We recently hosted a Facebook Live Q and A session about the Amish. All staff gathered in the DutchCrafters showroom for the event. CEO Jim Miller fielded questions from staff and viewers. *Answers have been edited for clarity. Jim Miller grew up in a Mennonite community and lived near Amish people for many years. For the last 15 years, he’s been leading DutchCrafters in connecting customers with beautiful Amish made furniture, and he’s developed relationships… Amish Q & A with DutchCrafters CEO Jim Miller
At the heart of tea time is the opportunity to relax and share a lovely drink, a few tasty treats and some time with loved ones. What could be better? Tea time can be formal or casual and can serve a large group or just a few people. It is often served mid to late afternoon. We’re taking a look at what to include on tea time tables with a few Amish dining tables to… What to Include on Your Tea Party Table
The popularity of the formal dining room is on the decline, as families are more content to eat and gather together in more casual ways. With conflicting schedules leaving many dining at different times, more homeowners are growing impatient with dining rooms taking up space. Elaborate kitchen islands, outdoor deck tables and living room coffee tables are becoming go-to spots for dining, socializing and entertaining, while the old formal dining room space is being put… Are We Done with Dining Rooms?
Wait a minute. You’re buying handcrafted, heirloom quality solid wood furniture. It is intended to last and look beautiful, but it’s costing you more. You’ve heard there’s a chance that there’s some plywood used in the building of solid wood furniture. Could this be right? Is this true? What’s the deal? The answer is yes, plywood is used even in the finest solid wood furniture. But there’s a very good reason for it. Simply put,… Avoiding the Cracks: Why Plywood is Used in Solid Wood Furniture
There will be holes. There will be marks. There will be imperfections. Rustic furniture and reclaimed furniture embrace the beauty of the natural and celebrate its flaws. This is solid wood furniture that exudes warmth with organic character that gives off a relaxing vibe as it provides a connection to the past. The Amish Wildwood Rustic Wood Panel Bed. If smooth, shiny and seamless are what you’re after, then rustic and reclaimed may not be for… Worn and Weathered with Worm Holes: The Nature of Rustic and Reclaimed Furniture
Alan Barkman is always one step ahead. On a recent visit to his woodshop in Ohio, our DutchCrafters team found it bustling with activity. At Barkman Furniture, Alan and his craftsmen use a blend of traditional woodworking techniques and state-of-the-art woodworking equipment. They remain devoted to their top two priorities when it comes to building Amish furniture: #1 is producing furniture of the highest quality. #2 is making sure it’s worthy of being handed down… What’s New at Barkman Furniture
Finish either makes a product or breaks a product. –Alan, Amish woodworker at the Mt. Eaton Woodshop in Dundee, Ohio The last steps to completing a piece of solid wood Amish furniture are applying the stain and finish. Finishing solid wood furniture is a combination of sanding, staining, and sealing that must be done with a careful eye, steady hand, and a good deal of patience. Stain and finish will enhance the color, protect the… Adding Color and Finishing to Solid Wood Furniture
The Amish woodshop that crafts solid wood dining chairs for the Prairie Collection is nestled in the heart of Amish country, Ohio. There, the talented Amish artisans, both men and women, take to their work producing solid wood chairs with care and precision, with each chair part handled by the craftsmen. The Prairie Collection features high quality Amish dining chairs, bar stools and benches in a variety of styles ranging from classic to contemporary. Here’s what… Amish Made Chairs from the Prairie Collection: The Habits of Handcrafting
Amish women are wives, mothers, homemakers and active members of their churches. They contribute to running households and making decisions for the home and family. Many Amish women branch out and work outside the home, creating their own businesses. It’s not unheard of for them to make and sell handcrafted items like quilts or to run restaurants, bakeries, or produce stands. Amish girls usually work until they get married. Many work in factories or furniture… Where the Women are in Amish Woodshops
In early January, I flew to Ohio with a team from DutchCrafters to take my first walk through an Amish woodshop. Why? Because to convey the quality and features that make DutchCrafters Amish Furniture stand out from all the other furniture out there requires a first-hand account. Amish woodworkers visit both our corporate offices and the DutchCrafters store regularly to share their new solid wood furniture designs, school us on their features and answer questions.… My First Walk Through an Amish Woodshop
Industrial style furniture was named after its original purpose, to support the manufacturing industry. The Industrial Revolution began in Britain in 1760 and eventually spread to other parts of the world. During this time, the invention of new machines lead to the creation of factories and mass production. Workers shifted from using hand tools to operating machines, and started to need pieces like drafting tables, stools, and material handling carts. Industrial furniture was simple, practical, easy to… History of Industrial Style Furniture
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
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 Hampton Hall Seat Bench Here’s multi-functional… Furniture for Small Spaces: Our Top 10 Picks
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
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
