We welcome you to come visit us at Stonehurst, our fine furniture showroom in Vernon Vermont. Just 10 minutes from Brattleboro and a few hours car ride from Burlington, Boston and NYC, Stonehurst is an easy trip from most places in the northeast.
While it might be hard to believe, winter is finally winding down here at Stonehurst. The snow is slowly melting, and some of our forest friends are starting to show their furry faces. Just yesterday, we saw this beautiful red fox frolic through the field in our backyard.
A pair of eastern bluebirds perched outside outside of my office window, enjoying the first real day of sunshine of the season.
And a chubby squirrel (a frequent visitor to the marketing office window) gorged himself on tasty bird seed.
We’ve seen plenty more forest critters getting ready for spring, and we’re getting ready too!
As you can see here, a wild Sales team member (Sean) anxiously awaits the warm weather! What about you? How are you preparing for spring? If you are planning on adding some natural Vermont charm to your home, a visit to Stonehurst might be a great first step. You’ll have plenty of inspiration from the birds and cute critters, and a friendly sales team to make your visit easy and enjoyable. Our beautiful, Vermont crafted wood furniture is made from premium solid hardwoods, sourced from sustainably harvested forests, much like the one right in our backyard!
Shopping at Stonehurst brings you closer to where your furniture really comes from. Visit us, and experience the beauty of Vermont wood, inside and out.
Already following our Blog? For more info sign up for our e-newsletter
We are in the midst of winter here in Vermont– the ground is covered in a thick layer of snow and the air is crisp and clean. Despite the chilly weather, we have still enjoyed having guests stop by Stonehurst, warm up with us, and shop for new Vermont made wood furniture.
We believe that there is no better place to shop for Vermont wood furniture than in our showroom, nestled in the woods of Vernon, Vermont. All of our furniture comes from sustainably harvested forests, much like the one right in our backyard. Shopping at Stonehurst brings you closer to where your furniture really comes from. Visit us, and experience the beauty of Vermont wood, inside and out.
Unlike your traditional furniture shopping experience, at Stonehurst there is no need to rush. Feel free to bring a bottle of wine and a picnic lunch, and enjoy a relaxed country atmosphere while you get to know our furniture. Each member of our sales staff is an expert in Vermont wood, so even if you aren’t ready to purchase, we’d love for you to stop by and have a conversation with one of our friendly staff members and get to know more about Vermont Woods Studios.
At Stonehurst, we don’t have aisle after aisle of furniture. The pieces we carry at Stonehurst are just a representative sampling of the hundreds of pieces we offer on our online store. The pieces that we have in the showroom are a true reflection of the quality and craftsmanship that you can expect with all of our furniture.
So stop by, warm up, and browse our beautiful selection of wood furniture and Vermont made art and decor. We can’t wait to meet you!
The backyard of Stonehurst. These wooden Adirondack chairs are longtime residents and have actually weathered quite gracefully. But today’s POLYWOOD recycled plastic outdoor furniture lasts a lifetime…
We’re in the middle of winter here in Vermont but elsewhere in America people must be preparing for Spring. We’re getting lots of inquiries about our POLYWOOD all weather Adirondack chairs. It seems we’re not the only ones unwilling to haul outdoor furniture back and forth from the basement every year.
Which Adirondack chairs do you prefer? Wood or recycled plastic? And which setting do you prefer? Winter in the backyard of Stonehurst or summer on the banks of Lake Champlain?
Unlike the wooden chairs above, today’s all weather Adirondack chairs are made of recycled plastic milk jugs or POLYWOOD. They offer the traditional design that’s proved itself comfy for generations along with new state of the art plastics technology that makes these chairs super durable. POLYWOOD holds up against harsh weather such as rain, snow, ice, and salt water. It’s insect, mold and mildew resistant, requires no maintenance and even comes with a lifetime guarantee. Best of all, there are over a dozen colors to choose from and you’ll never have to touch up or paint (POLYWOOD’s color runs all the way through each recycled plastic board).
So, let us know which Adirondack chair (wood or POLYWOOD) and which seasonal setting (winter in the mountains or summer on the lake) you prefer on Facebook.
Already following our Blog? For more info sign up for our e-newsletter
2014 was a great year for us at Vermont Woods Studios. Through lots of trial and error and experimentation, we ended up in a great place and look forward to another year of growth! We’ve learned so much that we couldn’t possibly list it all, but here are 10 wonderful things we learned this year:
1. How to transform a lost ski area into a beautiful showcase for Vermont made furniture, artwork and home decor. It was our first full year at Stonehurst, the marvelous property we call home. We couldn’t be happier with how well it was received by our guests, and we eagerly await even more visitors in 2015!
2. How to build a set to take professional photos of our furniture. Nina & Dennis spent a great amount of time and energy getting crafty and making sets for photoshoots. With Nina’s photoshop wizardry, dusty old storage areas and garages transform into quaint living spaces perfect for furniture photos!
3. How to keep woodchucks out of our flower garden using aluminum pie plates. As you can see in the photo above, our showroom sees frequent visitors from the forest! Unfortunately, they are big fans of our gardens so we’ve learned creative ways of humanely keeping them at a safe distance!
4. How to harvest wood to sustainably heat our showroom. Our student interns (Douglas & Peggy’s kids) had a busy summer stacking 40 cords of firewood sourced from fallen trees around Stonehurst!
5. Never lose hope. We were a little disheartened about not seeing any Monarchs in our butterfly garden this year, but just as we started planning our 2015 Monarch conservation efforts, a symbol of hope arrived! We worked together to plant and share milkweed throughout our community and are excited to continue with this project through the new year.
6. Handcrafted wood furniture deserves beautiful decor accessories to go with it. Our natural wood furniture is simple and beautiful on it’s own, but handcrafted Vermont made decor adds another layer of richness that we can’t help but love.
7. Our furniture looks great in big houses and “tiny houses” alike! Earlier in the year we provided a POLYWOOD La Casa Dining Set to Tiny House Nation, a show that celebrates the innovation and creativity of Tiny Houses and the people who inhabit them!
8.Nothing feels better than giving back to the community. We made it a priority to give back to our community this year– from donating food for a community Thanksgiving dinner, to participating in Vermont’s ‘Green up Day’ and more! Our whole team took part in our charitable activities and look forward to another great year of giving.
9. Nature makes a great backdrop for photos. Our previous ‘our team‘ page featured each of us on white backgrounds, making us look like our heads were floating in space! We learned that we look much better in a natural setting, surrounded by things we cherish (trees!)
10. Appreciate the seasons while they last. We are lucky to live in New England, a place where each season is bold, beautiful, and transformative! The freshness of Spring, the relaxed nature of Summer, the crisp air of the Fall, and the reflective state of Winter are things we’ve grown to love. At Stonehurst, we get to see the uniqueness of each season as the year passes and we have learned to love and appreciate all of them while they are here.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about some of the things we learned in 2014, and we look forward to another great year ahead! Best wishes for a Happy New Year!
Already following our Blog? For more info sign up for our e-newsletter
When you think of picturesque Vermont winter landscapes, you might imagine snow draped covered bridges, busy small town streets adorned in Christmas lights and busy shoppers, or the quintessentially Vermont red barn. What you might not imagine, however, is a furniture store. Yet at Stonehurst, we offer you exactly that–classic Vermont beauty much like what you’d see on a postcard, while you shop for locally crafted wood furniture.
The old shed in the backyard is a visitor favorite, and has been standing since the 1950s. Despite all that has changed about this property, the shed remains a nice slice of history from a much simpler time.
Magnificent tall trees cover the property, showing you the direct relationship between the forest and your new wood furniture.
Birdwatchers and animal lovers are in luck, as our property has frequent visitors from the forest. Cardinals, Bluejays, Owls, and more are common– as well as foxes, deer, woodchucks, and even a local barn-cat that we’ve grown to love! There’s always a surprise and we’re happy to share this wonderful connection with the natural world.
If you get here at the right time of the day, sunlight creates the most stunning scenes in places least expected. Plus, how magnificent are those pines?
Our showroom itself is an 18th century farmhouse, rich in character and history. Take a step inside and you can really feel the warmth and charm of a traditional Vermont home. Our visitors love shopping for furniture in a place that feels less like a big box store and more like an authentic rural farmhouse.
We invite you to visit us and see for yourself why shopping at Stonehurst is a truly special experience. We are open 9-6 Monday through Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday. If none of those times work for you, we would gladly make other arrangements for your visit. Get more information about our showroom and plan your visit here, or send us an email at info@vermontwoodsstudios.com. We look forward to meeting you!
Already following our Blog? For more info sign up for our e-newsletter
What makes the 109-acre setting so special is Vermont Woods Studios’ commitment to raise environmental awareness and to make the old ski area — named after a pine tree — an example of true sustainable forestry.
If you’re starting to notice an influx of fine furniture photography, you’re paying attention to the work of Nina, our Photographer & Merchandising Assistant! Nina & Dennis have been travelling around Southern Vermont finding great places to set up our furniture & take new photos for the site. Most recently, they’ve been working on a project at George’s Mill in Vernon where they are building a photo studio from scratch!
The original George’s Mill was reconstructed in 1974 by Nicholas George, and the 2nd building (the post office) was built in 1985 by Eli N. George. This location is actually where our previous office and headquarters were, before making the move to Stonehurst.
Take a Behind the Scenes Look at George’s Mill Progress:
Riley, Tristan & Dennis set up the wall structure at George’s Mill.
The team has made great progress at George’s Mill and they aren’t done yet! Nina, however, has already used the space for the backdrop of a new bedroom collection photo! The fusion of Photoshop and a little elbow grease comes to life with our new Holland Collection.
The Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association stopped by Stonehurst today on their Forest to Furniture tour. Peggy gave them a tour around Stonehurst and told the story of how this property transformed from an old ski area to the perfect place to display Vermont Wood Furniture. The tour included a guided walk through the showroom with Peggy, as she talked about all of the unique furniture, art, and decor pieces we have on display.
From the showroom we gathered outside, introduced ourselves, then trecked into the forest for a conversation about responsible forest and land management. We learned about the problems with our deer population, responsible forestry, buffer zones, and so much more!
Thank you, VWMA, for a great day!
Already following our Blog? For more info sign up for our e-newsletter
These specialty handmade ceramics are the work of Vermont artist, Laura Zindel. Find original hand-drawn roosters, hares, owls, bees, butterflies and ferns applied to a wide selection of dinnerware. Laura’s original collections are all USA made, right here in Brattleboro. Vermont.
Summer in Vermont is a time to relax and enjoy the natural world around us. Visitors to our home decor showroom at Stonehurst often spend as much time outside in our meadows & woodlands as they do inside the store. Birds, bees, butterflies and bunnies are frequent visitors here, making the Laura Zindel dinnerware that bears their likeness a favorite Stonehurst souvenir.
Laura’s hare and bunny collection includes coffee mugs, tumblers, vases, pitchers, plates and platters. Each image is original and hand drawn by Laura in her Brattleboro, Vermont studio.
Whether you’re looking to bring a bit of summer into your own kitchen or searching for a unique gift for someone special, check out our Laura Zindel Dinnerware Collection. Each of Laura’s designs is inspired by nature, hand drawn and then printed onto high quality handmade ceramic or china.
Laura’s Quail Collection features 20 pieces of high resistance china including bread, dinner and charger plates, bowls, platters, espresso cups, jugs, pitchers, tumblers and mugs.
About Laura
Laura is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design where she earned a BFA in Ceramics. Later she went on to achieve an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Massachusetts. Laura’s artwork is inspired by both the Arts and Crafts Movement of the early 20th century and the “Cabinets of Curiosities” encyclopedic collections of the Victorian era. Her process of hand drawing, silk screening and enamel transfer printing shows off the intricate nature of her designs.
Ranging from Bumblebee Cereal Bowls to Large Rooster Serving Platters, Laura’s collections are bound to include the special gift you’ve been looking for. Stop by Stonehurst or purchase one of these collectibles online.
Already following our Blog? For more info sign up for our e-newsletter
It’s looking like an all hands on deck operation right now in the showroom as we organize and unload our first shipment of Simon Pearce Luxury Glassware. We have been looking forward to this day for quite a while, and are more sure than ever that these beautiful heirloom glass designs will make the perfect accessory to our handcrafted Vermont furniture. Although currently only available in our showroom,we plan to eventually have Simon Pearce glass available online as well!
Simon Pearce Luxury Glassware…crafted to last a lifetime.
If you are a luxury home decor aficionado who gets nostalgic about the days past when real, honest human craftsmanship was the norm for decorating and furnishing your home, we hope this is a great treat for you. Simon Pearce glass is built to last a lifetime, and it has the authenticity and character you may have been craving.
The company’s founder, Simon Pearce himself, began glass blowing in the seventies in Ireland and then moved his work to the United States–the town of Quechee, Vermont– in 1981. The glass blowers at Simon Pearce spend years mastering the art of glass blowing before they begin producing hand-blown glass for the company.
Now headquartered in Windsor Vermont, Simon Pearce creates glass and ceramic “products that are beautifully designed, produced with premium quality materials and time-honored techniques and intended for a lifetime of everyday use”.
At Stonehurst, this expertly hand blown glass decor will complement our fine Vermont made wood furniture. The naturally beautiful wood paired with the sleek, heirloom glass makes for a picture perfect match. We love what we see already, and we haven’t even finished unpacking yet.
If you’d like to see what we have at Stonehurst, or get a look at Simon Pearce luxury glassware in person… we invite you to visit us at Stonehurst.
Already following our Blog? For more info sign up for our e-newsletter