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.
Furniture feet come in all shapes and styles. The feet of chairs and tables have often reflected different style periods throughout history. Different parts of the world developed their own furniture styles and over time influenced each other, bringing furniture feet through different phases that saw them wearing buns, balls and even claws. What facts can we share about furniture feet? Well, different feet developed at different times, and here we share some of the… Facts About Furniture Feet
Do you call it a nightstand or a bedside table, and is there in fact, a difference? A nightstand is typically defined as a small, low bedside table that usually has drawers. A bedside table is defined as a small table beside a bed. How are the two furniture types different from each other? Some believe there is just one main difference: Nightstands are expected to have at least one drawer, while bedside tables are… Nightstand or Bedside Table — What’s the Difference?
Decorative garden windmills make a lovely addition to home or business. They offer a warm greeting and a unique look. Whether you use them for yard, garden, or landmark, some questions may arise. Here’s some helpful info on what to expect with a decorative garden windmill. A Little Windmill History Windmills, also called wind pumps or wind turbines, go way back. Who made the first one in the United States? That honor goes to Daniel… 5 Questions About Decorative Garden Windmills
Many of us took a good look around last year. Inside and around our homes, that is. As the COVID-19 pandemic drove many of us into our houses and kept us there, we took notice of what furniture we needed to set up a home office, what rooms needed an upgrade, and ways to create more effective storage options. At the top of the list, we also looked for furniture that would bring us comfort… The American Lumber Shortage: What You Need to Know for Solid Wood Furniture
It’s the age of reclaimed barnwood, and one of the great things about it is barnwood already comes into the picture with staying power, having served its time on the land as barns. Now, it transforms into unforgettable furniture, with strength and history that are likely to keep it part of home furniture collections for another century to come. What else makes reclaimed barnwood so popular, and what makes it unique enough to not become… Why Is Reclaimed Barnwood So Popular?
Should you or shouldn’t you? Add a sofa table, that is. It’s another piece of furniture to dust and vacuum under, right? Sofa tables have been around since the 1700s, evolving over time to serve homes with both function and style. Here are five reasons to add a sofa table to your home furniture collection. What is a sofa table? Sofa tables of the late 1700s were actually used in front of the sofa for… 5 Reasons to Add a Sofa Table
It’s time for oak versus brown maple, where we’ll take on the two least expensive hardwood types that offer a world of possibilities for Amish furniture, and we’ll compare their strengths and weaknesses. The ultimate goal is to help you decide if one of these wood types would be the best fit for your vision of new wood furniture. Comparing Colors Oak Wood Colors There are several different species of oak trees. The two main… Oak vs. Brown Maple: How They Compare for Wood Furniture
Rustic wood furniture embraces the natural, and with that au natural look come knots. Should you fill them? What does that mean? How is it done? What are the benefits? Let’s take a look. Defining Rustic Wood Furniture While rustic wood furniture is a style that embraces the natural, accepts imperfections and celebrates rugged elements, people often interpret “rustic” in different ways. While some might like sun spots on barn wood or pin holes left… Should You Fill Wood Knots on (Rustic) Wood Furniture?
Gatherings for family meals come in all shapes and sizes, and so do Amish custom breakfast nooks. There are a number of questions that arise regarding a custom breakfast nook, which are built with solid wood and interchangeable features. We’ve taken those questions and answered them here to help you on your path to finding the perfect custom nook. Can an upholstered seat or back be added to my breakfast nook? Yes. Amish breakfast nooks… Custom Breakfast Nook FAQs
The advantages of folding furniture don’t all necessarily focus on saving space. While it’s true this transformable furniture is considered a space saver, there are other benefits to consider as well. Perhaps you camp frequently, entertain occasionally or prefer pieces of furniture that can multitask and get tucked away. Folding furniture can achieve those goals. Let’s take a look. Helps Keep Things Organized With shelves that flip open and fold closed when needed, furniture that… The Advantages of Folding Furniture
Wood inlays are a type of furniture feature that catches the eye. They represent the work of a true artisan, and they require a skilled hand to add them to wood furniture. What is a wood inlay and what does it do? A wood inlay is the addition of an often contrasting, colored material into a shape that’s cut out to accept the inlay. It is fit flush with the item it’s added to. The… Things to Know About Wood Inlays
There are 5 ways a Murphy bed saves you money. One item of furniture whose versatility and function make it a great fit for several living spaces, a Murphy bed does a lot more than just sit there and look good. The money saving factor is icing on the cake. And who doesn’t like to save money? How the Murphy Bed Got Its Name Also known as a wall bed, pull down bed or fold… 5 Ways A Murphy Bed Saves You Money
It’s pretty easy to name five things to love about a secretary desk, from its space saving features to its collection of storage compartments. When you factor in the ability to customize, the solid wood, and the variety of styles to pick from, it’s even easier to name five things to love about an Amish secretary desk. Let’s take a look. Secretary Desk History The secretary desk has come a long way. Also referred to… 5 Things to Love About an Amish Secretary Desk
Let’s start with clarifying that as we dig into things to know about a gentleman’s chest, we are of course talking about the furniture, not a gentleman’s chest of the human kind either with or sans hair. I like to think of a gentleman’s chest as a quiet piece full of function, quiet because we don’t often talk about “men’s furniture” and full of function because the gentleman’s chest of yesterday can be used in… Things to Know About a Gentleman’s Chest
There’s a lot to know about wood types when it comes to building custom wood furniture. Durability, color, cost and features should all be considered before selecting a wood type for your new table, bed, desk or chair. Two wood types, both quite popular in Amish furniture, are cherry wood and maple wood. When it comes to cherry vs maple, does one make better wood furniture? Let’s take a look. First we have cherry wood,… Cherry vs. Maple: Does One Make Better Wood Furniture?
