Buying local is a powerful purchasing decision. More of each dollar spent locally goes to work in the community, stimulating growth and encouraging livelihood. We know that when we shop at farmer’s markets and dine where chefs serve local ingredients, we’re supporting our neighbors and a healthy environment. Somehow it makes the meal feel good and taste better.
Our Furniture Guild is comprised of master level makers and their unique catalogues of custom pieces made with great skill and conscience. As craftsmen, we pay attention to the working landscape and appreciate the role we play in Vermont’s forest economy. It’s part of the reason our furniture feels good and has good energy.
Is it a Simple Question? Why Buy Custom Furniture?
Some say it’s a chance to own a one-of-a-kind piece, something crafted perfectly for you, or to participate in the creative process. For others, it can be an opportunity to make a statement about style, taste or personal philosophy—buying local, supporting the arts.
Knowing Where It Comes From
Engage us with your ideas, drawings and preferences. If it’s important to you that your wood is harvested locally, there are options. If only an exotic wood fits the bill, ask us if it can be sourced sustainably. With a studio maker, you can know the evolution and the story of your special piece from wood to table. And you can visit us, too. Come see where and how we work, check out our communities. You’ll depart knowing that it’s the idea and design, the process and the environment that contribute to the quality and character of the final product.
Meeting Personal Requirements
Architects have commissioned pieces to suit rooms in homes they have under construction. Clients have asked us to restore or retro-fit a period piece. The beauty of custom furniture is that it’s crafted only for you with the materials and finishes you select. It’s a desk that’s optimized to fit the way you work or a dining room table that seats your immediate and visiting family, and reinforces your design scheme. There’s only one in the world, and it’s yours.
Work in display at a summer 2014 exhibit. Huntboard from Walt Stanley in the foreground, along with a tansu cabinet from Pete Novick, coffee table from Erin Hanley, and tractor seat stools from Richard Bissell.
Things to Keep in Mind
Thinking of making the commitment? First, get hold of your vision. Are you looking to replace a current piece of furniture or incorporate a new one? Ask yourself what the piece will hold, how many shall it seat? Where will it live in your home? Be ready to communicate your budget and preferences to the maker for his or her feedback.
Then Look for a craftsman. Scroll through portfolios and member websites for inspiration and style that resonate with you. Scan the testimonials and don’t be afraid to ask for references. Perhaps even schedule a visit.
Bookshelf to House a Client’s Specific Collection, Dorset Custom Furniture
Allow Time. Commissioning a piece of fine studio furniture is a commitment on many levels. Be patient through the design and build process–we want to get it exactly right. It’s the care and attention to detail that makes custom fine furniture what it is. Make sure to communicate your expectations up front so that the process can be as smooth and predictable as possible. Know your piece will become a family heirloom.
Go with ‘Soul’
“If I made two identical pieces, one for you, and one for your sister, and then took them away to let’s say — a gymnasium – you would immediately be able to pick out yours, and your sister hers. Try that with manufactured furniture,” says Guild President Bob Gasperetti. We think that about sums it up. May your furniture have soul. May it have character and may it bring great pleasure to your life!
