George Nakashima: Everything You Need to Know

August 7, 2020August 7, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Modern American Bedroom Furniture Collection inspired by George Nakashima — Our Modern American Collection features natural cherry wood with walnut accents and was inspired by the work of George Nakashima.

George Nakashima (1905-1990) was an architect, designer, and woodworker that was a driving force behind 20th-century furniture innovation. The aesthetic of his furniture can be described as a unique mix of European Modernism with Japanese woodwork. Elements woven through his body of work can also be attributed to the influence of his love of nature, formal education in architecture, and his time spent in India.

Nakashima practiced during the mid-20th century, but his work was a divergence from most of the other designers of that period. Whereas many designers during the time looked to incorporate new materials like metal, plastic, plywood, and glass into their designs, Nakashima preferred to work with solid, natural wood. No doubt his relationship with Antonin Raymond, a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright (the father of “Organic Architecture”), influenced this propensity.

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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.

5 of the Most Well Known American Furniture Designers

July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Vermont Woods Studios was founded on two core principles- a desire to protect the world’s forests and a reverence for high quality craftsmanship.

Over the years, we’ve added a handful of Vermont craftsmen to our offerings, all of whom design furniture and decor that is beautiful, high quality, and uniquely their own. However, it’s hard to ignore the influence that some of America’s most prolific designers have had on the furniture designs produced today.

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants” -Isaac Newton

Here are some of the most renowned American furniture designers of all time, which continue to inspire craftsman all over the world today:

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Lawrence Peabody: Everything You Need to Know

July 20, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Lawrence Peabody was an architect, interior designer, and furniture designer who made significant contributions to the world of design during the mid- to late- 1900’s. Most known for his use of walnut, Haitian influence, and innovative designs, Peabody’s work was sold by nationwide brands like Sears and Kohler, as well as notable retailers like Richardson-Nemschoff and Craft & Associates.

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Adrian Pearsall: Everything You Need to Know

June 20, 2020June 22, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Last updated on June 22nd, 2020 at 04:52 pm

Adrian Pearsall's Compass Dining Table — Shown here, an authentic Compass Table, designed by Pearsall and built by Craft Associates in the mid 1900’s.

Adrian Pearsall may not be as widely recognized as other furniture designers like Frank Lloyd Wright, but his contributions to the world of design have not been forgotten. After founding Craft Associates in 1952, Pearsall went on to become one of America’s most prominent furniture designers during the “Atomic Age” of mid-century modern stylings.

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Frank Lloyd Wright: Everything You Need to Know

April 25, 2020April 25, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

Modern High Back Dining Chairs and Metropolitan Dining Table by Lyndon Furniture — Our Modern High Back Chairs mirror the High Back Chairs that Frank Lloyd Wright designed back in the early 1900’s.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) is one of the most well-known architects of all time. He is often referred to as the “father of organic architecture” for his work to pioneer and define the concept. Throughout his career, Wright designed more than 1,000 structures, many of which remain historical icons.

Although he was best known for his work in designing buildings, he also made significant contributions to the field of furniture design. Inspired by the mission & craftsman movement of the early 1900’s, many of Wright’s designs included the vertical rectangular cuts seen so often in the furniture of that period. However, Wright went beyond the established designs of the American Craftsman era, infusing his own signature style into chairs, tables, and more.

During the later stages of his career, Wright’s furniture designs would evolve from distinctly craftsman into what would help to define the style now known as mid-century modern.

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Indoor Plants: Trendy and Healthy!

March 20, 2020March 16, 2020 Loryn Dion Leave a comment

Bedroom with Indoor Plants — *Our Copeland Berkeley Bedroom Set looks so bright and warm with added house plants.*

Why Indoor Plants are Great for your Home and Health

It’s a fact that nothing classes up your home like an indoor plant or vase of fresh flowers. I’m not the tidiest person in the world, but I swear when I pick up a bunch of cut flowers at the farmers market on Saturdays, it makes my apartment look 10 times more neat. That may just be wishful thinking, but now that we’re in peak hay fever season and the changing of the climate is driving my allergies crazy, I’ve been looking for more reasons to add indoor plants to my apartment besides just for their beauty. Plants look great but have you ever thought of the health benefits behind adding greenery to your space? Here’s five reasons why houseplants are good for your heart, soul and decor:

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Top 5 Dining Table Designs: All About That Base

January 9, 2020January 9, 2020 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

We always put so much focus on the tabletop, but what about those legs?

I’m a perfectionist by nature and attention to detail has always been something I pride myself on. That being said, it can make doing things, like shopping for a new dining table, a challenge sometimes. I tend to be really indecisive because I like knowing what I’m choosing is the best possible product for me. I take everything from color, material used, shape, size and design into consideration. But what about the base of a table? It can aesthetically make or break a room, so why do the table tops get all of the attention?

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GreenGuard Certified Furniture: Everything You Need to Know

January 3, 2020January 4, 2020 Riley Farabaugh

The furniture finishing industry is somewhat renowned for its use of questionable chemicals and behind-the-curtain practices. At one point in time, craftsmen used natural finishes like oil and wax or shellac.

But somewhere along the line there was a movement towards more durable, highly engineered wood finishes.

While these advancements in technology created finishes that are more durable, easier to apply, and cheaper than the traditional alternatives, they have also added some concerns about environmental sustainability and toxicity.

Just check out the standard warning that the State of California requires on many of the most common finishes sold in the US today:

WARNING: This product is known to the State of California to cause birth defects and other reproductive issues.

This movement towards chemically engineered wood finishes has created enough concern among consumers that third party testing organizations have sprung up to evaluate the safety of these finishes. One of the most common standards for verifying the safety of wood finishes is GreenGuard Certification.

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Wood Stains from Copeland Furniture

December 16, 2019December 13, 2019 Riley Farabaugh

Copeland Audrey Table

If you’re not familiar with Copeland Furniture, they’re one of the leading manufacturers of modern and mid century furniture in the country. Located in Bradford, Vermont, Copeland was founded in 1976 by Tim Copeland.

Copeland offers furniture in cherry, walnut, maple, oak, and ash woods, and they use a clear, non-toxic lacquer as a wood finish.

In addition to offering furniture in several popular domestic hardwoods, Copeland also offers stained finishes on most of their collections. Here are their stain options for cherry, maple, ash, and oak (walnut is not typically stained due to its natural color).

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Biophilic Design 101: Everything You Need to Know

November 8, 2019December 3, 2019 Riley Farabaugh

Last updated on December 3rd, 2019 at 01:26 pm

Contemporary Craftsmen Collection with Plants on Dresser

Biophilic design is inspired by biophilia—a deep love of nature with an underlying, primal urge to connect to the natural world—and is commonly used to realign and reconnect urban centers with the natural environment. It accomplishes this by utilizing sustainable materials and building practices (WELL, FITWELL, LEED) that keep both the health of people and the planet in mind.

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