Category: Older

The Dish on Dining Table Extensions

Beth Rice 13/07/2017

Dining table extensions make it easy to expand your dining room table for holiday feasts, lively game nights, or big projects. Extensions save space by tucking or folding neatly into a table, or being stored when they aren’t needed. With four main types to choose from, it’s easy to select a custom-made dining table with just the right extensions to fit your needs. Dining Table Extensions: The Four Main Types Traditional Butterfly Leaf Drop Leaf… The Dish on Dining Table Extensions

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How to Style an Awkward Space

Beth Rice 06/07/2017

How many times have you passed that landing or glanced at that small corner and asked yourself, what’s missing there? The character of every home is different, sometimes resulting in unique spaces that look too bare to leave alone, yet remain untouched. Here are nine Amish furniture suggestions that will help transform those misfit, hard-to-decorate spaces. A Long, Narrow Hallway Maintain the look of your long hallway while creating a seamless transition between adjoining rooms… How to Style an Awkward Space

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Meet the Woodworker: Elkhart Office Furniture Collection

Beth Rice 28/06/2017

Handcrafting and perfecting fine solid wood office furniture since 2000, Lavern Beechy and his wife Mary recently visited our headquarters to share their story. __ Back in 2000, Lavern was working for a trailer company when a friend invited him to take over his business that specialized in solid wood desks. The timing was just right as Lavern had been thinking about starting a woodworking business but wasn’t sure what to make. He and Mary set up shop… Meet the Woodworker: Elkhart Office Furniture Collection

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Take Your Dog to Work Day

Beth Rice 22/06/2017

In 1999, Pet Sitters International founded the first Take Your Dog to Work Day in the U.S. to emphasize the importance of the human-animal bond and to encourage employees without pets to rescue and adopt a furry friend from a shelter or rescue program. This year, Take Your Dog to Work Day will be recognized on Friday, June 23. DutchCrafters is a pet friendly workplace, with wagging tails making their way through the office on… Take Your Dog to Work Day

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Summer Must-Haves for Outdoor Spaces

Beth Rice 15/06/2017

This blog post was updated on July 2, 2019. It’s time to unpack your summer wardrobe. Essentials like a white V-neck tee, denim shorts, casual sneakers, and a stylish bathing suit are staples. But why does your summer wardrobe get to have all the fun? What about your outdoor furniture collection? Here are the must-haves summer pieces that bring style to outdoor spaces. Amish Folding Poly Adirondack Chair This eco-friendly beauty comes from our Leisure… Summer Must-Haves for Outdoor Spaces

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History of the Chifforobe

Beth Rice 06/06/2017

To properly share the history of the chifforobe, we have to go back in time and ask ourselves, what did we do with clothing before closets were invented? Centuries ago, humans had no need for storage dedicated to clothing since they possessed so little of it. As methods for producing clothing and desirable styles developed, the need for a storage solution was born. Some early solutions included woven baskets and wood chests. Roman soldiers used… History of the Chifforobe

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Meet the Woodworker: Keystone Collections

Milca Rivera 26/05/2017

This blog post was originally written on May 26, 2017. In March of 2021, Keystone Collections was acquired by Canal Dover. — “One of the first projects Dad ever did was build heavy duty quilting frames for my mom,” Marvin Martin, co-owner of Keystone Collections, says with a grin. “Mom jokingly said it looked like it was built to hold an elephant.” Seated in a chair on a late afternoon in one of the sprawling… Meet the Woodworker: Keystone Collections

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Furniture for Small Spaces: Our Top 10 Picks

Beth Rice 23/05/2017

Living in a small space doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. Whether you have a small home, apartment, or houseboat, we’ve compiled a list of our top 10 furniture pieces for small spaces. Small Space Suggestions Small areas will benefit from the following: Multi-functional furniture. Furniture that matches the scale of the room. Utilizing wall space. Opening up the space with mirrors. Our Top 10 Picks The Amish Turley Hall Seat Bench Here’s multi-functional… Furniture for Small Spaces: Our Top 10 Picks

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History of Mid-Century Modern Furniture

Leah Meldman 18/05/2017

It was writer and art historian Cara Greenberg who first coined the term “Mid-Century Modern” in the title of her 1984 book. She recalled a design movement that remains popular today for its simple, straightforward style. But before its neat proportions and bright pops of color hit the screen in shows like Mad Men, mid-century modern furniture found its footing starting in the 1940s. Origin Hitting the scene roughly in the middle of the 20th century,… History of Mid-Century Modern Furniture

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Upholstery Buying Guide

Beth Rice 12/05/2017

Sinking into a soft living room sofa or working comfortably in an office chair requires quality construction and support. Just as important as the construction of the furniture is the delicate fabric or leather used to upholster it. There are numerous options to choose from when selecting the right fabric or leather upholstery for your custom furniture. This Upholstery Buying Guide offers helpful points to consider when choosing a fabric with the sensational color and pattern… Upholstery Buying Guide

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History of Shaker Style Furniture

Leah Meldman 09/05/2017

Many of us hope to furnish our homes with pieces that reflect our unique values. However, reality often gets in the way. Factors like cost, amount of space, and availability, tend to take precedence over having furniture that reflects the way we live. For the Shakers, a religious sect dating back to the 18th century, creating Shaker furniture that reflected their values was of the utmost importance. Taking a look at the development of the influential… History of Shaker Style Furniture

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Reclaimed vs. Rough Sawn: What’s the Difference?

Leah Meldman 04/05/2017

At DutchCrafters, we offer a variety of rustic furniture that creates a rugged warmth in the homes of our customers. Reclaimed wood furniture and rough sawn wood are some of our most popular options that cater to this distinct look. Although it is easy to confuse reclaimed and rough sawn wood, there are some key characteristics that set them apart. Keep reading to learn the difference between these styles. Amish Reclaimed Wood Furniture The reclaimed… Reclaimed vs. Rough Sawn: What’s the Difference?

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Meet the Woodworker: Middlebury Furniture Collection

Beth Rice 01/05/2017

Martin Yoder of our Middlebury Furniture Collection makes beautiful Amish furniture with the wants and needs of every customer in mind. His workshop, located in Middlebury, Indiana, holds a team of 15 who contribute to his solid wood masterpieces.  Martin recently visited our DutchCrafters Furniture Store to explain some features of his solid wood furniture and to share a little history as well as what motivates him in the furniture business. Having recently doubled the size of… Meet the Woodworker: Middlebury Furniture Collection

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History of Queen Anne Style Furniture

Leah Meldman 28/04/2017

Although Queen Anne reigned from 1702-1714, the style of formal furniture that would come to bear her royal name did not gain popularity in the Americas until the 1720s. Around that time, prosperity beckoned immigrants to the colonies, including a large number of British craftsmen. This made way for a major transition. The more ornate William and Mary style furniture was transformed. The result was Queen Anne style. The reign of William and Mary (1689-1702) heavily… History of Queen Anne Style Furniture

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Desks for the Busy Professional

Beth Rice 25/04/2017

“An organized space creates clarity and clarity attracts success.” April 26 is National Administrative Professionals Day. This day recognizes all the hardworking administrators, administrative assistants, secretaries, and receptionists who contribute to keeping offices running smoothly. Handling all the demanding tasks that come through a busy office takes organizational and multitasking skills that are on point. It also requires a desk where they can stay organized, store paperwork, answer phones, take notes, and more. What desks are… Desks for the Busy Professional

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