I was recently in the grocery store line and watched, with the gentleman in front of me, as a young child ahead of us became frustrated with his mother’s cell phone. He scowled as he pushed a flurry of buttons on the device. His mother asked him what was wrong, and he cried that the game wouldn’t work, with a little stomp of his feet. The gentleman shook his head. Once the boy and his mother were… Amish Wooden Toys for Summertime Fun
Raise Chickens, Raise the Bar Has your longing for a rural past been cooped up now that you live in the city? Urban chicken coops continue to be more and more popular as cities adapt to this fast-growing trend. Even in our own backyard, laws have been adjusted to accommodate the desire to domestically raise chickens. After more than 1,000 people petitioned for the legalization of these backyard chickens in Sarasota, FL, where our corporate headquarters… Urban Chicken Coops
Accent tables, whether used to hold a drink, set a magazine or prop up your feet, can also accessorize a room or communicate your design style. Changing your accent tables can turn a tired room into a furniture fashion statement. Here are some ideas for using accent tables to make a room pop. Different Textures Usually people don’t think about texture when they are designing a room, but it is often what adds excitement and… Accent Tables as Design Statements
The sofa or loveseat is often the largest piece of furniture in a room and sets the tone for the style of that room. We all can probably think of an example where a poorly selected sofa had bad effects on the feel and functionality of a space. With so many variations in size, design, and fabrics to choose from, here are some things to consider when buying a sofa or loveseat. Measure your Room and your… Sofa and Loveseat Buying Guide
Summer is nearly upon us, and it’s time to think about keeping the kids entertained through steamy summer days. We have many happy memories of school break and time spent interacting with friends or family before the distractions of electronics detached us to different corners of the house. Get the kids (and adults) away from the TV or video games with old-fashioned board games that offer some face-to-face bonding time as well. Aggravation Aggravation was first… Old-Fashioned Board Games for Summer Bonding
There may still be some patches of snow here or there, but summer is just around the corner. It’s time to start thinking about your outdoor spaces. You can create a magical, fairytale feel for your personal oasis with an American-made arbor. To some that may be an enchanting garden arbor with a swing to enjoy nights gazing at the stars, and for others it might be a crisp white wedding arbor overgrown with red… An Arbor for Any Space
Sometimes customers ask us how a company selling Amish furniture ended up in Sarasota, Florida. Though the furniture we sell is not made here (it’s made by Amish woodworkers in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio), Sarasota has a thriving Amish and Mennonite community. That’s one of the reasons why we’re here. During the winter months, the Sarasota enclave of Pinecraft busts at the seams with Amish taking breaks from austere winters up north. Tricycles (the mode… Meet the Amish Woodworkers: Albert Barkman
This post was updated on October 21, 2019. Broken links were fixed and some minor changes were made to the copy. Sure, you can look at bunk beds as the ultimate tower of fun for the little ones. But why not use the escapism inherent in bunking up to your advantage? Here, some very grown-up ways to make bunk beds a part of your home’s charm: Related Posts What Language do the Amish Speak? This post… Get Vertical: Bunk Beds that Take Space Saving to New Heights
This blog post was updated on February 4, 2019 with additional Murphy bed designs. Older homes are notorious for their compact, often complicated little bedrooms. Don’t let layout discourage you from creating a multi-functional room to use for exercise, overnight guests or–with the example below– an amazing work space. Read on, and see how Murphy Beds are a surprising solution to any number of bedroom bummers! Related Posts What Language do the Amish Speak? This… Why We Love Murphy Beds (And You Should, Too!)
Your chosen color scheme is en pointe, your traditional bedroom set is positively sumptuous, and now your master bedroom could stand in proud company with a five-star hotel room. Only . . . you don’t particularly want a hotel room. You want a home. Your home. Let our designers show you how to lift a traditional bedroom set out of anonymity. Related Posts What Language do the Amish Speak? This post was originally published on July 25th, 2013. It was updated on January… Bed and Bored? How Designers Revitalize a Traditional Bedroom Set
The Big List of Shed Landscape Ideas What do you use (or wish you could use) your outdoor storage shed for? An artist’s getaway? A gardening or tool shed? A spare space for guests to catnap? Or how about a child’s playhouse? Whatever its function, you’ll find a wonderful way to heighten its beauty (or conceal its, ahem, more rustic nature) in this comprehensive series of suggestions to landscape a shed. Related Posts What Language do the Amish Speak? This… The Big List of Shed Landscape Ideas
A Brief History of the Windsor Chair Infographic and text, plus links below! Related Posts What Language do the Amish Speak? This post was originally published on July 25th, 2013. It was updated on January 30th, 2025. If you have spoken Read more The Amish of Pinecraft This blog post was updated on June 6, 2019. Pinecraft is a neighborhood of about 3000 Amish and Mennonites in Read more Cherry Wood Furniture-The Lowdown You Put… A Brief History of the Windsor Chair {Infographic}
Creating a dazzling dining room begins with the perfect table. With so many designs to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. So, since we’ve already tried to help out with what size dining table you might want, and also what dining table shape would fit, let’s try it one more way: What’s your dining table style? Here are four styles, by personality: Related Posts What Language do the Amish Speak? This post was originally… The New Dining Table: Choosing Your Dining Table Style
Simply suitable dining tables tend to linger long after you’ve stopped loving them. The one you have is okay, it’s workable, but is it the best dining table shape for your current home? Since it’s a substantial piece of furniture, and one that requires a considerable time and $$ investment, it can seem indulgent to buy a new table when the one you have is in perfectly good order. Whether you’ve decided it’s time to up your dining game (thumbs… The New Dining Table: What Dining Table Shape Do I Need?
Most of you would agree that your dining table will be the focal point of your dining space – and, in some cases, your entire home. A resurgence in modern, more open layouts for newer homes has led to dining tables that serve as creative project spots, kids’ homework desks, family game tables, and dinner prep counters – as well as the main component of an optimal dining area. Today, we’ll focus on step 1 of the search for… The New Dining Table: What Size Dining Table Do I Need?
