Keeping It Simple With Shaker Style Furniture

December 6, 2015July 12, 2022 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

Last updated on July 12th, 2022 at 10:07 am

Classic Shaker Dining Table — (Our Classic Shaker Round Dining Table and Windsor-Style Guest Chair both shown in Cherry)

When Versatility, Functionality and Simplicity Come Together the Result Can Be Beautiful.

Living in what I consider a “Tiny House” (900 sq ft), I’ve come to appreciate furniture that both serves its functional purpose and offers added bonuses (space saving or storage). I like pieces that are simple in design and neutral in style. I use artwork, paint and home decor to tie my personality into each room’s theme.

One space I’ve never really focused on is my dining space. I’m always on the go so when I have time to sit down and eat my meal at the kitchen table, I often have my laptop in front of me and my phone next to me. I don’t take the time to appreciate the space.

As we’ve rolled out our Holiday Dining Furniture Sale, I’ve been thinking more and more about my dining space and how it needs more of my attention. Through my time working on the current sale, I came across our Classic Shaker Dining Tables and found the table I never knew I was missing: the Classic Shaker Square Dining Table.

I love the simplicity of its design. The tapered legs give it an airy feeling and the design allows it to fit into almost any space. I can already imagine myself enjoying meals at it and decorating it with flowers and candle centerpieces.

Not wanting to forfeit more square footage than necessary, I love that it comes with different size options from 30 x 30 (perfect for me) up to 60 x 60 (for someone with more space to host). Offering versatility it comes with either a solid or extension top and comes with an array of Finish options. You can also choose from beveled or eased edges on the table top.

If you’re not as excited about squares as I am, or if you want a little more fluidity from the design, the table comes with round table top options and flared leg options.

For a chair pairing, I gravitate towards the traditional Windsor Style chairs. The style is classic and the spindle back gives it an open and light feeling.

If you have more space to work with and are not looking for a square or round table, you might be interested in our Classic Shaker Dining Table. It evokes the same sense of style but is rectangular and is available in sizes from 30 x 48 to 48 x 108.

Working with a small space can be tricky, but here at Vermont Woods Studios we do have options for you. You don’t need to compromise your style because of the size of your space.

During our Holiday Dining Room Furniture Sale, you can save on these tables, chairs and more! Save 10% off one piece, 15% off two pieces and 20% off three or more pieces.

Our friendly sales team is always here to assist you with any questions you may have. You can call us toll free at 888-390-5571 or visit us at our Vernon, VT Showroom.

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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.

Christmas Tree Farms in Vermont

December 1, 2015October 12, 2022 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

Last updated on October 12th, 2022 at 06:26 pm

New-Hampshire-Forests
No need to trek through the forest, Christmas tree farms throughout Vermont have you covered!

A Guide to Christmas Tree Farms in Vermont

Being a native New Englander I’ve come to expect a lot out of a Christmas Tree. It can’t be fake, it has to be real. It needs to be a Fraser or Douglas Fir. It has to be naturally even on all sides with no major gaps between branches and it can’t be too tall or short. One of my family’s outings to a Christmas Tree Farm can last hours and usually results in a major family deliberation over which tree to cut down.

Did you know real Christmas trees are great not only for their added ambiance but because they are a renewable and recyclable resource? To help with my idea that real trees trump artificial trees I dug a little into the world of Christmas Trees. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, 85% of artificial trees are manufactured in China and often contain non-biodegradable plastics. Christmas trees from farms are grown as a crop and once they are harvested new seedlings are planted to replace the harvested trees, so the cutting down of a Christmas Tree is actually better environmentally than buying an artificial tree. It also supports local economies!

If you’re like me and need to have the best tree, I’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of a few Christmas tree farms here in Vermont and a provided little information about what each farm offers you!

Christmas Trees of Vermont: (456 Old Connecticut River Road, Springfield, VT 05156) Located just 15 minutes north of the famous Vermont Country Store, this tree farm offers thousands of Fraser Fir trees to choose from. You can cut your own or choose from ones that are pre-cut. There’s a shop on site with complimentary hot cocoa and candy canes, Santa’s cabin, furry friends from the Vermont Humane Society on the weekends and free sleigh rides and tree baling.

The Russell Farm: (1248 VT Route 116 Starksboro, VT 05487) Located just under 40 minutes south of Burlington, VT, the Russell Farm boasts a feel-good family environment. You can cut your own Balsam Fir and catch a ride on a horse drawn sleigh (with a fee) and buy handmade wreaths and garland. You can warm up by a cabin fire and nibble on homemade cookies. You’re sure to feel part of the family!

The Bishop Farm: (Park Farm Road, Springfield, VT 05156) Also located a short 15 minute drive from the Vermont Country Store, the Bishop Farm grows both Balsam and Fraser Fir trees. You can choose your own tree, which the staff will happily cut down for you, or choose from a variety of pre-cut trees. On the weekends you can hop on a tractor ride and they offer free baling, hot chocolate and Christmas candy. They sell tree stands and handmade wreaths, as well. If you’re unable to make the trip, they offer delivery options, just choose the type and size of the tree and it’ll usually ship within 2 days.

Paxton Greens: (97 Stewart Lane, Cuttingsville, VT 05738) Located just 20 minutes north of Okemo and 40 minutes south of Killington, Paxton Greens offers primarily Fraser and Balsam Fir trees. You can cut your own tree, or have a staff member cut it for you as well as choose from from a selection of pre-cut trees. Their Christmas shop sells handmade wreaths, tree stands and has a wood stove you can warm up by. They offer hot mulled cider and the shop has great gift ideas.

Walker Farm’s Elysian Hills: (223 Knapp Road, Dummerston, VT 05301) New to the farm this year, you can cut your own trees on the weekends at the Walker Farm. Staff at the farm will help guide you the cut-your-own section and provide you with a price guide. Their farm store sells wreaths, center pieces and holiday greenery. If you’re in need of warming up after cutting down your tree, stop into the store where they offer free hot cider, hot chocolate and pretzels! You’ll also find fresh Certified Organic veggies, honey, maple syrup and more on sale in the shop!

All the farms supply hand saws-please don’t bring a chainsaw! And they all offer baling and/or netting of your tree. Good luck and may the best tree win!

If you’ve been to a great Christmas Tree farm in Vermont that I didn’t list, please let me know in the comments section!

Sources:
National Christmas Tree Association

Find & Go Seek

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Team of Percherons Pulls into the Farm at Stonehurst

November 18, 2015 Peggy Farabaugh 2 Comments

A pen and ink drawing of the O'Neil Family Farm's Percheron draft horses, Maude and Tony by Iowa artist William A Webber. — Stonehurst‘s newest piece of art: a pen & ink drawing of 2 draft horses by Iowa artist, William A Weber. My Dad loved this picture and Mom was kind enough to pass it down to me last weekend when I visited her in Plattsburgh.

A Boy & His Dream

This is the story of a boyhood dream. It begins in 1937, during the “recession within the Great Depression”. The first child of a hard-working young Irish couple from Johnson City, NY is sent to spend the summer on his grandparents’ farm in Dushore, PA.

The lad is tasked with feeding the chickens, weeding the garden and sweeping the dirt floors. But his favorite chore is helping plow the fields with a team of black Percheron draft horses name Maude and Tony. For many summers, little Bob was delivered to the O’Neil Family Farm the day after school let out in June and returned to his parents in Johnson City on Labor Day weekend, just in time to start the new school year. Driving and caring for the team of blackies quickly become his passion and thus the dream was born.

Dad and Aunt Joanie riding Tony at the O'Neil Family Farm in Dushore, Pennsylvania — Dad and his sister (Aunt Joanie) riding Tony at the O’Neil Family Farm in Dushore, Pennsylvania. I have to say this gentle giant looks like he lived a much more strenuous life than the pampered pets who would follow in his footsteps some 60 years later.

“One Day I’ll Have My Horses”

The boy was my dad. But farming wasn’t in the cards for him and like his parents he wound up raising a family and making a living in a small city. “You mark my words”, he’d say “one day I’ll have my horses”. We all laughed.

But, despite the years that passed and the naysayers and the remote odds, his dream never died. In 1985, Dad flew out to Millersburg Ohio to meet with his dear friend Monroe Miller, a Percheron horse breeder. He returned home driving a trailer with 2 young geldings, he named Prince and Tony. The horses were Dad’s pride and joy. Although their plowing chores were few, Prince and Tony were often pressed into service giving hay rides and sleigh rides to local children. They lived an honorable life.

Dad's Percherons pulling a sleigh at Christmastime in 1993. Plattsburgh, NY. — Dad and his Percherons, Prince & Tony, pulling a sleigh at Christmastime in 1993. It was a holiday tradition that our family cherished for many years. Plattsburgh, NY.

Driving the Team Back to a Farm: Stonehurst!

Last weekend when I went to Plattsburgh to visit my mother I saw this familiar drawing of the 2 Percherons that Dad had purchased from Iowa artist William A Weber. I asked if I could relocate the boys to Stonehurst, which had been a working farm on and off for over 200 years. It would be a fitting place for the horses to retire as Stonehurst in the 1930s would have been quite similar to the O’Neil Farm that Maude & Tony served at that time. Mother agreed & now the 2 two horses hang on the wall looking out the windows of our showroom to the farmland that houses our sustainable furniture store today.

Come Visit Stonehurst and Meet Prince & Tony

Love horses? Farms? History? Come visit us at Stonehurst! You can enjoy the 109 acre plot of beautifully managed farm and forest land that’s now home to Prince and Tony. And if you’re in the market for sustainable, American made furniture or Vermont made home decor, all the better. See you in the showroom!

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Made to Order Furniture: Good Things Take Time

November 9, 2015August 15, 2018 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on August 15th, 2018 at 04:31 pm

A Vermont Craftsman at work on a furniture piece

In the world of Vermont’s Made to Order Furniture there are many advantages: your furniture is handcrafted especially for you, you can customize it to fit exactly into your space, you can feel good about the fact that your furniture is made from trees that are harvested sustainably with respect for the forest environment, you’re helping to keep American craftsmanship alive & thriving, providing jobs and much more. But there is one downside to having furniture built just for you:

It Takes Time

Time to Craft

Depending on who is making your furniture (we work with a dozen or so independent furniture makers), and what they’ve already got in their queue, time to complete building the furniture can vary.

The best way to find out the estimated lead times for our furniture is to check the Lead Time tab on the product’s page. You can read more general information about our lead times on our Shipping & Delivery page.

Time to Ship and Safely Deliver

After the furniture is built, it takes another 1-5 weeks to ship it, depending on where the customer lives. Fine furniture cannot be FedEx’d (unless maybe it’s an end table or something that’s been designed for quick-ship). Believe it or not, some of today’s FAST furniture delivery companies have average damage rates of up to 40%!

We’ve learned over the past 10 years of delivering furniture to homes in all 50 states that rushing an order to it’s destination is a gamble. It might get there safely… then again it might not. And since our customers are already waiting several weeks for their authentic, made to order furniture, we don’t want to have to call them and say, “sorry your furniture was damaged in transit and we have to re-craft it. And re-ship it”.

Fortunately our customers understand this and are generally very patient and willing to wait for something that will one day become a family heirloom.

Keeping You Informed

Rebecca, Sean, Michelle and Loryn use a series of emails and phone calls to keep clients in the loop during the crafting and shipping process. Right after your order, you’ll receive an email acknowledgement asking you to review the order details for accuracy & giving you an estimate of when it will be delivered. Then when your order is half way through the process, we’ll email you again with an update. Another communication will arrive when the craftsman has completed your order and we’ve scheduled it for pick-up with our furniture shipping specialist. Finally when your order is in your area, we’ll connect you directly with our shipper to schedule a convenient time for delivery. All along the way, you’ll have someone here, that you know by name, to talk to if you have any questions or concerns. Then after delivery, we’ll email you again to make sure the delivery went well and you’re happy with your new furniture.

Quality, Made to Order Furniture that Lasts a Lifetime

In this world of instant gratification, where most furniture buyers walk into Bob’s Discount Furniture, Ikea or Ashley Furniture and walk out an hour later with something that’s substandard and unsustainably produced overseas by huge multi-national conglomerates, we find ourselves immensely grateful to our customers for their patience in waiting for the real thing. When buying furniture that’s built to last a lifetime, we hope you’ll feel it’s worth the wait.

Read our previous article on made to order furniture & lead time.

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Megan Fulton: Welcome to The Woods

November 4, 2015February 28, 2019 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

Last updated on February 28th, 2019 at 04:05 pm

Welcome to the team Megan!

Megan Fulton joins our Marketing team as the new Marketing Assistant. She will be taking the reins of our social media platforms, blogging and community involvement–as well as helping with marketing strategies and PR projects.

Megan Fulton

A graduate from Emerson College in Boston, MA with BS in Marketing Communications and minor in Psychology, Megan studied abroad in the Netherlands, in a refurbished 14th Century Castle, “Kasteel Well”. She’s traveled to 13 countries and some of her favorite cities are Amsterdam, Madrid and Lucerne.

Emerson College’s Kasteel Well-a view from the back of the Main Castle and inner moat.

Europe — Pictures from Megan’s time abroad-Sicily, Amsterdam, Barcelona

She has a passion for Human Rights that started when she was 18 and she began her journey with the non-profit organization, Calling All Crows. During her time with CAC she traveled alongside Boston bands, State Radio and Dispatch, first as an Alternative Break Tour Volunteer and worked her way up to an intern, Tour Leader and “Team Bostonia” Regional Coordinator.

Service Project Cologne — Megan at Service Project in Cologne, Germany with members of the band State Radio and Alternative Break Tour Volunteers

Megan is excited to join the Vermont Woods Studios team and use her passion and experience to help grow the mission of VWS.

Megan Dog Charlie — Megan with her dog Charlie and a picture she snapped during the Red Sox victory parade in 2013

When she’s not here at our Stonehurst Showroom she can be found walking or hiking with her black lab Charlie or cheering on the Red Sox and Patriots!

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Vermont Woods Studios Participates in Connecticut River Clean Up

October 28, 2015August 3, 2018 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on August 3rd, 2018 at 11:40 am

VWS volunteered in the Connecticut River Watershed Council’s (CRWC) yearly “Source to Sea” trash cleanup of the Connecticut River. CRWC works to educate, restore and preserve the health of the CT River. The CT River is just a few miles from our Vernon, VT showroom and in only a couple of hours our team collected five full bags of trash! The cleanup has participants collecting trash from as far north as the Canadian border all the way to the mouth of the river in Old Lyme, CT. Great job team and thanks to the CRWC for coordinating the event.

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Shedding Light on Vermont’s Forest Industry

October 19, 2015October 19, 2015 Peggy Farabaugh 1 Comment

Shedding Light on Vermont Forests — Book cover Illustration by Vermont artist Kathleen Kolb. View additional artwork by Kathleen at http://www.kathleenkolb.com

Sustainable Forestry Exhibit Lights Up BMAC

The Brattleboro Museum and Art Center BMAC is currently hosting an innovative new exhibit, showcasing the beauty and value of Vermont’s sustainable working forest. Local painter, Kathleen Kolb shares her view of the Green Mountain state’s forest industry through various works of art she’s been creating over the past couple decades. Kathleen’s artwork is enhanced by poetry and prose contributed by Guilford artist, Verandah Porche. Verandah interviewed loggers, and their family members. The resulting stories are rich with emotion expressing the bond these Vermonters have with the forest.

BMAC Schedule of Events

The forestry exhibit started October 2, 2015 and it will run until January 3, 2016. This Thursday the museum (October 22, Thursday, 7 p.m) is hosting a panel discussion: Turning Local Wood Into Local Good. I will be joining other representatives of forestry-related businesses in Vermont to discuss the importance of sustainable forests products to Vermont’s economy. Please stop by and join us for a lively discussion!

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What’s New in the Woods?

October 9, 2015August 15, 2018 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on August 15th, 2018 at 02:24 pm

A Quick Look at our Facebook, Pinterest, Blog and Twitter

Check out the cool “What’s New” page that Martin put together for us– well, for you actually. He and Neville have been working on it for awhile and just launched it this week.

The page pulls news from all of our social channels like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and the Blog so we can present them to you all on one page.

It’s a quick way to catch up on all the latest happenings at Stonehurst: sales, coupons, customer reviews, new products, Vermont scenery, you name it. Have a look and let us know what you think in the comments section below or on Facebook.

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A Stoddard Family Reunion at Pine Top

October 3, 2015October 3, 2015 Peggy Farabaugh 2 Comments

Pine Top Hosts Stoddard Reunion — Jim and Betsy Stoddard are on the left. Don and Barbara Stoddard are in the middle and that’s Vernon’s beloved Town Historian, Barbara Moseley on the bottom right.

Pine Top, the lost ski area that’s now home to our Vermont furniture showroom, holds many memories for families that skied and stayed here during the 1940s, 50s and 60s. We’ve been corresponding with the Stoddard family for a couple years now. Don and his brothers Jim and Sandy have shared many of their happy memories with us and we’ve been hoping one day they would drop by for a visit.

The Stoddards, Barbara Moseley and me at Pine Top, October 2015 — From right: Don Stoddard, Barbara Moseley, Jim Stoddard and me.

This week they did! I was able to catch up with Barbara Moseley, Vernon’s Town Historian and invite her to join us. Barbara worked at Pine Top when she was going to college. She remembered the Stoddards fondly and was excited to get together and reminisce with them.

Map of Pine Top, created by Barbara Moseley — Here’s the Pine Top map Barbara created. This photo was taken earlier when Sigrid and Bill Wares of Moorestown, New Jersey stopped by to share their Pine Top memories.

We had a wonderful time chatting over apple cider and donuts & strolling along between Toby slope and Pelley Run. Barbara brought over copies of the Pine Top map she recently created (from memory) and the Stoddards each took one home to enjoy.

If you have your own memories of Pine Top, stop by Vermont Woods Studios anytime and take a trip down memory lane. It’s good for the soul.

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Introducing Vermont’s Modern Sleigh Bed

September 29, 2015January 18, 2018 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on January 18th, 2018 at 04:56 pm

The Holland Sleigh Bed is handmade in Vermont — The Holland Sleigh Bed is handmade of solid hardwood in Vermont. Shown here in natural cherry wood, it is also available in solid maple, walnut or oak.

Sleigh Beds

Everyone loves the old fashioned sleigh bed. You know the style… it’s got a big curved headboard and footboard reminiscent of Santa’s sleigh as it soared over the empires of northern Europe in days of olde.

A New Kind of Sleigh Bed: the Holland

Today’s modern sleigh bed is elegant, sleek and unpretentious. Check out our newest design, the Holland! This one is handmade in Vermont (like all of our furniture) of all solid, natural cherry wood. It’s also available in a handful of cherry stain colors as well as solid maple, walnut and oak wood.

The Holland sleigh bed is modern and sleek, handcrafted of all solid hardwood

All Solid Hardwood – No Veneers

Customers asked for a sleigh bed made with all solid hardwood and no veneers. Solid hardwood is our traditional design but with sleigh beds and their curves… well it took a little re-thinking. So our friends at Lyndon Furniture went back to the drawing board and came up with a design that enjoys the beloved curves of the traditional sleigh, without the need for veneers! Have a look at all the photos Nina took from different angles and let us know what you think. We’re always up for design tweaks, based on customer suggestions.

The modern Holland cherry dresser and chest are handmade in VT of solid hardwood

The Holland Dressers, Chests and Night Stands

The Holland Collection includes matching dressers, chests, night stands and mirrors, all handmade in Vermont of solid hardwood. Many customers opt for the design above which incorporates the sleigh bed curve into the drawer fronts, avoiding the need for pulls. Others have opted for modern metal pulls, or custom pulls they’ve seen online.

Let us know what you think of our new modern sleigh bed collection on Facebook or better yet, give us a call to order yours today!

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