Category: Older

Staff Picks: Our Favorite Wood Types and Finishes

Beth Rice 30/08/2017

Wood type and finish contribute directly to the look of and style of custom furniture. Wood type determines the strength, durability and look of the piece. The finish offers protection and enhances the appearance of the wood. Members of our team selected their favorite wood types and stains to offer an up-close look at how these two custom options can complement each other. _______ “What I like most about this table is the linseed oil on… Staff Picks: Our Favorite Wood Types and Finishes

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How to Create a Stylish and Organized Entryway

Beth Rice 24/08/2017

Your beach bag was all you needed for months. Now, with back-to-school events and the holidays approaching, it’s time to properly equip your entryway for the fall and winter. We can help you prepare for extracurricular activities, changes in the weather, and holiday events with Amish-made furniture that will keep your entryway or mudroom stylish, organized, and working for you. With the foyer being the introduction to your home, you want this space to achieve… How to Create a Stylish and Organized Entryway

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Sitting Pretty: How to Pick the Right Sofa

Beth Rice 16/08/2017

It took Goldilocks three tries to pick seating that was “just right” in the home of the three bears. What was it that kept her moving from seat to seat? The size? The color? Too much fur on the seat? Whatever the reason, she had the right idea – careful consideration is required to find “just right” seating. Buying a sofa in particular can be overwhelming. With so many options to choose from, finding the… Sitting Pretty: How to Pick the Right Sofa

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History of Industrial Style Furniture

Beth Rice 10/08/2017

Industrial style furniture was named after its original purpose, to support the manufacturing industry. The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in 1760 and eventually spread to other parts of the world. During this time, the invention of new machines lead to the creation of factories and mass production. Workers shifted from using hand tools to operating machines, and started to need pieces like drafting tables, stools, and material handling carts. Industrial furniture was simple, practical, easy to… History of Industrial Style Furniture

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How to Select the Right Bed Frame

Beth Rice 02/08/2017

A bed frame provides the foundation for any bedroom. It’s the anchor that pulls all your bedroom furniture together. When choosing the a bed frame, consider the following: The size of your mattress: What size mattress are you most comfortable on? The size of your bedroom: Select a bed frame in proportion to the room size. The height and bulk of the bed frame: Elaborate bed frames may require higher ceilings to accommodate them. Your… How to Select the Right Bed Frame

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Traveling Amish Country: Scenes Behind the Furniture

Beth Rice 27/07/2017

We’ve spent years finding talented woodworkers, and getting to know them and their work. Trips to Amish Country take us to Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Ohio where the day usually starts before the sun rises. There are no warehouses with rows of pre-made chairs and tables waiting to be selected and shipped. Solid wood furniture of this magnitude begins with the ideas of Amish woodworkers who have been perfecting their skills since they were children. Take a… Traveling Amish Country: Scenes Behind the Furniture

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History of the Vanity Table

Beth Rice 19/07/2017

The vanity table has been dubbed many titles throughout its history including: toilet table, dressing stand, dressing table, and vanity. Early dressing stands included a folding top, cistern, and a basin drawer for light bathing and removal of cosmetics. Their widespread use was normally reserved for society’s elite. Both men and women enjoyed vanity tables. Men stored hair powders, razors, oils, and combs in them, while women used them to store cosmetics, perfumes, and hair… History of the Vanity Table

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The Dish on Dining Table Extensions

Beth Rice 13/07/2017

Dining table extensions make it easy to expand your dining room table for holiday feasts, lively game nights, or big projects. Extensions save space by tucking or folding neatly into a table, or being stored when they aren’t needed. With four main types to choose from, it’s easy to select a custom-made dining table with just the right extensions to fit your needs. Dining Table Extensions: The Four Main Types Traditional Butterfly Leaf Drop Leaf… The Dish on Dining Table Extensions

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How to Style an Awkward Space

Beth Rice 06/07/2017

How many times have you passed that landing or glanced at that small corner and asked yourself, what’s missing there? The character of every home is different, sometimes resulting in unique spaces that look too bare to leave alone, yet remain untouched. Here are nine Amish furniture suggestions that will help transform those misfit, hard-to-decorate spaces. A Long, Narrow Hallway Maintain the look of your long hallway while creating a seamless transition between adjoining rooms… How to Style an Awkward Space

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Meet the Woodworker: Elkhart Office Furniture Collection

Beth Rice 28/06/2017

Handcrafting and perfecting fine solid wood office furniture since 2000, Lavern Beechy and his wife Mary recently visited our headquarters to share their story. __ Back in 2000, Lavern was working for a trailer company when a friend invited him to take over his business that specialized in solid wood desks. The timing was just right as Lavern had been thinking about starting a woodworking business but wasn’t sure what to make. He and Mary set up shop… Meet the Woodworker: Elkhart Office Furniture Collection

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Take Your Dog to Work Day

Beth Rice 22/06/2017

In 1999, Pet Sitters International founded the first Take Your Dog to Work Day in the U.S. to emphasize the importance of the human-animal bond and to encourage employees without pets to rescue and adopt a furry friend from a shelter or rescue program. This year, Take Your Dog to Work Day will be recognized on Friday, June 23. DutchCrafters is a pet friendly workplace, with wagging tails making their way through the office on… Take Your Dog to Work Day

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Summer Must-Haves for Outdoor Spaces

Beth Rice 15/06/2017

This blog post was updated on July 2, 2019. It’s time to unpack your summer wardrobe. Essentials like a white V-neck tee, denim shorts, casual sneakers, and a stylish bathing suit are staples. But why does your summer wardrobe get to have all the fun? What about your outdoor furniture collection? Here are the must-haves summer pieces that bring style to outdoor spaces. Amish Folding Poly Adirondack Chair This eco-friendly beauty comes from our Leisure… Summer Must-Haves for Outdoor Spaces

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History of the Chifforobe

Beth Rice 06/06/2017

To properly share the history of the chifforobe we have to go back in time and ask ourselves, what did we do with clothing before closets were invented? Centuries ago humans had no need for storage dedicated to clothing since they possessed so little of it. As methods for producing clothing and desirable styles developed, the need for a storage solution was born. Some early solutions included woven baskets and wood chests. Roman soldiers used… History of the Chifforobe

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National Doughnut Day with the Amish Baking Company

Milca Rivera 01/06/2017

June 5 is National Doughnut Day and with the Amish’s reputation for making the most delicious desserts, we want to introduce you to Amish doughnuts. Sadie Peachey and her brother Nate started The Amish Baking Company in 2007, but the bread and butter, or in the case of Sadie and Nate — the dough — that makes the business has a history that goes back generations. “Before I was born, my grandmother in Pennsylvania would… National Doughnut Day with the Amish Baking Company

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Meet the Woodworker: Keystone Collections

Milca Rivera 26/05/2017

This blog post was originally written on May 26, 2017. In March of 2021, Keystone Collections was acquired by Canal Dover. — “One of the first projects Dad ever did was build heavy duty quilting frames for my mom,” Marvin Martin, co-owner of Keystone Collections, says with a grin. “Mom jokingly said it looked like it was built to hold an elephant.” Seated in a chair on a late afternoon in one of the sprawling… Meet the Woodworker: Keystone Collections

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