Vermont Woods Studios - Eco Furniture Blog

Vermont Update - Hurricane Irene

 

 

 

For all those kind customers and friends who have sent their best wishes to Vermont Woods Studios and our network of Vermont woodworkers, here's a quick update on Vermont's status after Hurricane Irene.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• This storm will most likely prove to be one of the 10 costliest catastrophes in the nation’s history
• Analysts said that much of the damage might not be covered by insurance because it was caused not by winds but by flooding, which is excluded from many standard policies
• 3 people in Vermont have died and a fouth is still missing
• All rail traffic has been stopped
• Nearly 300 roads and 30 bridges are closed
• The state office complex in Waterbury is shut down
• A dozen villages are cut off by bridge and road wash-outs, with no way in or out
• The National Guard is airlifting food, water and supplies to them
• Nearly 20,000 Vermonters are still without power
• These photos give an idea of the damage and destruction in VT

Skiers - sorry to report that this is a base lodge at Killington.

 

Also, if you love horses you have to see this video. It's a horse and rider braving the floods and stormy weather to deliver medicine to a stranded Vermonter.  And speaking of horses, here's a tip for Vermont horse owners:  New England's only non-profit donkey, horse and mule rescue may be able to help you with boarding displaced animals.  It's called Save Your Ass, of course (really- you can't make this stuff up).  Give them a call at 603-835-2971.  Ask for Ann.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who are suffering through this disaster. Vermonters need help.  The Brattleboro Reformer had a great article today on ways to help.  Yesterday I posted links to the American Red Cross of VT  and other organizations that are helping Vermonters.  Your encouragement and support is greatly appreciated!

Hurricane Irene - How to Help Vermonters

We send our most sincere thanks to all our customers, friends, colleagues and vendors who have called over the last few days to see how we're doing after Hurricane Irene. 

 

At Vermont Woods Studios Furniture we're feeling very lucky that we did not sustain much damage (except for Dennis' workstation but that's another story). 

 

As I wrote yesterday, nearly our whole state is in a state of complete catastrophe so we are in a mode of trying to figure out what we can do to help others.  Many of you have asked the same thing and I thought I would pass on the suggestions given to us by our Congressman, Peter Welch:

 

 

 

 

• To volunteer contact the Vermont Red Cross at 802-660-9130. You can also donate to the American Red Cross of Vermont and the New Hampshire Valley (the Red Cross set up shelters immediately after Irene hit for flooded-out families to stay in).
• Text FOODNOW to 52000 to donate $10 to Vermont Foodbank. The Foodbank will turn each donation into $60 for families in need.
• VTResponse.com is working to connect volunteers ready to help with those that need assistance. If you want to help clean up and rebuild, let the folks behind this site know.
• The Vermont Emergency Managememt Facebook has the latest infoand updates state-wide
• Volunteer and cleanup efforts are also being coordinated on Twitter via the #VTresponse hashtag.

Understanding What Goes into Green Furniture

By Guest Blogger:  Erik Braunitzer
 
Furniture makers like Vermont Woods Studios Furniture are doing their part to improve their carbon footprint. Extensive documentation on their website or even a quick phone conversation with Rebecca or Shannon puts families at ease knowing the company is serious about their environmental, health and safety mission. 

But simply seeing furniture in a store with a green stamp of certification label isn't always helpful when you're not familiar with the background of the stamp. So it’s important that we realize just how green furniture is made, along with the environmentally friendly materials that are used.
 
Furniture companies using wood and recycled materials generally have the smallest carbon footprint.  Other materials would include concrete, plastic, aluminum, brick, glass, fiberglass and more. Now it’s been said that there isn’t one individual item or sustainable material, but a handful that share sustainable characteristics, including recyclables.
 
Furniture can also include the following:
 
·      Paint

·      Paint Strippers

·      Stain

·      Particle Board

 
Many of these substances are classified as volatile chemicals. Furniture made with these volatile chemicals can result in offgassing, which is evaporation at normal atmospheric pressure. Offgassing can be reduced or eliminated altogether by using stains, finishes or paints that are non toxic such as those made by Vermont Natural Coatings and AFM Safecoat.
 
Transportation is another part of the carbon footprint for furniture, as wood and other materials have to be extracted from the environment, shipped to distributors, transported to furniture makers, then sent off to the retail store and customers. The sustainability of a particular piece of furniture is dependent upon a couple of factors including:
 
·      Durability--   The longer the piece of furniture, the more sustainable it becomes.

·      How it’s useful--   Multifunctional furniture saves money and yields greater sustainability.

Learning where to buy this type of furniture can be quite a daunting task, as it’s not always portrayed clearly exactly what materials are used, and the percentage of each. In order to fully lead a responsible lifestyle, we should understand just how to look for green furniture. Here are a few tips:
 
Look for Sustainably Harvested Wood – Translates to the sustainability of ecosystems and natural forests.

Avoid Tropical Woods Like Mahogany and Teak -  these woods are often illegally clearcut from the world's rapidly disappearing rainforests.

Ensure FSC Certification - for tropical woods, if no substitution can be made

Reclaimed Wood Furniture (RWF) – More or less, RWF is a recycled piece of furniture.
 
Non-Toxic Finishes – Keep your air clean and help protect your children from health issues.
 
Buy locally – Locally purchased items are always more sustainable as transportation costs are cut.
 
Clearly, Furniture making using sustainable materials is very important to the health of the overall environment. Similarly, it reduces waste and influences the vintage market. By following a few simple rules and clearly understanding how green furniture is made, you can make a difference in improving your carbon footprint. Next time you’re in the market for a table or chair, be sure to inquire about sustainable practices before purchasing.
 
Courtesy of Douglas Elliman Real Estate, New York Luxury Rentals.

Hurricane Irene Devastates Vermont

At Vermont Woods Studios Furniture, we been extremely lucky to escape most of the wrath of Hurricane Irene, however just 5 miles up the road in Brattleboro and indeed throughout our state the destruction from flooding is overwhelming.  The storm itself wasn't so bad, but the rain!  Some places received 11" of rain in a day's time!  We've all been instructed to stay home the last few days while emergency crews respond, but today I had to run into town (to get pizzas for Riley's Back to School crowd). 

I was sad to see that the Whetstone river is still raging through downtown Bratt and the Connecticut river is nearly overflowing it's banks.  It's expected to crest tomorrow and that may mean they'll have to close Route 142, the main road into and out of Vernon.

Route 9 is already closed between Brattleboro and Bennington.  Hundreds of other roads throughout Vermont are also closed.  We have lost many of Vermont's historic covered bridges, some over 140 years old.  The main intersection in Wilmington Vermont was a rushing river!  The covered bridge at Simon Pearce in Quechee VT was washed out.  No one has ever seen this kind of devastation here in Vermont.  Irene has taken the lives of 3 people.  The Red Cross has put out an excellent video showing the extent of damage in our area.

A few of our woodworkers have lost power, Internet and phones, as has Shannon our new Sales Associate.  And the roof leaked into our office/showroom a bit but nothing catastrophic.  No injuries, thankfully.   We are hoping we'll be able to recover quickly and avoid delays but I will keep you posted here on the blog.  Of course, you can also give us a call or send an email to check on status.  As of now, there are no delays that I know of and we will contact you if we see any delays with your order.  Thanks for your patience and support!

 

Salvaging and Repairing Wood Furniture After Hurricane and Flood Damage

Hurricane Irene is just starting to bear down on us here in southeastern Vermont.  Even in these early stages, I can't remember another storm that brought so much rain.  At Vermont Woods Studios Furniture, as we brace for the predicted power outage and flooding, I'm still able to watch the news and it's heartbreaking to see all the devastation south of us.

I'm remembering a publication put out by Dr. Wilma Hammett and the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service titled, "Flood Damaged Wood Furniture" that I thought might be helpful in the coming weeks. 

The good news is that solid wood furniture can usually be restored unless the piece was in water for several days to a week and the damage is severe.  The trick is to clean and dry it as soon as possible.  The Fact Sheet cautions not to dry furniture in the sun though, as if it's dried too quickly and unevenly it will warp, twist and crack.  It may take several weeks or months to dry the furniture and make it ready for repair and refinishing.

 

 

A few other tips: 

• Use a hose to clean off mud and dirt inside and out
• Remove drawers, doors and back panels if possible, although if they are stuck, don't force them
• Mineral spirits can be used to remove mold and mildew
• White spots of a cloudy film on the finish can be treated with turpentine or household ammonia
• Try to preserve the original finish of antiques- restoration is preferable to refinishing

With a little research and luck, you may be able to take care of minor salvage and repairs yourself, but extensive damage should be left to an experienced furniture doctor or cabinet maker.

If your furniture is just too far gone and you find that salvage and repair are not an option, give us a call.  We'll be offering a 15% furniture discount to flood and hurricane victims over the next month.  Check with your insurance company.  Often customers are able to fully cover the cost of replacement furniture with insurance claims.  For now... hunker down with us and we'll all hope for the best.

 

 

Ready for Thanksgiving? Our Fine Wood Dining Furniture Sale Is!

By Dennis Shanoff

Each year it seems that the next holiday’s items are available in the store earlier and earlier. For instance most of us are probably not thinking about Halloween right now but I’ll bet you can find plenty of Halloween merchandise on many store shelves right now.

So it’s possible that you are not quite thinking about Thanksgiving just yet?  But perhaps it’s your turn to host the big Thanksgiving dinner this year?  Or maybe relatives or friends are coming in for the holidays?  But if your old dining room table or other dining room pieces are no longer up to the task then it is really not too soon to start thinking about getting some new furniture.

And as it takes some time for fine furniture to be built and delivered, thinking about buying new dining room furniture now, over 12 weeks out from the Holiday is actually a really good idea. After all, the highest demand placed on a dining room certainly has to be Thanksgiving and Christmas. And getting it all in place well ahead of time should prevent unnecessary stress. Industry statistics show that most consumers think of and begin their new dining room furniture search & shopping in November. Now that may work if one is willing to take the floor or popular in stock models but if it is more distinctive furniture you are after then putting much more decision and purchase time on your side makes sense. So we at Vermont Woods Studios Furniture have decided to put all our fine wood dining room furniture on sale now through September 6th! If it’s high quality, American Made, real wood furniture you are considering then the next two weeks is the best time to buy and save up to 15% (plus Free Shipping)!  And with its timeless styling and sturdy construction this is furniture you can enjoy holiday after holiday and share with your family for generations. You can hop over to our online dining furniture gallery to see our large selection of wood dining tables, dining chairs, sideboards, hutches and buffets. And ordering now will ensure delivery before Thanksgiving and allow you time to enjoy it before the crowds arrive!

A LARGE Custom Walnut Slab Table

Our friend David Allard and the talented furniture makers at Lyndon Furniture are always coming up with some new, exciting wood furniture design project.  Check out this huge custom walnut slab table they recently finished.  It's 13.5' long and the two planks in the top are made of 1 ¾" thick solid black walnut.

The legs are made of welded steel tubes that thread through the walnut slab top like through-tenons.  On the top, Dave left a gap between the 2 walnut slabs to allow for wood movement.  Believe it or not, even kiln-dried wood (like these walnut slabs) expands and contracts quite a bit with changes in humidity and temperature.

Such a simple elegant design, isn't it?  But as any amateur woodworker could attest, it's not one to try at home unless you've got the hand of a trained professional.  And a crane :)

 

 

American Made, Real Wood Living Room and Home Office Furniture Sale

By Dennis Shanoff

If you are now on your second “big box store” office desk and looking to replace this wobbly one once and for all you might want to consider a real wood desk (one that you can use and enjoy for many carefree years). Same goes for that TV entertainment center. Are the door hinges just barely hanging on? Or maybe your bookcase shelves are bowing under the weight of your book collection? And how would you like your new real wood desk or entertainment center to arrive fully assembled (our Vermont made furniture arrives assembled).  We probably all have purchased one of those big box store desks, bookcases or entertainment centers that come in a giant heavy box filled with dozens of screws, nuts and bolts. Which one goes where? And after a few frustrating hours of assembly you have some furniture that at best is functional. Well for the time being!

 

And of course nothing can match the beauty, styling and sturdiness of real wood. Beautiful and interesting wood grain can never be simulated and stains or dyes could never match the natural color of real wood. Sure real wood, crafted in America furniture costs more but when you consider you will never have to buy it again it suddenly becomes the real bargain!

 

So starting today our Vermont, American made real wood living room and home office furniture is on sale. From now through August 23^rd you can save up to 15% plus receive free shipping! And you may also be happy to know that along with getting a great value and beautifying your home you are supporting a local US economy plus helping preserve our natural resources by buying lasting furniture made with domestic, sustainably harvested woods. Oh, one last note! If you visit our online furniture galley and do not see exactly what you want, most of our pieces can be modified in size and configuration. Or if you just want to chat more about real wood furniture just drop us a line!

Middlebury College’s Solar Decathlon Solar Powered House Entry Getting Ready to Roll

By Dennis Shanoff

Earlier this month I wrote a post regarding Middlebury College’s participation in a solar powered home design, build competition sponsored by the US Department of Energy. Well the Middlebury College team recently put the finishing touches on their energy efficient entry and celebrated the event with a housewarming this week. This was a great opportunity for friends, family, fans, and supporters to get an up close look at the team’s solar home before it has to be dismantled and shipped down to Washington, DC for the 2011 Solar Decathlon Event.

 

As a project supporter, we at Vermont Woods Studios were anxious not only to see the students hard work, but how the bed we contributed for the master bedroom fit in. So I made the scenic trek up to the Middlebury campus to attend the housewarming to get a firsthand look. And with a “finished” square footage competition maximum of only 1000 SF I was definitely curious to see how the design team would handle the layout. (especially as it was designed for a family of four) What I found was really efficient use of space in an open, yet still cozy arrangement. The interior had a very modern, clean and upscale look.

 

So we at Vermont Woods Studios certainly felt privileged to be chosen to provide the centerpiece of the master bedroom. And the cherry moon platform bed looked fantastic in the room and worked perfect in the space. The team had us craft the bed in natural maple and its color and it's strong yet simple design absolutely fit in with the light color and airy feeling of the home. Spend some time in this home and one may just start to rethink the need for larger homes. (and larger energy expenses!)

 

The next step for the team is to get the house down to the National Malls West Potomac Park in Washington DC for the September 23 through October 2 event. The event is free so if you are in the area I think you will find this to be a very interesting and educational event. We think the Middlebury team has a really good chance so stay tuned and we will let you know how they make out! Go Middlebury SD!

Vermont Made Heirloom Furniture: Craftsmanship Through The Ages

Vermont furniture lovers take note:  this Saturday, August 13, one of the largest known collections of Vermont-made antiques is going on the auction block at Skinner, Inc. in Marlborough, Mass.  Bob and Barbara Levine of Greenwich, CT amassed this elegant collection over 35 years and are retired and downsizing.  So now is your big chance!

Odds are, because of the economy, there will be some once-in-a-lifetime bargains.  Check out this Classical Carved Mahogany and Mahogany Veneer Sofa.  It is presumed to be made by Nahum Parker in Middlebury, Vermont nearly 200 years ago-- around 1825.  What an incredible piece!  And there are about 50 other stunning pieces in the collection.  Preview and bidding can be done online as well as in person.  The Bennington Banner has details.

 

 

For all you fine furniture afficionados, isn't it great to know that this same level of craftsmanship continues to be practiced in Vermont today?  Have a look at this gorgeous fainting couch created by Steve Holman.  Who said they're not making things like they used to?  Whoever did needs to visit us in Vermont.

Check out more extraordinary custom artisan furniture pieces made by the world's finest furniture makers.  Vermont truly is the Fine Furniture Capital of America!

Eco Friendly Organic Furniture: Why North American Hardwood Is The Best Raw Material

What's the most organic, eco-friendly raw material for furniture?  I guess there are different opinions on this but you have to admit that wood is naturally green.  It's sustainable, biodegradable and renewable.

The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) puts out a brochure periodically that reports statistics for the American hardwood industry.  Are we harvesting our hardwoods sustainably in the USA? 

According to NHLA the hardwood inventory in the USA has grown by 98% during the past 5 decades.  I'd say that's pretty sustainable.

Here's another cool fact NHLA cites: Wood represents 47 percent of all raw materials used in the United States but the energy used to produce wood products (including furniture) accounts for just 4 percent of the energy used to make all manufactured materials.  Wow!  It makes sense though when you consider all the hard-core industrial processing that's required to make a piece of metal or plastic furniture, right?

At Vermont Woods Studios Furniture we specialize in organic, eco-friendly solid hardwood furniture that's made from local and regionally harvested wood.  To help keep our forests healthy and sustainable, we're excited to be supporting the Vermont Council on Rural Development and their ambitious Vermont Working Landscape Partnership Program as part of our forest conservation mission. 

I just have to throw in one last random but amazing reason why wood is the greenest raw material for furniture-making:  the EPA estimates that each year our American forests remove the greenhouse gases emitted by 139,000,000 cars!  You gotta love wood.

Vermont Woods Studios Supports the Middlebury College Solar Decathlon Team!

By Dennis Shanoff

Making its debut in 2002 and then biannually since 2005 is the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon. This competition challenges 20 collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar powered, energy efficient homes that are cost effective, functional, and attractive. The winning team will have successfully blended affordability, consumer appeal and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The fifth event will take place Sept. 23–Oct. 2, 2011 at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. and is open to the public, free of charge.

 

Customers and fans of Vermont Woods Studios are aware of our environmental and social mission and our community of eco friendly furniture makers that are dedicated not only to beauty and quality in our craft, but also to the preservation of our natural environment. So you can imagine our excitement to be a part of the project and support the Vermont Solar Decathlon team by contributing a bed!

 

 

 

You see Vermont’s own Middlebury College is participating in the Solar Decathlon so when one of the schools team members reached out to us for a furniture donation we were thrilled to to no end to be part of such an important “Green Mission” event. This is such a great way to raise awareness about solar energy and sustainable lifestyles. Middlebury SD team member Casey Peterson had contacted us during the team’s research for interior furnishings. Part of the team’s mission is trying to source as much of the building materials and furnishings from Vermont as possible (including harvesting timber from the Middlebury College grounds).  And according to Casey what really resonated with the Middlebury design team was not only the quality of work at Vermont Woods Studios but the sustainable production processes used by our workshops. The team chose our Cherry Moon Dovetail Platform Bed to be the centerpiece of the Master Bedroom and we couldn’t agree more with their choice.

 

 

The Middlebury team is now putting the finishing touches to the home and at some point will have to disassemble it and transport it down to the National Malls West Potomac Park in Washington DC. During the event, thousands of people will be guided through the 20 homes on display, and the houses will be judged on categories like energy use and home entertainment. And while no team really loses in this competition you know who we are rooting for!

Are you wondering what happens to these Solar Decathlon houses after the competition? Since the first event in 2002, 72 houses have competed in the Solar Decathlon. These houses are now located throughout the United States and around the world and continue to serve numerous education, conservation and community-oriented functions.

There is a wealth of information about this great event and its history at the US Department of Energy website. And if you are rooting for or would like to learn more about the Middlebury team they have put together a great site that chronicles their project and gives insight to the team and their mission.  Go Team Middlebury!