durability. One is more expensive than the other and their grain patterns differ. We’re taking a look at walnut wood versus brown maple wood to see which makes better Amish furniture. Walnut Wood Colors Let’s start with wood colors. Walnut wood is known for its exotic dark tones. The wood from the walnut… Walnut vs. Brown Maple: Which Makes Better Furniture?

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Power Recliner or Manual Recliner: Which Fits You Best?

Beth Rice 06/10/2022

The recliner rates consistently as the go-to chair for comfort. A staple in living room, family room or den, it has become a chair whose mere presence promises relaxation, support, and a way to put behind the pressures of the day. Recliners have come a long way, offering luxurious fabrics and features that have developed over the years. When it comes to finding the right recliner for you, do you need a power recliner or… Power Recliner or Manual Recliner: Which Fits You Best?

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What the Amish Read

Beth Rice 22/09/2022

Ever wonder what the Amish read? Always popular on Timber to Table, are our guest posts by Erik Wesner. Erik runs the Amish America website (www.amishamerica.com) and YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/AmishAmerica). Welcome back Erik! Amish people tend to be big readers. This makes sense when you consider they generally don’t indulge in digital entertainment like most of the rest of us. Reading “dead-tree” sources like books and monthly publications not only fills Amish “down time,” it… What the Amish Read

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Wood Bookcase Buying Guide

Beth Rice 08/09/2022

Isn’t it great that a beautiful wood bookcase doesn’t have to be limited to an office? With so many designs and features available, the bookcase can find its place in a number of areas throughout the house. To help you find what will work best for you, we’ve put together a wood bookcase buying guide. Start with measurements. As with any furniture purchase, you’ll want to start by measuring the space you have to work… Wood Bookcase Buying Guide

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Amish Bunk Bed Q & A

Beth Rice 01/09/2022

The bunk bed is often viewed as a kid’s bed, a fun bed and a space saver. While these attributes are accurate, there’s more to bunk beds that can take them beyond the kid’s bedroom. How do they measure up and what else do they offer? Time for an Amish bunk bed Q & A. What are bunk beds? Bunk beds consist of two bunks (narrow beds) that make use of vertical space and are… Amish Bunk Bed Q & A

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Trestle Table vs. Leg Table: The Pros and Cons

Beth Rice 25/08/2022

Your dining table is so much more than just a place to eat. It’s a hard-working host, a gathering place, a workspace, a centerpiece, and a reflection of your personal style. Table style, shape and size are all important factors when it comes to deciding on the dining table that’s just right for you. Here we put the trestle table against the leg table and compare the pros and cons of each. Trestle Table Story… Trestle Table vs. Leg Table: The Pros and Cons

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5 Questions About Wormy Maple Wood

Beth Rice 11/08/2022

Have you heard about wormy maple wood? It’s got a fascinating little story that took it from a wood that beetles were buggin’ in to a sought-after wood type for fine furniture. Here we cover the facts with 5 questions about wormy maple wood. Why is it called wormy maple wood? Wormy maple (also known as Ambrosia maple)  is so named due to small beetles boring into the wood. They deposit larvae causing discoloration of… 5 Questions About Wormy Maple Wood

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