What Ever Happened to Manchester Wood?

July 27, 2019July 27, 2019 Riley Farabaugh 1 Comment

Manchester Wood was founded in 1976 and spent 42 years manufacturing solid wood furniture in the state of Vermont. At its peak, the company was generating $8-12 million per year in revenue and employed close to 200 people.

The founder, Clifford “Cliff” Pierce, built Manchester Wood into a multi-million dollar business by selling in bulk to retailers across the country. He had over 300 wholesale clients including LL Bean, Crate & Barrel, JC Penney, Sears, Pottery Barn, Macy’s, and more.

The business was known for building high-quality, solid wood furniture. The most popular products were mission style bookcases and sofa tables, adirondack chairs, and folding desks and tray tables. It was a multi-generation family business.

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This blog is written by your friends at Vermont Woods Studios. Check out our Vermont made furniture and home decor online and visit our showroom and art gallery at Stonehurst, the newly restored 1800s farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains.

Pieces of Vermont in L’Avenue at Saks

February 4, 2019October 4, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh 1 Comment

Last updated on October 4th, 2022 at 10:36 am

L'Avenue at Saks — Saks 5th Avenue just opened L’Avenue, a French-art deco inspired restaurant & Le Chalet, a cozy, après-ski style lounge. Fabulous food, pastries by Chef Pierre Hermé, cocktails by Mixologist Nico de Soto and Vermont-made furniture … what’s not to love? Reservations at Resy.com or call (212) 940-4099.

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Buy Vermont Made Furniture from VT Companies

July 16, 2018October 4, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on October 4th, 2022 at 10:25 am

This is part of a series of posts on how to buy fine furniture online. Bookmark this page or sign up for our newsletter to learn more.

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Say Hello to Larssen & MCM Design

November 8, 2017October 19, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on October 19th, 2022 at 12:53 pm

Mid-Century Modern Bedroom | Larssen Bed, Dressers, Chests, Night Stands — Larssen Mid Century Modern Bedroom Collection. Handcrafted in Vermont of real, solid cherry wood.

Mid Century Modern Bedroom Design

Our brand new Larssen Collection features a mid-century modern design, with geometric lines and precision angles. Equally at home in any style room, and with seven individual pieces, this collection is a match for any hardwood furniture lover.
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Visiting Copeland Furniture

August 24, 2017February 28, 2019 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on February 28th, 2019 at 04:49 pm

Copeland Furniture Showroom — Dennis, Pam, and Nina at the Copeland Furniture Company Store

Last week, we had the opportunity to visit Copeland and attend a two day session where we learned more about their workshop, processes, and new product lines. This was such a great opportunity for us because it allows us to pass this extensive knowledge on to you!

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Spotlight on Vermont Furniture Designs

July 22, 2017August 3, 2018 Peggy Farabaugh 1 Comment

Last updated on August 3rd, 2018 at 01:20 pm

Vermont Furniture Designs | Dining Room Set — The Modern Shaker dining set, in solid natural cherry wood. By Vermont Furniture Designs.

The Craftspeople of Vermont Furniture Designs

Rob Bachand and Adam Blaisdell are the new owners and master craftsmen at Vermont Furniture Designs. VFD is one of the Green Mountain State’s most respected furniture companies — it’s been around since 1970, nearly half a century. Today we’re sending out our congratulations to it’s new leadership, Rob and Adam who took over the company upon the recent retirement of founder, Arthur Weitzenfeld. Rob has been crafting furniture at VFD for 30 years and Adam for 16. We’re excited to see them take the helm and continue the tradition of producing handmade furniture of exceptional quality and design.

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Local Vermont Woodworker Joins Vermont Woods Studios Furniture Collection

January 9, 2017March 13, 2019 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

Last updated on March 13th, 2019 at 01:42 pm

Introducing Vermont Woodworker, Alex Dunklee and his handcrafted “Wrought ‘N Wood”

Vermont needs no introduction, but I will anyways!

Sandwiched in-between New York and New Hampshire (for you non-New Englanders) the Green Mountain state is a breath of fresh air. With an appreciation for nature, a working landscape and hard work, Vermont is a state that truly defines Yankee Ingenuity in a modern world.

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Zen Furniture, Consciously Crafted in Vermont

June 27, 2015January 27, 2023 Kelsey Eaton Leave a comment

Last updated on January 27th, 2023 at 11:17 am

Why we call it Zen Furniture:

Zen is a way of being and a state of mind. It involves dropping illusion and seeing things without the distortion of judgement created by our own thoughts. So what does that have to do with wood furniture? Our Cherry Moon Bedroom Collection reflects this Zen idea by cutting things down to the essentials. It isn’t overly adorned or decorated, it’s simple and undistracting. It doesn’t need anything extra to be beautiful, it just “is”. It isn’t trying to trick you with fancy bells and whistles, it purely exists as a beautiful, natural collection that any Zen Furniture lover can appreciate.

Zen Furniture is Natural and Organic

The Vermont Craftsmen who carefully craft this furniture make sure to use natural, premium hardwoods to make this collection. The natural characteristics of the Cherry wood can be admired in every detail. Each piece is made with care, just for you. This gives this your furniture extra value because you have a direct connection to the trees from which it came from. When looking at the furniture, you are reminded that it came from a sustainably harvested forest, and each tree was consciously selected to be turned into furniture for your home.

Pay Attention to The Details

This collection marries traditional craftsman style with a relaxed, zen fusion aesthetic giving you a look that is elegant and cozy, yet clean and uncluttered. It’s defined by understated simplicity and unique detailing. Rich black walnut, half-moon drawer pulls complement our cherry, maple, and walnut hardwood furnishings. Reverse-tapered legs, posts and an intricate cove under the tops round out the design to give any room of your home a comforting and natural feeling of elegance.

The Zen Aesthetic Suits Any Home

Natural light shows off the inherent beauty of the Cherry Moon Platform bed. The Zen style is elegantly apparent in the uniquely shaped legs, solid construction, and smooth sweeping lines. The chic platform bed creates a serene centerpiece to the room, creating a modern minimalist look .

The Cherry Moon Bedroom Collection is a simplistically modern reflection of Zen Furniture Style, and would make the perfect furniture for the Vermont farmhouse or the upscale Manhattan apartment. It’s simplicity makes it ultra-versatile, allowing you to create a relaxed, un-fussy space no matter where you live.

Would this Zen Furniture collection make a good fit for your home? Let us know in the comments section! We love hearing back from our readers. Hop on over to the Porch to find tips for less stress in Calm Home, Calm Mind.

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Craftsman Furniture: An Investment You Can Appreciate

April 6, 2015October 4, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on October 4th, 2022 at 10:12 am

Modern Craftsman furniture, handmade in Vermont. Quality USA made! — Vermont is America’s last great bastion of consummate craftsmanship. The Green Mountain state boasts over 2000 small furniture making companies. They’re keeping the spirit of American craft alive! Commission Vermont made furniture from one of the masters in The Guild and you’ll enjoy your investment everyday as it’s value appreciates over time.

New flash: the stock market’s volatile and the price of gold just took another tumble. Here’s an idea… invest a portion of your money in something you can literally appreciate every day: handmade Craftsman Furniture! I was looking on the Stickley Museum website this morning and noticed that a “Columbus Ave Sideboard” by Gustav Stickley, which he crafted in 1900 for his own home was sold by Stickley’s heirs to Barbara Streisand in 1988 for $363,000. Eleven years later, Barbara re-sold the sideboard to an un-named buyer at a Christie’s auction for $596,500. $233,500 in appreciation just over 10 years– that’s not a bad rate of appreciation is it?

Bedroom furniture: Craftsman and Shaker style. Made in Vermont, USA — It’s not Gustav Stickley and it’s not going to sell for half a million dollars at Christies. But it is high quality, solid cherry wood furniture, made in the USA by Vermont craftsmen and women. And it’s guaranteed for a lifetime of service.

The Stickley museum website highlights other antique arts & crafts, mission and craftsman furniture pieces that have shown tremendous appreciation in value, including:

The Ellis inlaid shoe foot arm chair which recently sold for $206,500 and
This mission craftsman style china cabinet, which recently sold for $242,500

Now… original antique furniture is not for everyone. Most of us would probably prefer to have beautiful, high quality furniture that we’re not afraid to use. Which brings me to Vermont. It is America’s last great bastion of consummate craftsmanship. The Green Mountain state boasts over 2000 small furniture making companies. Several of the best are members of an elite association of master level furniture makers, The Guild of Vermont Furniture Makers. Tomorrow’s antiques can be commissioned from Guild members today, with a good bit of certainty that their value will increase over time. Check out The Guild’s website and visit one of their shows or tour their workshops for an up close and personal view of truly fine craftsmanship.

Mission Style Buffet Sideboard — *This Vermont made Mission style buffet & sideboard, is handcrafted of real solid cherry wood and guaranteed to last a lifetime.*

We have a selection of craftsman furniture for sale at Stonehurst, our furniture and home decor showroom and we can also help you map out a tour of Guild members studios, focusing on those best suited to the type of furniture you’re looking for.

When you invest your money in tomorrow’s Vermont made antiques, you are also investing in American jobs and in the future of American craft. What other kind of investment could give you this kind of appreciation?

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Woodworking Network: Mass Appeal for Master Craftsmen: Vermont Woods Studios

August 19, 2014August 14, 2018 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on August 14th, 2018 at 01:49 pm

The woodworkers are part of a network cultivated by Vermont Woods Studios, a company dedicated to promoting the Vermont custom furniture industry on a large scale. Natural finishes are standard for each custom piece, along with hardwoods sourced from Vermont tree farmers and sawmill operators.

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