Green Acres Furniture designs custom contemporary bedroom sets
Has this ever happened to you? You have the perfect spot for a beautiful furniture piece. You can see it there, imagine using it and enjoying the compliments of friends and relatives as to your decorating savvy.
The only problem?
You can’t find exactly what you envision. Some pieces come close, but not close enough that you want to give up your dream. So what to do? Settle for something less than you want? Or do you go custom? Just saying “custom” sends shivers down the backs of many. Yet, there are some very compelling reasons why a custom piece might be the perfect solution for your furniture dilemma.
First, there’s the craftsmanship that goes into each handcrafted item. Custom furniture isn’t slapped together with staples and glue. Nor is it built with inferior materials. Custom furniture uses high quality wood and other products in the construction and finish – creating a far superior component than many mass-produced pieces.
Another construction aspect is what you can’t see easily; the joints and connection sites. If you’ve ever disassembled pre-made furniture (I have, and it’s very cathartic), you get a good look at how the piece was built. Less expensive furniture uses glue, staples and nails to hold pieces together. While this can create a nice-looking result, furniture manufactured in this manner rarely stands the test of time.
Well-constructed custom furniture, on the other hand, is held together by time-tested techniques such as dovetailing, mortise and tenon, and splines. While I don’t have space to explain these in detail, let me just say that these techniques have been used for centuries (before nails, glue and staples). Visit any museum that has antique furniture and you’ll see quality examples of furniture constructed this way. Click here for an explanation of some of these woodworking terms.
“Custom” doesn’t necessarily mean you have to create a design from scratch. Most custom furniture builders have a catalog of basic designs that they build and customize based on your specifications. While the design elements may be the same from piece to piece, you can change it up to meet your specific needs. Customizations can include: materials used (wood, metal, glass), stain type, stain color, knobs, pulls and inlays.
The new Design Center at Green Acres Furniture
Yes, But What Does Custom Furniture Cost?
A frequent comment about custom furniture is that it costs more than ready-made furniture. In many cases, this is true. However, the added cost is for the artistry that goes into each piece, the attention to the tiniest of details and, of course, the sturdy, beautiful construction. The added cost is understandable and, maybe a bit easier to swallow if you consider that a custom piece can be handed down from generation to generation. Skilled woodworkers don’t just make a piece of furniture for today, they make it so it will last lifetimes.
If you live in the Pittsburgh area, you have a custom furniture manufacturer just across the state line in Navarre, OH, the family owned and operated Green Acres Furniture. At Green Acres, everything they build is made-to-order. In fact, the person you talk to about your furniture needs will likely be one of the craftsen building it.
They’ve recently remodeled their showroom by adding a design center, which features a variety of tools that allow you to compare and contrast different design choices as you make your custom furniture and decorating decisions. No more guessing if the colors will coordinate!
So, consider this the next time you’re faced with a “should we go custom?” dilemma: When you buy a custom furniture piece, you’re not simply getting something useful for your home, you’re contributing to history in the making – your family’s history.
Originally posted 2009-06-22 13:50:24.
Link to this page
