Latest posts

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

Read More History of Industrial Style Furniture

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

Read More How to Select the Right Bed Frame

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

Read More Traveling Amish Country: Scenes Behind the Furniture

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

Read More History of the Vanity Table

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

Read More The Dish on Dining Table Extensions

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

Read More How to Style an Awkward Space

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

Read More Meet the Woodworker: Elkhart Office Furniture Collection

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

Read More Take Your Dog to Work Day

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

Read More Summer Must-Haves for Outdoor Spaces

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

Read More History of the Chifforobe

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

Read More Meet the Woodworker: Keystone Collections

Furniture for Small Spaces: Our Top 10 Picks

Beth Rice 23/05/2017

Living in a small space doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. Whether you have a small home, apartment, or houseboat, we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 furniture pieces for small spaces. Small Space Suggestions Small areas will benefit from the following: Multi-functional furniture. Furniture that matches the scale of the room. Utilizing wall space. Opening up the space with mirrors. Our Top 10 Picks The Amish Turley Hall Seat Bench Here’s multi-functional… Furniture for Small Spaces: Our Top 10 Picks

Read More Furniture for Small Spaces: Our Top 10 Picks

History of Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Leah Meldman 18/05/2017

It was writer and art historian Cara Greenberg who first coined the term “Mid-Century Modern” in the title of her 1984 book. She recalled a design movement that remains popular today for its simple, straightforward style. But before its neat proportions and bright pops of color hit the screen in shows like Mad Men, mid-century modern furniture found its footing starting in the 1940s. Origin Hitting the scene roughly in the middle of the 20th century,… History of Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Read More History of Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Upholstery Buying Guide

Beth Rice 12/05/2017

Sinking into a soft living room sofa or working comfortably at an office chair requires quality construction and support. Just as important as the construction of the furniture is the fine fabric or leather used to upholster it. There are lots of options to choose from when deciding on the right fabric or leather upholstery for your custom furniture. This Upholstery Buying Guide offers helpful points to consider when choosing a fabric with the sensational color… Upholstery Buying Guide

Read More Upholstery Buying Guide

History of Shaker Style Furniture

Leah Meldman 09/05/2017

Many of us hope to furnish our homes with pieces that reflect our unique values. However, reality often gets in the way. Factors like cost, amount of space, and availability, tend to take precedence over having furniture that reflects the way we live. For the Shakers, a religious sect dating back to the 18th century, creating Shaker furniture that reflected their values was of the utmost importance. Taking a look at the development of the influential… History of Shaker Style Furniture

Read More History of Shaker Style Furniture