Construction Details: Berkley Collection

Woods & Stains

This collection is available for order in the following standard woods and stains. Additional options may be available upon request for an upcharge of 10% - 20%. Contact us for details.

Click here for more information about the woods we use.

The Copeland Furniture Finish

Our standard top coat is a pre-catalyzed lacquer. The "pre" refers to the fact that the acidic catalyst is added by the finish manufacture, as opposed to post-catalyzed lacquers where the components are combined at the time of spraying. Copeland's finishes are Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) rated - meaning they are made to withstand the type of heat, grease and spills typically found in a kitchen setting. This durability is a significant advantage over the industry's standard conventional lacquers. Also noteworthy is the matte, satin look and feel of our finish which contrasts favorably with the heavy build-up and high gloss of conventional finishes.

Water Based: The Next Generation

As the public's concern over indoor air quality continues to grow, Copeland is becoming the leader in non-toxic, eco-friendly water based finishes. Conventional petroleum based solvents contain large amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOC)s which are harmful to the atmosphere. While most of these VOC's are released at the time of manufacturing, a small amount remains on the product and can off-gas in the home. Individuals with particular sensitivities sometimes report that this has an adverse affect on their health. That's why most of Copeland's furniture can now be requested in a non-emitting water-based finish. Technically, this finish is called an Acrylic Emulsion meaning that the resin is made up of acrylic polymers mixed in a water solvent. Since there is no petroleum based solvent, our water based finish is extremely low in VOC's and completely free of formaldehyde. As important, the finish is every bit as durable as our standard pre-catalyzed lacquer with the same satin feel. There is a slight difference in color - the water based finish tends to be a bit whiter than the pre-cat - but it's slight enough that unless you were looking at the two finishes side by side you might never know the difference. As this technology develops we anticipate a day when water based becomes the standard on all our furniture, however presently it is only available on about 3/4 of Copeland's pieces. Please contact us to request this finish on your furniture.

Background - Solid Wood Construction

Our solid wood comes from sustainably harvested, domestic hardwood trees. We select species regarded for their exceptional beauty as well as their steady long standing market demand.

An important fact about solid wood is that it expands and contracts with the varying levels of humidity (up to 1% measured across the grain). Furniture made of solid wood must be designed specifically to allow room for the wood to move.

The reason manufacturers use solids is fairly obvious. Well made solid wood furniture is extremely durable and when damaged can be repaired and renewed over generations.

What are veneers?

A veneer is a thinly cut overlay of the same high-quality, sustainably harvested solid wood used in the rest of the piece, but applied over a substrate, in this case premium quality plywood.

Where are veneers used?

For instance, the curved back panel of the Catalina Bed must be a veneer because it would be structurally impossible to build out of solids. Framed panels, that is panels surrounded on all four sides (as in this Sarah collection), are made of high grade, veneered plywood. In these instances, a solid panel would have the potential to expand and break the frame apart during periods of high humidity. The plywood is considerably stronger than solids of equal dimension. This includes Case Backs and Drawer Bottoms as well as Sarah and Berkeley Case Sides.

Why are veneers used?

There are three main reasons furniture makers use veneers in their pieces:

• Construction: Complicated shapes and curves are often impossible to fabricate out of solids. Very thin parts often require the strength of veneered plywood and certain design elements require the dimensional stability of veneered components.
• Aesthetic: Interesting effects with wood grains can by achieved by matching and/or assembling veneer strips in any number of deliberate patterns.
• Weight/Expansion: By using veneers for framed panel case sides, furniture makers can significantly reduce the weight of a large case good like a dresser. Also, because plywood is made by cross-hatching wood grains, it does not expand and contract the way solid wood does, thus ensuring that the case sides will not expand and contract over time potentially damaging the frame and structure of the rest of the piece.

Berkely Case Sides are Veneered

Dressers, chests, nightstands, bookcases, file cabinets

Per the above discussion of the where's and why's of veneers, please note that the Dominion cases are veneered.

Hardware

This collection is available with all of the following hardware options on the center of the drawer. It is also available with all of the following options on the top of the drawer EXCEPT:

* "xxx" denotes that this knob is available in several different woods/stains. Contact us for details

Bed Rails

Bed side rails are made with top-grade veneer panels. All Copeland Furniture bed rails are fastened with a simple to use but extremely durable system designed keep the joint firm and rigid for the life of the product. Here's how it works:

1. A headless, threaded machine bolt is screwed into the headboard. Wooden dowel pegs align the bed rail with the headboard or footboard. This forces the bed rail into proper orientation and prevents any future twisting.
2. The parts are then joined together with a special contoured washer and hex nut using the supplied open-end wrench.

Bed Slats and Platforms

Mattress support comes in one of the following forms depending on the wood selected:

A T-Slat is a 3" plywood slat reinforced by a solid hardwood spine. Viewed from the side, the parts form the shape of a T, hence the name. T-Slats always come in packages of three and are standard on beds requiring box spring and mattress.

Platform Kits are similar to T-Slats in that they consist of a plywood horizontal element reinforced by a solid wood spine. However they differ in that they are much wider and are intended to provide the direct support for the mattress. They come in sets of six platforms and are standard on all Cherry beds intended for mattress alone.

Slat Rolls perform the same function as Platform Kits and are standard on all Maple and Walnut beds intended for mattress alone. They consist of solid wood slats fastened together with twin Nylon straps. Upon set-up a solid wood spine is attached forcing the slats to remain properly spaced and providing even support across all slats. Slat-Rolls come in sets of three.

Drawer Boxes

Copeland's drawer fronts are solid wood, 3/4" thick. Drawer sides and backs are also solid wood - cherry, maple or ash - and are a full 5/8" thick. Drawer bottoms are 1/4" high-grade plywood panels.

You'll notice that our drawers are joined with an asymmetrical English dovetail joint. Asymmetrical refers to the fact that the pins (seen on the drawer front) and tails (seen on the drawer side) are of different widths. This is the gold standard in traditional joinery and is both aesthetically and structurally superior to other common techniques.

The drawer front integrates directly with the drawer side. Often you will find furniture where the drawer front is simply screwed on to a pre-existing drawer box. This is usually because the manufacturer has opted to purchase pre-manufactured drawer boxes rather than going to the trouble of designing, engineering and building the components to match their individual designs. Sadly, many manufacturers who market themselves as Made in the USA engage in this practice, effectively outsourcing components that make up nearly half of the product.

Some manufacturers cut corners, leaving drawer boxes unfinished. Not only is this unsightly, it is potentially hazardous to your clothing. Delicate garments can be snagged or even torn on rough unsanded surfaces and this becomes more pronounced with age as the unprotected wood is exposed to changing humidity. Copeland's drawer boxes are fully finished and sanded on the interiors.

Case Sides

Frame and Panel cases derive their main structure from the four legs which are joined by an apron assembly near the top and bottom of the case. These parts make up the frame. A solid wood top is affixed and 1/4" top- grade veneer panels are integrated into the case sides and back. Because the panels are framed on all four sides this, a veneer is the ideal material. Were we to use a solid panel the expansion of the wood in high humidity could potentially cause the frame to break apart.

Drawer Glides

Two Glide Adjustable. Adjustable wood glides are a unique Copeland Furniture innovation. Two glides on either side of the drawer are spring loaded and attached to the case side with two Philips head screws. They can then be adjusted tighter or looser to allow for the perfect fit and smooth operation.

Metal Glides on Home Office Desks and File Cabinets. All Copeland home office collections feature Full Extension File Glides. These allow drawers to open wide enough for easy access to all contents and are strong enough to support the heavy load associated with office storage. File cabinets also feature an anti tip mechanism that allows only one file drawer to be opened at a time.