Spotlight on Shaker

May 9, 2017October 19, 2022 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on October 19th, 2022 at 03:54 pm

Shaker Furniture from Our Friends at Vermont Furniture Designs

Who’s been making incredible Shaker style furniture in Vermont for almost 50 years? It’s the talented craftsmen and women at Vermont Furniture Designs VFD in Winooski. VFD was born in 1970 with the mission of creating the most beautiful and durable hardwood furniture possible. Once you see their work and run your hands across the baby-soft surface of their wood, I think you’ll agree with me – they’ve succeeded!
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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.

6 Unique Solid Wood Shaker Bedroom Collections

March 13, 2017May 27, 2019 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

Last updated on May 27th, 2019 at 01:51 pm

shaker bedroom — Our Vermont Shaker Bed, nightstand and Chest

Simply Shaker Doesn’t Mean Shaker Furniture is Always the Same

If you frequent our blog, you’re probably an expert in Shaker Furniture. One thing I’ve noticed about shaker style furniture is how easily stereotyped it is. I’ve come to notice when people think of the Shaker style, they think of plain and simple furniture.

But, Vermont handcrafted Shaker style furniture is anything but plain and antique.

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Take Your Dining Space From Drab to Fab

February 8, 2017February 24, 2019 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

Last updated on February 24th, 2019 at 05:08 pm

dining space

Simple Ways to Improve Your Dining Space

Sometimes to make an improvement to a room, you don’t have to completely renovate the space. This past year, I’d been feeling very unsatisfied about my living room and dining space. Instead of completely redoing those spaces, my family replaced our cheap TV console with a wood TV cabinet. And, we replaced our maple dining table and chairs with a darker stained wood dining set that better matches the wood paneling in our dining space.

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Endless Opportunities With Shaker Style Furniture

October 24, 2016February 24, 2019 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

Last updated on February 24th, 2019 at 05:08 pm

With hundreds of Shaker style furniture pieces, Vermont Woods Studios is your shaker furniture destination.

If you got to know me, I think you’d quickly figure out I’m one of the most indecisive people out there. Even the simplest of choices I over-ponder and then doubt once I’ve made up my mind. I’m talking everything from which dessert after dinner to which jacket to wear to the direction I want my bed facing.

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It’s All About The Legs

December 23, 2015 Megan Fulton Leave a comment

solid wood bed — Vermont Shaker Moon Bed

Attention to Detail is Important When Choosing New Furniture

“Is view A better or B? Is B better than C?” When you hear that, you may be imagining a trip to the eye doctor. Let’s go with that image. When the Doctor is testing your vision and you’re looking through the different lenses to the projected letters on the wall, he/she will ask you which view is better. At first, the changes may have subtle differences but the more adjustments they make, the more things start to come into focus. The same can be said for some of our styles of furniture. But just as you are careful to tell the Doctor which view is more clear, you want to be as careful when choosing your furniture.

Three of the beds we offer, the Vermont Shaker Moon Bed, the Cherry Moon Bed and the New England Shaker Bed, all have very similar simple designs with clean lines and gently arching curves in the headboards and footboards. The main difference takes place in the legs. Each bed offers a uniquely designed leg and subtle differences throughout the entire piece.

Here’s a breakdown of each bed:

Vermont Shaker Moon Bed– A simple and clean design with four-sided tapered legs and a simple flat cut on the top of each leg. The top of the headboard stands 43” off the ground for a platform bed frame and 47” for a mattress & box spring frame. At its center, the top of the footboard stands at 20” for a platform frame and 24” for a mattress & box spring frame. It’s available in Cherry, Maple or Walnut and can be fitted for underbed storage.

Cherry Moon Bed– A solid wood bed with contemporary reverse-tapered legs, rounded edges and an angled cut on the top of the legs. The top of the headboard stands 42” off the ground for a platform bed frame and 46” for a mattress & box spring frame. At its center, the top of the footboard stands at 20” for a platform frame and 24” for a mattress & box spring frame. It’s available in Cherry, Maple or Walnut and can be fitted for underbed storage.

New England Shaker Bed– Designed similarly to the the Vermont Shaker and Cherry Moon beds, this bed also features clean lines and a simple design, with partial one-sided tapered legs and an angled cut on the top of the leg. The top of the headboard sits 40.5” off the ground for a platform bed frame and 45.5” for a mattress & box spring frame. At its center, the top of the footboard stands 24” from the ground. It’s available in Cherry, Maple, Oak or Walnut and offers a variety of Finish options.

At quick glance, these differences may go unnoticed–just like when the Eye Doctor first changes the lenses during your eye test–but in learning what details to compare, you’ll be able to train your eye to spot the variations more easily each time.

If you have any more questions about the style variations between these beds or others you can visit us at our Stonehurst Showroom in Vernon, VT or give our knowledgeable sales team a call at 888-390-5571–they’re always eager and ready to assist you!

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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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The Origins of Shaker Furniture: A History Quiz!

August 16, 2015February 28, 2019 Peggy Farabaugh Leave a comment

Last updated on February 28th, 2019 at 04:22 pm

Shaker furniture is on sale today. Learn about it's origins and see how it's made. — Our Shaker furniture sale is going on today! Do you know where this timeless and enduring furniture comes from? Take our quiz below and then come visit us at Stonehurst to appreciate Shaker style up close and personal.

In honor of our current Shaker furniture sale, I thought we should highlight a little history about the people who developed this beautiful, simple and elegant style. Their creation is timeless and enduring & it continues to be one of the most popular fashions in the furniture market today.

I bet you already know a bit of history about the Shakers. Test your knowledge by filling in the blanks below:

The term Shakers is derived from the Shaking __________, a small, radical group from England who first came to America in 1774, led by the prophet Ann Lee.
Today there is only one active Shaker community, with three members, who live on _______________ Lake in the state of _____________.
______________ was a part of Shaker orthodoxy, so Believers had no choice but to recruit people from the outside world to prevent their communities from dying out.
Early Shaker furniture makers focused on simplicity in their designs because they believed that excessive ornamentation or decoration was a sin of _________.
The Shakers were among the first in America to try mass production. Unlike the Amish, the Shakers embraced technology that increased ____________, believing that they were saving time that belonged to God.

How did you do? Check your answers with the key below:

Quakers
Sabbathday Lake in Maine
Celibacy
Pride
Efficiency

Of course this beautiful style can’t be fully appreciated in photos, so make plans to come visit us at Stonehurst and shop our Shaker furniture sale today!

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3 Round Shaker Tables That are Perfect for Small Spaces

March 23, 2015November 13, 2018 Kelsey Eaton

Last updated on November 13th, 2018 at 11:00 pm

Everyone loves the idea of having a solid wood custom Shaker dining table handcrafted just for them. What’s not to love? Pick your favorite wood, order the table to fit perfectly into your dining room…a handcrafted dining table, made especially for you by skilled craftsmen in Vermont who use sustainably harvested hardwoods. Add in a lifetime guarantee and who could argue?

But if you have a small dining room or kitchen area, you might have some reservations. We can assure you that if you’ve been worried about finding a great round Shaker table to fit your small space, we have some wonderful options for you! These 3 round shaker tables are a handpicked selection sure to fit your unique dining room size. While most of our Shaker dining room tables are very customizable, the following picks are some of our favorites.

1. Custom Round Shaker Table

Our eco-friendly Vermont-Made Shaker Custom Round Table is handcrafted in Vermont by skilled artisans. Customize this round shaker table to make it perfect for your home, it is available in a number of options!

2. New England Shaker Round Extension Pedestal Table

This sturdy New England Shaker Round Extension Pedestal Table is a great extension table for the kitchen, dining room, or as a game table in your family room. Hand-crafted using real, solid woods in America.

3. Classic Shaker Round Dining Table

Our Classic Round Shaker Table features simple, modern tapered legs. Each table is handmade in Vermont by skilled craftsman using natural solid hardwoods and traditional joinery.

All of our round shaker tables and chairs are made by craftsmen in Vermont from sustainably harvested hardwood. A great thing about our furniture is it is made just for you! As you browse our online gallery, you will notice that most of our furniture is shown in solid cherry wood, but be sure to look at the hardwood options! You can customize most of your furniture in your choice of natural Cherry, Maple, Oak, or Walnut woods. This allows you to create your own solid wood dining set that is perfect for you and your home.

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Classic Shaker Furniture: Adding Warmth to Your Living Room

February 6, 2015February 6, 2015 Kelsey Eaton Leave a comment

If you are a lover of beautiful, elegantly styled Shaker furniture–you will love our Classic Shaker collection. Defined by it’s gentle curved legs, smooth edges and solid wood construction, any living room would benefit from the timeless appeal of this collection.

A Bit of History about the Shakers

Designed and built over 200 years ago by the American Shaker religious group, this simple but elegant furniture style has a truly timeless quality that makes sense for any home. Shaker furniture designs make the perfect complementary pieces for your traditional, transitional, rustic or modern living room. Shaker tables, chairs, buffets, china cabinets, beds, dressers and chests can be added to any decor to achieve the functionality you need while creating a stylish, comfortable look. Mix and match your shaker furniture with other styles for a more eclectic aesthetic.

While Shaker communities were once vibrant and thriving, there are now only 3 Shakers left. Brother Arnold Hadd and his two elderly sisters practice their faith at Sabbathday Lake’s Shaker Village in New Glouster Maine. It’s the worlds last active Shaker Community. This video of Brother Arnold describes the faith and the inspiration behind Shaker furniture design:

“That “classic” Shaker style is well represented here in strong, unassuming cupboards, tables, desks and chests of drawers; delicately crafted oval wooden nesting boxes; inviting, wide-mouthed wooden bowls; tightly woven rugs and baskets; and sprightly, no-nonsense ladder-back chairs. Made of chestnut, walnut, flame birch and bird’s-eye maple, these lightweight, sturdy chairs have rhythmically dynamic woven cane and checkerboard tape seats. They could be easily hung on wall pegs to allow for the ecstatic “shaking” dancing prayers for which the “Believers” became commonly known.”

Featured Pieces from the Classic Shaker Furniture Collection

1. Classic Shaker Oval Table: This oval coffee table makes the perfect base for your Classic Shaker styled living room. The curved legs and rounded top give it a soft, lightweight look while still maintaining its solid build. Made to order in Vermont, this piece can be crafted in Cherry, Maple, Oak or Walnut.

2. Classic Shaker Round End Table: This lightweight, rounded end table makes the perfect accent to your living room. It’s finely crafted with premium hardwoods, and built to last a lifetime.

3. Classic Shaker Sofa Table: Our tall, narrow Classic Shaker Sofa Table with Flare Legs is perfect for your living room, den or hallway. Add luxury, style and convenience to your upscale home with extra space to place gloves or display photos, vases or artwork.

All three of these finely crafted pieces are made to order in Vermont and are sure to add warmth and sophistication to your space. While we only highlighted three in this blog, we also have a variety of other pieces in the collection for different rooms in the home. Which piece is your favorite? Let us know in the comments section!

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Which Historic Chair is Right for Your Space: Windsor or Shaker Style?

January 2, 2015October 12, 2022 Kelsey Eaton 2 Comments

Last updated on October 12th, 2022 at 09:33 pm

While there are literally hundreds of different chair styles to choose from, the Windsor Style Chair and Modern Shaker Style are some of our favorites. Both of them are simplistic and stylish in their own right, and they are both staples of American history!

Lets start with the history behind the classic Windsor Chair:

According to ‘Past and Present: Windsor Chair History’ by Design*Sponge, “In North America, the Windsor chair form was first used in Philadelphia where the chair became hugely popular around the time of the Revolution. The chairs were such an important part of the life in the new country that Thomas Jefferson was said to have written the Declaration of Independence in one of these chairs and Martha Washington had needlework cushions made for her bow-back Windsor chairs.”

Wow, who knew? Even better, here’s some historical photos of these classic American chairs:

windsorchair_englishgarden2 — “Images above, from top: This ca. 1739 drawing by Jacques Rigaud shows a lord and lady being wheeled through the garden in Windsor chairs (from The Metropolitan Museum of Art). The presentation of the Declaration of Independence to the Continental Congress by Edward Savage (from the Library of Congress).” (Photos retrieved from Design*Sponge)

What about Shaker Chairs in history?

According to ArtComplex.org, “The common New England slat-back chair, fashioned by the hands of a Shaker woodworker, has become an icon of American furniture design. Shaker craftsman were familiar with that furniture form. It was found in almost every eighteenth and nineteenth century rural New england home. Converts brought these chairs with them as they joined shaker communities. Shaker craftsmen produced these chairs, refining that vernacular form and creating a distinctive , well-built chair that ultimately earned them considerable renown. Chairs were made in nearly every Shaker village for use within their shops and dwellings. Some chairs were sold to outsiders. Mount Lebanon, New York, the only community to mass produce chairs for sale, sold tens of thousands to individuals, families and businesses”

*Traditionally, Shaker Chairs would be hung on the walls to maximize utility and save space. Photo retrieved from: Blue Ribbons Design.*

While chair B isn’t a traditional slat back as mentioned and pictured, it still represents the simplicity of design and exquisite craftsmanship represented in Shaker style!

So, have you made up your mind yet? Both chairs have an impressive history and even more impressive design. If you don’t want to have to chose one or the other, why not both? Mix & Match for a look that is not only stylish, but has a great story.

Didn’t see what you were looking for? Shop our full selection of dining chairs.

Let us know which chair you love in the comments section of this blog, or send us a tweet!

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Peggy Farabaugh	Kelsey Eaton
Riley Farabaugh	Megan Fulton
Marina McCoy	Alexandra Thompson
Dennis Shanoff	Katrina Moore
Loryn Dion	Michelle Rooks
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