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Happy Fourth of July From Your Vermont Furniture Friends
All of us here at Vermont Woods Studios are wishing you a safe and happy Fourth of July.
The staff is taking today off to enjoy with their families but our 4th of July Furniture Sale is on 24/7 if you would like to shop or make a purchase. We'll be back in the showroom tomorrow to work with you directly and answer any questions you may have.
Happy Fourth and thanks for your continued support of our work!
Our Search For A New Vermont Home
Vermont Woods Studios is growing. Maybe you've noticed that we have a few new faces in our small office/furniture showroom on Fort Bridgeman Road in Vernon. There are 9 of us now, plus a couple summer interns. Hard to believe!
Everyone's being a real good sport about the occasional crowding. On nice days we think up excuses to work outside at the picnic (conference) table and that helps. But clearly it's time to scout around for a new home.
This is one possibility we're looking at. It's an old (circa 1800) farmhouse that was transformed into a local ski area in the 1940s. Great story.
We're looking at a number of other options as well and I'll share more pictures as we journey through the process of finding the one that works best for us. Stay tuned and let me know what you think on our Facebook page.
Happy Father’s Day
We're wishing all you fathers out there a very happy and healthy Father's Day! Here in Vermont the weather is absolutely beautiful so if you're not already at the Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival, gather up the golf clubs or fishing poles, grab the kids and go make some memories.
Oh… and don't forget the camera!
Happy Father's Day from your friends at Vermont Woods Studios Fine Furniture
Ocean Conservation And Furniture
I started Vermont Woods Studios Fine Furniture almost 7 years ago as part of a mission to help with rainforest conservation. We promote American made furniture that's built with local, sustainably harvested wood as an alternative to imported furniture made with illegal tropical timber, clear cut from the world's rapidly disappearing rainforests.
But a couple years ago when we were searching for an eco-friendly line of outdoor furniture, I began to learn that furniture is such a HUGE commodity it's manufacture affects ocean conservation as well as forest conservation. Often when rainforests are clear-cut for timber, they are converted into plantations that require massive amounts of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers. The whole process results in soil erosion, run-off, ocean pollution and coral bleaching.
This knowledge is what led us to begin carrying our Polywood outdoor furniture collection which is made from recycled plastic beverage containers, rather than rainforest woods like teak or mahogany. I know this is a convoluted pathyway, but that's what reminded me of today's designation as World Oceans Day.
There's no denying it– we are destroying the oceans and we need to take action to restore them. 90% of the big fish are gone and many of the fish caught today never even have the chance to reproduce. The average size of the remaining big fish has been cut in half in the last 50 years (the average weight of a swordfish caught today is 90 lbs., down from 266 lbs. in 1960).
The Green Prophet has some great suggestions if you're wondering what you can do to help restore the oceans. In addition to avoiding the purchase of furniture made from tropical woods (like teak, mahogany, ipe and eucalyptus) you can also help by eating only sustainably harvested fish and learning more about ocean conservation.
OK, thanks for reading all this. Now time to head out to the beach for a swim!
Vermont’s Lyndon Furniture: What Makes It Eco Friendly?
Vermont's Lyndon Furniture is one of America's most admired eco-friendly furniture companies. We've been partnering with Lyndon for many years and often customers ask "just what is it that makes Lyndon Furniture so green?"
We put the question to our friend Dave Allard, Lyndon's owner and founder and below are a few of his comments. We'll follow up with more tomorrow.
Use of Local Woods – At Lyndon Furniture "green" practices start with our Purchasing Policy. We purchase wood through responsible local partners, thus minimizing transport distances and helping our regional economy. This policy greatly reduces fuel usage and carbon emissions.
Sustainably Harvested Woods – The hardwoods we utilize at Lyndon are grown and harvested within a 500 mile radius of our shop. Some are even harvested less than two miles away, from my own property. This is unlike furniture imported from China or other places where the lumber might be sourced from thousands of miles away in Africa or South America, thus consuming great amounts of energy in transit before timber is even received for furniture production.
Green Technology – At Lyndon Furniture we utilize advanced technology and responsible manufacturing to maximize yield and reduce the amount of wood waste, making certain that all wood processing by-products are put to some use. For example, our sawdust is used by local farmers for animal bedding.
Pretty cool, right? In Vermont nothing goes to waste. It's part of our Yankee culture of ingenuity, innovation and oh yeah…thrift. In Vermont "green furniture" is not a new promotional slogan. Furniture making has always been this way up here and I'd guess it always will be. Vermonters just aren't very responsive to passing trends. It's more about quality, integrity and sustainability in VT.
We'll post a few other green characteristics of Lyndon's eco friendly furniture tomorrow.
Maple and Walnut Furniture: Custom 2 Tone Designs by Copeland
The SoHo bedroom furniture set by Copeland Furniture is handcrafted with a two-tone wood combination of maple and walnut.
Custom furniture is a luxury that many customers have given up on prior to discovering our made to order furniture at Vermont Woods Studios. And it's true that if you're going to commission an artisan to design and create unique pieces just for you, there is a lot of work, time and expense that goes into that.
But if you can find a furniture design you love, that you're just looking to modify or customize, then expense may not be an issue at all. Such is the case for our two-tone wood bedroom sets from Copeland Furniture. This SoHo bedroom furniture, for example can be customized online in your choice of 7 different maple and walnut wood combinations at no extra charge.
How about that? Custom furniture at catalog prices. What could be better? Check out our website for other customizable furniture available in two-tone wood combinations, including the the Copeland Berkeley Bedroom Set (with 2 tone cherry and walnut wood) and the Modern American Furniture Collection (customized in your choice of solid cherry, maple, walnut or any two tone combination of these woods). Give us a call with your questions and customizations.
Lyndon Furniture: The Real (American Made) Thing
Ken and I traveled up to Lyndon, Vermont today to meet with Lyndon Furniture. We carry all of Lyndon's line of Shaker, Mission, Modern and Traditional hardwood collections.
That's Lyndon's owner and founder in the middle, Dave Allard.
Dave started Lyndon Furniture over 30 years ago, building his first woodworking shop from timber he cut on his family farm and had milled locally. Since then his business has grown and earned a reputation for producing high quality, eco friendly furniture that lasts a lifetime.
One of the things I love most about Lyndon Furniture is that when times got tough and all the other American furniture companies fired their employees and went to China to cash in, Dave Allard and Lyndon Furniture stayed right here in Vermont. They remained true to their employees, their community, their integrity and their quality. I see that integrity in their furniture.
It's interesting because we're seeing another mass exodus of so-called "American furniture companies" now. But it's from East to West. They're all hurrying back to American from China now that Chinese wages and trans-oceanic shipping are so costly. But I have to wonder how long they'll stay.
I think it's safe to say, though, that regardless of global economics, Lyndon Furniture will remain right here in Vermont making high quality, handcrafted furniture and contributing to their community. It's the Vermont way.
Copeland Omni Laptop Desk: Going, Going….
Copeland Furniture is doing their annual housekeeping. The other day I broke the news that their Sarah and Berkeley armoires are being discontinued as of June 1, 2012. Today I have another victim to add to the list, the Omni Laptop Desk and Mini Workstation.
I thought it was a cool idea, especially for urban apartment dwellers looking to maximize the use of small spaces. A desk, printer table, file cabinet and storage piece all in one. Perfect for the guest bedroom or kitchen corner.
But I think desktop computers are becoming obsolete in micro offices and (thankfully) people aren't printing much anymore. So maybe the need for micro-office furniture is just a small bookcase or shelf now.
What kind of furniture do you have or need in your home office or micro office? If the Omni fits your needs, better give us a call today! A few more weeks and it'll be gone.
If you miss the deadline, take heart… Copeland will continue to offer it's Catalina and Astrid style laptop desks.
Living Room and Home Office Fine Furniture Sale
Shopping for new, real hardwood living room or home office furniture? Now is a great time to refurnish your Living Room or update your Home Office with our fine Vermont Made furniture.
With this Buy More – Save More Sale you will save 10% off any single piece, 15% off two pieces or 20% off 3 or more pieces (plus Free Delivery)*.
Your new hardwood furniture can be customized online and crafted in natural black cherry, sugar maple, oak and black walnut. Every piece is traditionally handcrafted one piece at a time right here in Vermont and made just for you. And all are solidly built to last for generations of use and backed by a lifetime guarantee. Check it out and give us a call with your questions.
This Sale ends at midnight on May 22nd.
* Excludes Copeland, Polywood, Artisan & Barnwood furniture
Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day
Flowers are always great for Mother's Day, but if you're looking for something a little different (and perhaps more extravagant) this year, how about something handmade in Vermont?
We're running a special for Mother's Day on Ken's handmade cutting boards (small and large), chopping blocks and wooden drink coasters. These are gifts Mom can enjoy for many years!
If you think Mom should be relaxing instead of preparing and serving food, maybe you'll want to check out some of our new all weather patio, pool and deck furniture by Polywood.
Whatever you think would delight Mom on this Mother's Day, it's probably time to get going on it today if shipping is involved. At Vermont Woods Studios Fine Furniture, we're at the phone now and ready to help. Give us a call!
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